How to Ebonize wood... - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Trout · 06-14-2006, 11:51 PM

I got this Ebonizing recipe with a pattern...

This solution works on Aromatic cedar, Butternut, Cherry, Mahogany, Oak, Walnut and Maple...(but does not work on Poplar)...

Put a cource steelwool pad in a plastic jar with a plastic lid, this is best to use because the lid wonâ€™t rust. Add enough ordinary Vinegar to cover the steelwool and loosely cap. Set aside for a day or two. Strain the vinegar throught a cloth, donâ€™t squeeze the vinegar out of the pad or you may get bits of metal in the liquid, which will rust.

Brush on the vinegar solution, the wood will turn black resembling ebony.

Note: The wood must be sanded as the solution dosen't work well on planed wood..

Diluting the solution with water creates a lighter shade...

Trout

Marcel in Longueuil · 06-15-2006, 03:07 AM

It does work on poplar.

Dip it in tea first.

I'm not joking, try it on a scrap piece.

Regards,
Marcel

lucky788scroller · 06-15-2006, 03:07 AM

There is a photo of a black lab clock in my gallery that was ebonized red oak.
Heres a good place to learn all sorts of great ideas to play with on wood http://www.macsimmons.com/macsnotebookindex.html dale

Trout · 06-15-2006, 03:35 AM

I was reading the painting thread and Rolf replied saying that SSW was going to have a article about ebonizing in an up coming issue and that Canadian Scroller was planning on doing a project using this technique...

I'm just hoping that my wife sent my subscription in on time for me to get that issue so I can learn more about it too..

The recipe came with my Striped bass pattern and I wanted to stay true to the pattern so I tried it and that's how I found that it doesn't take to poplar..

Trout

Gill · 06-15-2006, 07:58 AM

Hi Trout

Have you seen this thread?

Gill

Trout · 06-15-2006, 01:00 PM

you know that thread you referred to started the day I joined this group...
and I'm sure with a group like this the topic has been discussed many times...

Trout

CanadianScroller · 06-15-2006, 01:14 PM

Years ago I met a Swedish Master Carver in Langford BC.
He made all his own dies and stains. He mentioned using everything from vinegar to walnut husks.
I came upon this site today and want to pass it on.
There are some great alternate colouring ideas. One of them I have used already, shoe polish. I used a brown shoe polish to rub on some carved and painted Santas I did once,. The effect was a great patina making them look old and folksy.

Jediscroller · 06-15-2006, 11:18 PM

GREAT link Carl!!!! Thanks.

irish · 06-22-2006, 02:06 PM

Does anyone know if ebonizing a project will it fade after a certain period of time or will it maintain it darkness ?
Irish

Jediscroller · 06-22-2006, 02:10 PM

Irish,
I don't think it will fade. The vinegar solution soaks into the wood as a stain would. If anything, I think it will get darker with age.

06-14-2006, 11:51 PM	#1
Trout MrsTrout's Husband Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hayward Calif. Posts: 1,914	How to Ebonize wood... I got this Ebonizing recipe with a pattern... This solution works on Aromatic cedar, Butternut, Cherry, Mahogany, Oak, Walnut and Maple...(but does not work on Poplar)... Put a cource steelwool pad in a plastic jar with a plastic lid, this is best to use because the lid wonâ€™t rust. Add enough ordinary Vinegar to cover the steelwool and loosely cap. Set aside for a day or two. Strain the vinegar throught a cloth, donâ€™t squeeze the vinegar out of the pad or you may get bits of metal in the liquid, which will rust. Brush on the vinegar solution, the wood will turn black resembling ebony. Note: The wood must be sanded as the solution dosen't work well on planed wood.. Diluting the solution with water creates a lighter shade... Trout

06-15-2006, 03:07 AM	#2
Marcel in Longueuil Gone to the Dark Side Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Québec, Canada Posts: 1,118	It does work on poplar. Dip it in tea first. I'm not joking, try it on a scrap piece. Regards, Marcel __________________ http://marleb.com DW788. -Have fun in the shop or it isn't a hobby anymore. NOTE: No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

06-15-2006, 03:35 AM	#4
Trout MrsTrout's Husband Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hayward Calif. Posts: 1,914	the only reason I posted this... I was reading the painting thread and Rolf replied saying that SSW was going to have a article about ebonizing in an up coming issue and that Canadian Scroller was planning on doing a project using this technique... I'm just hoping that my wife sent my subscription in on time for me to get that issue so I can learn more about it too.. The recipe came with my Striped bass pattern and I wanted to stay true to the pattern so I tried it and that's how I found that it doesn't take to poplar.. Trout

06-15-2006, 07:58 AM	#5
Gill Fallen Angel Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,608	Hi Trout Have you seen this thread? Gill __________________ There is no opinion, however absurd, which men will not readily embrace as soon as they can be brought to the conviction that it is readily adopted. (Schopenhauer, Die Kunst Recht zu Behalten)

06-15-2006, 01:00 PM	#6
Trout MrsTrout's Husband Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hayward Calif. Posts: 1,914	Thanks Gill you know that thread you referred to started the day I joined this group... and I'm sure with a group like this the topic has been discussed many times... Trout

06-15-2006, 03:07 AM	#3
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,338	There is a photo of a black lab clock in my gallery that was ebonized red oak. Heres a good place to learn all sorts of great ideas to play with on wood http://www.macsimmons.com/macsnotebookindex.html dale

06-15-2006, 01:14 PM	#7
CanadianScroller Moderator CUT IT OUT Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chilliwack British Columbia, Canada Posts: 3,881 Blog Entries: 12	Alternate colouring methods Years ago I met a Swedish Master Carver in Langford BC. He made all his own dies and stains. He mentioned using everything from vinegar to walnut husks. I came upon this site today and want to pass it on. There are some great alternate colouring ideas. One of them I have used already, shoe polish. I used a brown shoe polish to rub on some carved and painted Santas I did once,. The effect was a great patina making them look old and folksy. __________________ CAЯL HIRD-RUTTEЯ "proud member of the best scroll sawing forum on the net." Ryobi SC180VS scroll saw EX21

06-15-2006, 11:18 PM	#8
Jediscroller American Craftsman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,153 Blog Entries: 6	GREAT link Carl!!!! Thanks. __________________ Kevin Scrollsaw Patterns Online Making holes in wood with an EX-30, Craftsman 16" VS, Dremel 1680 and 1671

06-22-2006, 02:06 PM	#9
irish Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 58	fading Does anyone know if ebonizing a project will it fade after a certain period of time or will it maintain it darkness ? Irish

06-22-2006, 02:10 PM	#10
Jediscroller American Craftsman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,153 Blog Entries: 6	Irish, I don't think it will fade. The vinegar solution soaks into the wood as a stain would. If anything, I think it will get darker with age. __________________ Kevin Scrollsaw Patterns Online Making holes in wood with an EX-30, Craftsman 16" VS, Dremel 1680 and 1671

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