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mystery ebonising technique - help please

10/5/15       
Richard Cook

Website: http://ludswood.co.uk

I came accross an ebonizing method online but have lost the link. Does anyone recognise the method from these details?
The first process makes the wood slightly green, not black at all. But when oil (linseed or such) is applied as a finish, it turns full black. If you have any idea please pass it on. Cheers.

10/5/15       #2: mystery ebonising technique - help ...
Paul Snyder  Member

Hi Richard - It sounds like you’re looking for iron sulfate (aka, ferrous sulfate or green copperas). One of the uses for iron sulfate is to lower the alkalinity of soil (making it more acidic) so that plants will get nice and green - but it’s usually mixed with other ingredients – so it’s not pure. It’s also used as a diet supplement for people with low iron (again – not pure).

One supplier of pure ferrous sulfate (in the U.S.) is woodfinishingenterprises.com/dyes.html . They have the formula to mix up the blackening solution in the product description. Apply coats repeatedly until the wood is dark grey-black and then wash it with clean water to remove the excess iron (you don’t want to see rust under your finish).

Hobbyists and “old school” finishers like to make their own iron sulfate by putting de-oiled steel wool in a glass container with a mild acid (e.g., vinegar) and letting it stew for a week or more (it gets darker with time). The drawback of this method is that the concentration is not consistent. Also, don’t tighten the lid to the jar as the reaction produces hydrogen gas that will burst the glass.

10/9/15       #3: mystery ebonising technique - help ...
Richard Cook

Hi Paul,

thanks for hyour help with this. I've just managed to get back to the colouring now. I found that somebody gave me a small jar of coperas a year or two ago - i didn't know what it was. But I am confused as to the relationship between the iron and vinegar method (which i've used for a while) and the coperas - which i've never used. I will start to experiment in any case and see what happens. All the best, Richard

10/12/15       #4: mystery ebonising technique - help ...
Rick Mosher  Member

Website: profinisher.blogspot.com/

I believe the process is one described in detail in Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking Book 2. It is a 2 part stain using copper sulfate and potassium chlorate in the first solution and aniline hydrochloride and ammonium chloride in the second solution. You mix the 2 together right before using, apply 3 coats and then apply the oil. I have tried it many years ago on walnut and it was beautiful.

Tage Frid Book 2

10/13/15       #5: mystery ebonising technique - help ...
Richard Cook

Website: http://ludswood.co.uk

Hi Rick, thanks for the post. It sounds very promising. I'll get onto buying a copy of this book.
Cheers! Richard

10/13/15       #6: mystery ebonising technique - help ...
Richard Cook

It seems that potassium chlorate is a "regulated explosive precursor" in the u.k.
at least is is at ">40% w/w" (not sure what the w/w means). maybe a weak mixture of it is possible to buy. i will continue to check this out...
i have a fealing this finish is the one i'm after if its feasible


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