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need help with ferrous sulfate on weathered pine

8/2/16       
Greg Besso Member

Website: http://bodobeers.wordpress.com

Hi all,

This is my first post, found this site on google searched, and you all sound quite knowledgeable on the topics. Hoping my question isn't annoying, it might be answered somewhere. I'm building a "beer keezer" which involves making a wooden collar to raise the freezer lid. I chose to use reclaimed wood on my project, and got some weathered pine planks. I cut them up, all is assembled, and am trying to apply a "ferrous sulfate" solution after reading all over the place.

I chose to use the iron "ferrous sulfate" pills and water instead of the steel wool + vinegar "ferrous acetate" option, as I wanted to avoid a brown color. Hoping that was my first "good choice" and not my first "mistake" hehe.

I also tried using green tea to apply tannins to the wood first. All seems to be working well, but I am noticing on my one test piece versus the actual chosen pieces that the effect is looking a bit different in spots. I'm guessing it's just the nature of the wood grains and how it absorbs.

I took a picture and not sure if it comes through, but the piece I'm holding up has a bit more of a lighter gray effect, and the one on the right is a bit darker and slightly brownish. I'd like to find a way to make that piece look more like the grayer one. Specifically where it's a nice lighter gray around the knot.

Does that make sense / might that be possible?

Thanks for any guidance all!
-Greg


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8/2/16       #2: need help with ferrous sulfate on w ...
Greg Besso Member

Also I should have mentioned. I also tried to apply this same technique to the back of the wood that was not weathered as a test, and also to a sanded section that removed the weathering. Neither of those got me the gray/silver look I was looking for. It was like a light greenish brown. Odd right? Anyway I can get pictures of that too if it would help to show what I might be doing wrong maybe?

8/2/16       #3: need help with ferrous sulfate on w ...
rich c.

Green tea is acidic? Why not use tannic acid? Iron oxide from rusty steel wool and vinegar does not give you a brown color. It's black in the container, not brown. Why are you trying to reinvent the process?

8/3/16       #4: need help with ferrous sulfate on w ...
Greg Besso Member

Hi Rich, thanks for responding. It's all new for me, I read that using green tea or black tea would be a way to get tannins added to the wood. I'd be happy to use the actual tannic acid, where might one get that?

Also I'll try another test batch with steel wool, but I thought it would go brown. Apparently after further reading I see conflicting results even on the same website I was referring to. I'll have to try it for myself.

The page I was referencing is posted here...

http://news.thefinishingstore.com/index.php/aging-and-antiquing-wood-part-2/

8/3/16       #5: need help with ferrous sulfate on w ...
rich c.

My best success with steel wool is to get it really rusted up before adding the vinegar. (falling apart, dusty rust) Some steel wool has a little oil added to keep it from rusting. I used to soak it in lacquer thinner, but now I leave it outside for a couple of weeks if possible. Just keep it slightly damp. If you soak it in water, the oxygen is limited and doesn't rust well. I buy the cheapest 0000 steel wool, it breaks down faster than course. I've only done this method on oak, but you can buy tannic acid on eBay or Amazon.

8/4/16       #6: need help with ferrous sulfate on w ...
rich c.

My best success with steel wool is to get it really rusted up before adding the vinegar. (falling apart, dusty rust) Some steel wool has a little oil added to keep it from rusting. I used to soak it in lacquer thinner, but now I leave it outside for a couple of weeks if possible. Just keep it slightly damp. If you soak it in water, the oxygen is limited and doesn't rust well. I buy the cheapest 0000 steel wool, it breaks down faster than course. I've only done this method on oak, but you can buy tannic acid on eBay or Amazon.

8/4/16       #7: need help with ferrous sulfate on w ...
Greg Besso Member

Hi Rich,

Thanks for those insights, I just tried a batch of 00 steel wool in vinegar and got a pretty strong reaction with it sitting just shy of 24 hours. It turned the test piece of wood almost black on all tests, even when I diluted a portion of the sample with 50% water. Not sure if that was even worth trying.

But yes good thing was no brown at all, which is what I'd like to avoid anyway.

I'll try another test with maybe 6-12 hours of sitting and see where that takes me. Would like to be able to get to a silvery gray color on this pine.

Thanks again!


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