Replies

1. 
   john_c2 | Mar 14, 2021 06:19pm | #1

   Never even considered it. I've only used it outdoors.

2. 
   hotdogman | Mar 15, 2021 02:17am | #2

   Ammonia reacts chemically with the tannins in wood. Oak and Walnut have a high tannin content and ammonia will darken them easily. I don't know if Ipe has much tannin. I suggest you buy a bottle of Janitorial Ammonia at Ace Hardware and experiment. Janitorial Ammonia is a 10% Ammonia which will darken tannins over time but won't do you harm. Take a small piece of Ipe and some Ammonia in a glass or plastic container and put both under an upside down sealed up box or plastic tent. Let it sit for a couple of days and see what result you get.

3. 
   _mj_ | Mar 15, 2021 07:04am | #3

   I have anhydrous ammonia and all of what is needed for safety, I've fumed many times. I'm just looking for others' experience as to whether Ipe is worth the effort.

1. 
   hotdogman | Mar 15, 2021 08:25am | #4

   Try a small piece and see what happens.

4. 
   _mj_ | Mar 15, 2021 08:33am | #5

   Yes, thanks, I know. If there is anyone out there that has tried this in the past please chime in and let me know what you've found.

5. 
   user-7022764 | Mar 15, 2021 10:46am | #6

   I know Ipe will fume plastics. Had a bunch in my wife's car trunk years ago and it turned a case of water bottles and some other things yellow. Such weird stuff.

6. 
   _mj_ | Mar 25, 2021 01:31pm | #7

   Just a followup on this thread. I decided against the ammonia fume because I tested with heat first. The photo shows Ipe before and after 4 hours at 400 degrees. I wrapped the wood airtight in heavy foil. It darkened to almost jet black.

   I had similar results with Cherry.

   
1. 
   john_c2 | Mar 25, 2021 06:56pm | #9

   Now I want to try cooking some wood.

7. 
   user-7022764 | Mar 25, 2021 01:53pm | #8

   Nice follow up. What a nice look without chemicals.

8. 
   mikaol | Mar 25, 2021 08:29pm | #10

   Or, you could try vinegar.

9. 
   _mj_ | Mar 25, 2021 09:49pm | #11

   Have you tried vinegar on Ipe? What were your results like?

10. 
    bluemo | Mar 25, 2021 10:00pm | #12

    _MJ_ That sure looks like a fretboard in #7... but what's the instrument?

1. 
   _mj_ | Mar 26, 2021 09:58am | #14

   @ Bluemo, It's a soprano ukulele. I am at the scary stage of taking it to the router table to make rabbets for the bindings.

   
1. 
   bluemo | Mar 26, 2021 12:08pm | #15

   Nice! Best of luck with the bindings and the completion of this project. Real craftsmanship is evident.

1. 
   _mj_ | Mar 26, 2021 07:20pm | #16

   It sounds like you've done this before, any tips? I am using stewmac plastic bindings, 2 layers B&W. This is my first attempt. I have the stewmac binding glue. With so much time into the body I'm a bit skittish about it.

1. 
   bluemo | Mar 26, 2021 09:01pm | #17

   The only bindings I have done was on the straight neck of a lap-steel guitar, using products from Stewmac. So that was pretty simple in comparison to what you have. I can understand your hesitancy in going forward. No doubt you have checked the online videos for guitar bindings. I wish I had some masterful first-hand experience to offer - but I'm strictly amateur myself. So take some deep breaths, stay relaxed... and don't use too much glue.

11. 
    john_c2 | Mar 26, 2021 03:56am | #13

    Here is a research paper on ammonia fuming wood, with references to several others. It mentions the differences in color fastness ammonia compared to heating wood, too.

    https://www.ncsu.edu/bioresources/BioRes_07/BioRes_07_3_3767_Miklecic_SJ_Wood_Color_Change_NH3_Fuming_2762.pdf

    Scholarly articles on tannic acids in wood:

    https://scholar.google.fr/scholar?q=tree+species+with+tannic+acid&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi55aaKspTYAhVkAcAKHb26AWAQgQMILDAA

12. 
    bluemo | Mar 27, 2021 08:04pm | #18

    Short video about two slightly eccentric but charming luthiers. Short sequence on binding. Hope the link still works....

    https://norcalpublicmedia.org/media/com_joommedia/files/76/70/22/5c64b53fe3c79d4c420b38ef01199e1a.mp4