lightening finish/stain for redwood

[Acharya Kumarswami]

Does anyone have experience with any technique to lighten the color of redwood? I am planning a vaulted ceiling clad with wood and pondering the use of redwood, of which we have a goodly supply, but the dark color is someone of a design issue. Perhaps a pickling stain? But something that will not look like it's painted.

[Chris Vandiver]

It is very hard to make dark wood light without having a finish "on" the wood surface. I have worked quite a bit with redwood but haven't tried making it lighter. You might try a wood bleach. Or sell enough redwood and buy a more appropriate wood for your ceiling. Not many woods are more expensive than old growth redwood.