How much risk of iron stains on oak?

R

rdesigns

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I would like to use cut nails with rosette heads (from Tremont Nail Co.) for pinning the mortise and tenon joints on an oak library table I am nearly finished with.
I know that the tannins in oak will cause black stains to bleed out from iron, but usually that's when the wood is wetted (or not???)

Supposing I use no water-based stains or top coats, do you think stains would still be likely to develop?

Thanks,

Russ
 
You'll get the black stains on dry oak as well. I made a project in school years ago and used steel sash cramps and ended up with black stains on the oak :-(
 
definetly get stains.
i would use a nail with no iron in the metal or stain the whole piece.
there will alewys be moisture in the timber
 
Oldwood said:
You could use copper nails & age them before installing.
Gerry
Click to expand...

You've got me thinking along a new line--I don't have time to get copper nails shipped, but now I'm thinking of starting with a brass screw and forging the shank square and hammering the head  to a decorative shape similar to the copper nails in your link. Should be fairly simple with a small propane torch and my anvil.
 
Some oil finishes will cause the metal to stain oak. I had that problem with Penofin an exterior oil finish made from rosewood nuts. I don't know if other oil finishes cause this but I know Penofin does............You can probably guess how I know that [crying]

Gerry
 
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