Ebonizing Wood Article

[miniwoodworker]

Picked up a copy of Popular Woodworking (issue #176 June 09) yesterday. It has a great article on ebonizing wood using a technique that I haven't heard of before now.

Most of the process is as we normally do it with vinegar and steel wool. The unique part is that it also uses bark powder tea (Quebracho bark powder available from Van Dyke's Taxidermy).

The article goes in depth on the techniques on ebonizing, so even if you don't use the bark powder, it's well worth the read. For example, some of the info on how to sand to achieve the color I hadn't heard before.

BTW, their web site isn't updated yet for this issue. Don't know if there'll be more info on this article later.

Anyway, this issue is well worth owning for that article alone. There's some other good woodworking stuff, too.

[tony coleman]

jim mex already done a piece on ebonizing on these pages not so long ago.he also posted pic,s of diffferent wodds ebonized and results of same.he also used the vineger and steel wool mix....

[jim_mex]

Hi Lee - Nice find and a particularly interesting article for me... read on!

Darn it, sometimes the things that can help you are sitting right there under your nose!!! Quebracho is used extensively here in Mexico in the tanning industry and also in my own industry (ceramics) where it is a used as an aid to deflocculation of casting slips - used to produce pottery pieces from clay water suspensions poured into plaster of paris molds.

Quebracho is an extremely rich source of tannin - not so dissimilar to the idea of using strong tea to assist in increasing the ebonization effect. It is an extremely fine powder and is very similar in appearance to tobacco snuff, and it gets everywhere if you are not careful when using it. Its also a pretty strong colourant with a rich reddish brown colour. Best of all its something I always keep a small stock of in my shed as 'magic dust' for helping pottery clients resolve casting slip problems.

Now where did i put that jar!!!

PS - wonder what the taxidermists use it for? - now you've got me curious and eager to hit Google

[miniwoodworker]

Jim, I'm glad you found the article to be of interest, especially after all that great work and info in your recent thread.

According to the article, Q bark powder is used in tanning hides. I do hope you'll get a copy of the article, as there are numerous tips throughout both for the vinegar mix and using the powder. Wish I could post them here, but I don't want to violate PW's copyright.

Glad you have the powder and already know some things about it. I'm sure we'll be seeing the results of your experimentations, soon. Do keep us updated, as I, for one, would like to know more about what you think of the technique.

[miniwoodworker]

Jim, did you find that jar, and experiment yet?

[lucky788scroller]

There was this one Lee.. Ebonizing woods - some test sample results

[jim_mex]

Hi Dale - Lee's already seen that thread and was asking if I'd followed up with the tests using quebracho

Hi Lee - and the answer I'm afraid is 'not yet'. After spending a couple of weeks wondering where I'd put my sample my wife finally admitted that whilst i was on my last overseas assignment she had a cleanup in my shed and broke a couple of jars containing what she thought were simple to find concrete pigments - I'd been colouring some home made garden slabs just before I went away and put some of the pìgments in flasks to stop them blowing everywhere. Anyway the top and bottom of it is my quebracho got dumped! Unfortunately i got mine from a small supplier from about 600 kms away some 5 years back and i don't have a name to contact. I've tried to scrounge a sample from a local shoe maker who also tans leather and am waiting for reply. failing that I need to search around Mexico City. I will get the tests done but because of this accident its slipped down the priority list. I'll post as and when i get the material and complete the test

[jim_mex]

Hi again Lee - i just read the article you mentioned in Popular Woodworking. Its got a couple of interesting ideas, which may also explain why my black tea results weren't as successful as i thought they might be, in particular the idea of applying tea to the wood both before and after applying the iron solution. In my temporary absence of quebracho I'm going to try that test first.

btw way - I've also found that strong red wines and pomegranate juice are other rich sources of tannin - looks like we are in for a feast!

[miniwoodworker]

Jim, I also thought the info on the right way to sand to get the best results was interesting, too.

Do hope you get another source for quebracho. I sure hate to hear your supply was discarded. (sigh) Since you already have experience using it for other purposes, you're already one jump ahead of most of the rest of us.

I've been wondering about acorns as a source for tannin. I need to go back and look up again, the info on converting those for use as food. If memory serves, one of the first steps was to soak to remove the tannin. Since acorns are readily available in a lot of areas, this might prove to be a better option than tea.

Now where did I put google? :-)

Looking forward to seeing your results when you get round-toit.

Lee

[dragyn]

For those that did not get the magazine, the article is now up on thier website.

IF you want the link, please PM me.