Woodturner's Resource
Woodturner's Resource  
  • Featured Artist    • Websites   Support Wr
Tutorials, Projects & Tips   • Event Calendar   • Tool and Book Store
  Home Page Forum HelpSearch Map TPT Resources LoginRegister
 
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
Ebonizing wood (Read 3,007 times)
 
John Frigillana
Active Member
***
Offline


WR Rocks!

Posts: 153

Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA
Kaneohe
Hawaii
USA

Gender: male

Jet 1642
Ebonizing wood
Jun 5th, 2008 at 2:25pm
 
UndecidedAny suggesstions in ebonizing wood? Around the woods suggest steel wool and vinegar soak, anyone tried this method?
Back to top
  
 
IP Logged
 
Register To Remove Ads
Paul Zerjay
Senior Member
****
Offline


I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Posts: 311

Gender: male
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #1 - Jun 5th, 2008 at 2:44pm
 
Look under finishing
Back to top
  

Sometimes I mentor
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register
 
IP Logged
 
Rev. Doug Miller
WR Addict
*****
Offline


Working flat so I can
support my addiction.

Posts: 9,601

Hardinsburg, KY, Kentucky, USA
Hardinsburg, KY
Kentucky
USA

Gender: male
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #2 - Jun 5th, 2008 at 11:37pm
 
Steel wool soaked in vinegar for a few days is the best that I know about.  Works with the tannins in the wood.
CoolRev. Doug Miller
Back to top
« Last Edit: Jun 5th, 2008 at 11:37pm by Rev. Doug Miller »  

Mentor, Hardinsburg, KY.  Basics, bowls, platters, hollow forms, pens.  Send PM for more information or make reservation

Ears Are The Most
Important Tools For
Communication
WWW cmdmiller Doug Miller  
IP Logged
 
Stuart Ablett
Senior Member
****
Offline


Turning Japanese........

Posts: 277

Gender: male
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #3 - Jun 6th, 2008 at 7:50am
 
I use the Japanese "Fude Pen" (say Foo-Day) This is a pen that has a paint brush like tip, the "Ink" in the pen is ground up super fine charcoal and water. It is black, black, black.

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register

I sand to #400, then I seal it with sanding sealer,  sand to #400 again, then seal it again. Once I have a good smooth coat on the wood, I color it with the Fude pen, let it dry, and then hit it again, let it dry. Buff off any charcoal bits that have not stuck. Next, I speed it up to about 1800 RPM and use the turners Carnauba wax, and then buff it well.

The pieces come out like black glass  Smiley

Next time I do one, I'll try to get some pictures.

Cheers!
Back to top
  

“if you don’t read the newspapers you are uninformed — if you do read the newspapers you are misinformed.” Mark Twain
WWW  
IP Logged
 
Rev. Doug Miller
WR Addict
*****
Offline


Working flat so I can
support my addiction.

Posts: 9,601

Hardinsburg, KY, Kentucky, USA
Hardinsburg, KY
Kentucky
USA

Gender: male
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #4 - Jun 6th, 2008 at 8:11am
 
Another solution to this issue is to use indian ink.  You can still buy it at most office supply stores.  Sand the piece really smooth, use a small brush to apply the ink, let dry.  You may want to lightly sand after with 400 or 600 grit just to knock down any fuzzies that might be raised.  Apply finish and you're done.
CoolRev. Doug Miller
Back to top
  

Mentor, Hardinsburg, KY.  Basics, bowls, platters, hollow forms, pens.  Send PM for more information or make reservation

Ears Are The Most
Important Tools For
Communication
WWW cmdmiller Doug Miller  
IP Logged
 
thostorey
Active Member
***
Offline



Posts: 133

Gender: male
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #5 - Jun 8th, 2008 at 1:40am
 
I did the vinegar/metal/salt = rust and it took a few months to brew the rust solution. I tried it out on an oak bowl and I could not believe the chemical reaction, right before my eyes Shocked Instant ebony! Works on maple as well.
Back to top
  

A closed mouth gathers no feet.
 
IP Logged
 
Norbert Dupas
WR Addict
*****
Offline



Posts: 684

Oakbank, Manitoba, Canada
Oakbank
Manitoba
Canada

Gender: male
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #6 - Jun 8th, 2008 at 10:36am
 
Do you have a photo of the piece you Ebonized?  I would like to see the results.

...Bertthostorey wrote on Jun 8th, 2008 at 1:40am:
I did the vinegar/metal/salt = rust and it took a few months to brew the rust solution. I tried it out on an oak bowl and I could not believe the chemical reaction, right before my eyes Shocked Instant ebony! Works on maple as well.

