I’m completing a very small cabinet of tiger maple with two strips of ebony along the center edges of the doors. The ebony is a very rich solid black. I’ve now decided to put a small strip of ebony to form a small lip along the back of the top.
The Gaboon Ebony I just purchased for the lip has a few brown stripes running through it and I’d like to get it to a solid black look. How should I do it?
Replies
I'd use black transtint or some similar black dye. I thin it per directions, using denatured alcohol to avoid grain raising.
That said, and I know you didn't ask this..smile, I'd leave the brown streaks in it..to mark it as "real" wood and "real" ebony. So much plastic and black-dyed maple out there, why not boast that you're using the real stuff..complete with character!
Good luck.
lp
Good idea -- this morning when polishing my shoes, I rubbed a little Kiwi black shoe polish on the strip of ebony. The polish blackened it nicely in the areas where there was faint brown grain and left the brown highlights in areas where the brown was more prominent. So I'm pleased with the results. I got the stronger black I wanted similar to the other pieces of ebony along the door edges, and enough brown to show that it's real ebony -- as you suggested. Thanks!
You're welcome, Larry.
I just hate to lose the integrity of real wood..in this age of plastic.
In my neck of the woods, Ebony runs around $40 per bf...I buy the "scrap" bags of ebony..and THOSE cost around $25..but for my little Ebony plugs, etc they're fine..and the right price to boot!
I'd want everyone to know I'm using "the real stuff".
I did an art show this weekend and had some pictures of beautiful quartersawn White Oak tables that I just shipped to South Carolina..and someone came up to the booth and asks me where I get such pretty figured plywood. Ack!
Keep it up!!
Larry Pile
http://www.kesslercraftsman.com
So much for the taste of some people!
You get ebony for only $40/bf? My supplier charges that much just to look at it. Costs more if you want to touch it.
Give your Ebony time to aclimate to your shop ... often a year or more. Much of what is imported is far from being dry enough to use, especially coming from suppliers who sell out of it several times a year.
John
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