Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Jul 18, 2011 05:25pm | #1

   No, the steel wool/vinegar method won't work satisfactorily on maple.  It has too little tannic acid.

   Nothing wrong with black paint.  Just thin oil based enamel about 20% or so to make it so that it doesn't build a paint like film. 

   Other approaches include India ink, and aniline dye. 

   With dye you may get a blotchy result.  In that case, go a good part of the way to black with the dye, seal it with shellac, and use a gel stain to get additional darkness.  Note: some dyes are warm black, others are cool black.  --

1. 
   cahudson42 | Jul 25, 2011 01:53am | #2

   Thanks Steve!

   I'll give the thinned oil enamel a try, and compare it to some aniline dye I ordered a while back and never used.

   Probably be a couple weeks before I get to it - even though its a small project (a coffee table height base for a Butler's Table I just finished.)

   Thanks again..

   Chris