Old bridge timber

Hi, I have acquired some old bridge timber that I want to use as exposed posts and beams in a pergola. They are 225x125 and about 3m long. I want to clean them up and bring out the colour in the timber.
i was planning on pressure cleaning them, then maybe using some sort of oxalic acid product on it and then sanding them with a belt sander or hiring a floor sander to bring out the the colour?
what are people's thoughts on the best way to clean them up and bring out the colour?
thanks

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Originally Posted by Yort222

Hi, I have acquired some old bridge timber that I want to use as exposed posts and beams in a pergola. They are 225x125 and about 3m long. I want to clean them up and bring out the colour in the timber.
i was planning on pressure cleaning them, then maybe using some sort of oxalic acid product on it and then sanding them with a belt sander or hiring a floor sander to bring out the the colour?
what are people's thoughts on the best way to clean them up and bring out the colour?
thanks

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I was going to suggest a thicknesser, but they are big lumps of timber, and probably pretty grubby.

I would pressure clean them, and belt sand them down. I think you'd be able to remove enough material with a normal belt sander without going the floor sander route.
I'd be careful of the duty time on the sander though. Do one and then give the tool a rest.

Thanks. Pressure cleaned them today. Heaps of crap cames off them! Looking a look cleaner now. Started removing remaining spikes in them. Should I use some cleaning product/acid on them as well? Or a wire brush wheel on angle grinder? Before sanding do you think?

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Or a wire brush wheel on angle grinder?

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Yep.

G'day,

A word of warning - be sure the timbers have not been coated in lead paint or some other timber preservative.

Can kinda cause problems if it has.

Cheers