Hi all… got a question from a reader… maybe someone here can help. Thanks, Gina, FineWoodworking.com
I am planning to turn a walking cane, ebonize the wood and outfit it with nickel plated regency style hardware. My question is which species of wood should I use both for structural strength and ability to take stain and provide a pleasing (realistic) color and grain pattern? I plan to color the wood using a water soluble aniline stain (ebony black). The wooden portion of the cane will be straight, ie. the crook of the handle is provided by the metal cane head. I am considering using cherry to turn the cane because I have it on hand and I have used it successfully to make a previous cane (natural finish, not ebonized). I am not committed to using cherry, however, and wish to use whichever species has the best properties listed above.
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Ebonizing Wood
Gina,
I have had pretty good luck "ebonizing" white oak which will surely meet the strength requirements but, as Steve pointed out, may or may not be the grain pattern you are looking for. I start with a chemical dye made from vinegar and steel wool which usually turns the oak a dark grey. Then I apply a coat or two of black analine dye to get to a good deep black color and then an appropriate clear coat. My (unproven) theory is that if the analine dye were to fade over time (I have read that analine dyes are not 100% light fast) then the underlying grey would make it less noticable. That said, I have not observed any color changes in the black picture frames I made 4+ years ago.
Chris
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