Grey color in wood?

[imascrollman]

I have a question for the group.

I have a project on the work bench that requires a wood to appear to be grey.
I don't normally use stain, so I'm unfamiliar with available colors. I don't want to use paint on this project, it needs to have a wood grain in it. I remember several years ago reading something about using steel wool and vinegar to get a grey color, but I'm unable to find the magazine that had this article.
I figured Id use this forum and see what experts may know, or remember about this process.

Thanks

Randy Anderson
www.randyswoods.com - Home
randyswoods@q.com

[Wood Dog]

Randy check out this link by Jim Mex, very informative
Ebonizing woods - some test sample results

[Jan]

Ebonizing wood turns the woods various colors depending on the tannic acid levels in the wood. Those with high tannic acid levels turn black, hence "ebonizing". Check the Handsome Woodman site or the Ocooch Hardwoods site for "blue pine". We call it blue, but it's actually a blue gray color that is left after western pine beetles attack the tree. I think you might be happy with it.

Jan

[will8989]

And blue pine does change to gray when you dip it in oil. Makes great birdhouses!!

[Forester21]

I used the ebonizing solution on aspen / popple wood and it turned it a dark grey.
You can see it on the "rocks" in my avatar...

T

[Joel Kaufman]

I picked up some fresh Buckeye recently when I was in Ohio to make some bottle stoppers as a gift for the host of the trip I went on. When I left Ohio the wood was as white as aspen. I left the log rounds outside for two months and the when I cut a few blanks out of it, I noticed that the wood had dramatic grey stains going through it. It will make some beautiful little bottle stoppers.

Now for the intarsia side of me...I have several upcoming projects that I would like to have several shades of grey. I plan to slice several of the stained Buckeye logs into planks that I can cut out on the scrollsaw. The grey areas are quite large and I can definitely place patterned pieces within the grey areas.

[Janette]

Buckeye, blue pine and hackberry come to mind. You can get blue pine at the handsome woodman. The others may be harder to come by.

[imascrollman]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

I think the Ebonizing technique was the one I was looking for. I did some test pieces on various kinds of wood. My project turned out great!. The grey I came up with looked like an old barn wood which is what I was trying to come up with.

I'll post some pictures of the process and the project later. I'll probably do it in the "How to" Blog.

Thanks again

Randy

[Rolf]

Randy , a picture of your project would be nice here.