Cleaning a oak beam?
 

I've had a oak beam fitted recently above my log burner and the builder plastered up to it and on it. What's the best way to get the plaster off the beam without ruining it.

Don't know about oak. You'd best speak to Bubba.
I've had plaster work done and the mess on the wooden staircase, you have no idea. I've been using soapy water. Done it a few times now and still got more to get off. It's working and doesn't seem to have harmed the wood. Slow going though :thumb:

+1 for Bubba. :thumb:

Depends on how bad it is..

I would just chip off the worst bits then rub down where required.

What kind of oak is it and how is it finished ?

I just wonder if you scraped the worst off and then use a hard scrubbing brush and water would do it?

dl

Get it off as soon as possible - if the plaster's gone onto untreated oak it will react with it and leave a dark stain which penetrates below the surface of the wood. If this has happened then the only remedy is to sand the affected wood back, or scrape it with a cabinet scraper. If the beam's been polished then there's less likelihood of staining. I would do exactly as David Lock suggested, only I would rub gently with water and a green scrubber, going with the grain.

Hope it comes up ok.

The wood is untreated and some of it has gone a dark colour, I will do as people have said and hopefully most of it will scrub off if not the sandpaper will have to come out. Just hope it hasn't gone to deep.

It's not going to ruin the beam, mate - oak is one of the most durable woods on the planet - it will last a thousand years in the right conditions. :D You're not going to knack it up with a bit of sandpaper. Just scrape off the stain an it'll be as right as ninepence. :)