Back to top
  

...Bert

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register
WWW  
IP Logged
 
Ron Sardo
WR Administrator
WR Patron
*****
Offline


Chief cook and bottle
washer

Posts: 9,673

Drums, Pennsylvania, USA
Drums
Pennsylvania
USA


PM 3520
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #7 - Jun 8th, 2008 at 12:28pm
 
Stuart Ablett wrote on Jun 6th, 2008 at 7:50am:
the "Ink" in the pen is ground up super fine charcoal and water. It is black, black, black.


Once upon a time the best printer's ink was made from coal soot.

Environmentalists threw a hissy fit and it is no longer on the market.
Back to top
  

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register
WWW  
IP Logged
 
Register To Remove Ads
Stuart Ablett
Senior Member
****
Offline


Turning Japanese........

Posts: 277

Gender: male
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #8 - Jun 9th, 2008 at 11:26am
 
Just curious, but steel wool is NOT in any local stores that I can find here, I guess it is not commonly used for much any more ?

I do have some "SOS" pads, but they are full of detergent, I guess I can try rinsing one or two of them out and see if I can rid them of the detergent.......

What kind of a mix are you guys recommending?

Also, "thostorey" mentioned that he added "Salt" to the mix, is that common? If so, how much and what kind of salt, sea salt, table salt.........?

Thanks Smiley
Back to top
  

“if you don’t read the newspapers you are uninformed — if you do read the newspapers you are misinformed.” Mark Twain
WWW  
IP Logged
 
Ron Sardo
WR Administrator
WR Patron
*****
Offline


Chief cook and bottle
washer

Posts: 9,673

Drums, Pennsylvania, USA
Drums
Pennsylvania
USA


PM 3520
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #9 - Jun 9th, 2008 at 11:50am
 
Stuart Ablett wrote on Jun 9th, 2008 at 11:26am:
Just curious, but steel wool is NOT in any local stores that I can find here, I guess it is not commonly used for much any more ?

Use rusty nails... just takes longer for the brew to get to full strength. Steel wool would take a few days, rusty nails a few weeks

Quote:
What kind of a mix are you guys recommending?

Mix? You mean ratio?  I never measured, I just add steel wool and vinegar. Once in a while I add a little more of either one when the jar get low.  I've been using the same jar now for maybe 8 years, maybe more. Now that I'm thinking of it, I'm going to add a few nails in my jar.


Quote:
Also, "thostorey" mentioned that he added "Salt" to the mix, is that common? If so, how much and what kind of salt, sea salt, table salt.........?

Just a dash of salt and pepper should work fine, and a little oregano might be nice too.

Back to top
« Last Edit: Jun 9th, 2008 at 11:52am by Ron Sardo »  

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register
WWW  
IP Logged
 
thostorey
Active Member
***
Offline



Posts: 133

Gender: male
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #10 - Jun 9th, 2008 at 3:13pm
 
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register

Here is the one I 'ebonized' with vinegar. Looks more brown in the photo than it really does in life.

Tom
Back to top
  

A closed mouth gathers no feet.
 
IP Logged
 
George Carrigan
Active Member
***
Offline


I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Posts: 134

Gender: male
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #11 - Jun 10th, 2008 at 9:51am
 
I've been using leather dye. I goes on real easy and dries almost instantly. You can get it a any Tandy Leather store or on  line. George
Back to top
  
WWW  
IP Logged
 
Ric Rountree
Active Member
***
Offline


WR Rocks!

Posts: 241

Gender: male
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #12 - Jun 10th, 2008 at 11:08am
 
George Carrigan wrote on Jun 10th, 2008 at 9:51am:
I've been using leather dye. I goes on real easy and dries almost instantly. You can get it a any Tandy Leather store or on  line. George


Leather dye sounds interesting.  What kind of finish do you apply over it?
Back to top
  

Roundwood
 
IP Logged
 
George Carrigan
Active Member
***
Offline


I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Posts: 134

Gender: male
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #13 - Jun 10th, 2008 at 12:05pm
 
I haven't tried finishing with anything yet. When doing a black hollow form you want the surface to be flat so that the viewer is looking strictly at the form and not at the wood or the finish. I've only buffed the surface by hand but I may try using the Beal buffer without the Carnuba. George
Back to top
  
WWW  
IP Logged
 
Ric Rountree
Active Member
***
Offline


WR Rocks!

Posts: 241

Gender: male
Re: Ebonizing wood
Reply #14 - Jun 10th, 2008 at 8:56pm
 
George Carrigan wrote on Jun 10th, 2008 at 12:05pm:
I haven't tried finishing with anything yet. When doing a black hollow form you want the surface to be flat so that the viewer is looking strictly at the form and not at the wood or the finish. I've only buffed the surface by hand but I may try using the Beal buffer without the Carnuba. George


I was thinking of using it to ebonize smaller pieces like finials and stands and was wondering if it needed a top coat of some kind.
Back to top
  

Roundwood
 
IP Logged
 
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print