Hello all,
I’ve just finished a display case in mahogany that I attempted to ebonize. ( Epiphanes gloss top coat ) Things didn’t go so well with the ebonizing process. I used Minwax “Ebony” stain. The problem was I couldn’t get the wood dark enough and also get the stain to dry. I wanted an almost black finish with just a hint of the amber coming through. Some areas were dryer than others due to intentionally removing more stain with the rag in those areas and in other areas intentionally leaving it almost black. So anyway the darker wetter areas never completley dried. Encouraged by sucess with my samples I went ahead and put on the priming coat. ( You know whats coming next don’t you ) The solvents in the varnish softened the stain and mixed together. Result: black cloudyness. ( I can’t explain why this didn’t happen on my samples yet did on the actual case) The results were in the end acceptable, yet not what I wanted.
So, my question to all of you has not so much to do with how to fix this project but rather, what should I have done differently from the start. Was the ebony stain the wrong product to use. The maximum “darkness” that I could achieve after wiping the surface dry was a lot “lighter” than I wanted.
Is there another ebony stain on the market that perhaps has drying agents in it?
What about dye?
I experimented early on with a vinegar and rusted steel solution a la George Frank. Perhaps I should have considered this option more seriously?
Could laquer have been applied effectively on top of a less than completely dry stain?
Gotta get to work now!!
As always I appreciate the feedback!
Replies
Hi,
Recently, I wanted to 'lightly' darken some walnut using the steelwool and vinegar stain. It turned the samples jet black with, because I think it was a water based stain, some elements of the walnut showing through.
In the past when I have needed to ebonize something, I've used a water-based black followed by a oil-based black. Try to use warm blacks - with no hint of blue - as the cool colours will clash unattractively with your warm coloured mahogany.
India ink (office supply) works well on maple, don't know about any other wood.Regards
Jerry
A waterbased aniline dye, such as Transfast or Transtint, or the Lockwood dyes such as carried by Woodworkers Supply (under their own Moser label) will do a good job. Since the dye has no binder, if it isn't dark enough on the first try, you can put on more dye after the first coat has dried.
"I've used a water-based black followed by a oil-based black"It's sounds like you mean paint...? .... do you??-EWE
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