Looking for help in how the purple color of walnut will change over time. My project is walnut trim for the inside of our home we are refinishing, it is a post and beam house built in the 70’s. We are replacing all the trim with walnut that I am making. Started w/ logs, cut, air dryed 12 months to around 18% MC, and then kiln dried (not steam just heat for 2 to 3 months, to 5 to 6 % MC).
The walnut has a purple tone, and my question is will this go away w/ exposure to sunlight? How will the color change over time w/exposure to sunlight. I have been working for several weeks w/ water dyes to get a color we like. Purpose of the dye is to make more of the walnut usuable, using heart wood but some of it has different tone.
I have been using Jeff Jewitt’s article, “Warmer Walnut” as a guide along w/his “TransTint”. The colors I get are more of a golden brown.
I do not have any old natural American Black Walnut furnature to compare to. An 1870’s walnut armoire from Germany is golden brown, but not sure this is the same as American black walnut.
Summary, two questions: 1). How will the purple tone change over time: and How will the overall color change, to what tones, and how much ligther 20%, 50 %.
thanks, have been working on samples for several weeks.
Les Otte
Replies
look at pics in "biggest screw up - update". Analine dye - Mosers light golden brown (alcohol soluble) As for color change, I think its pretty safe to say that light will turn dark and dark light. If you want the old walnut color now, then you are going to have to dye as there wont be a significant color change for quite awhile. You can probably start it though by placing wood outside in direct sunlight for a few hours a day.
ky,
Sunlight will tend to bleach walnut. The purples will likely go to brown with application of finish, then will yellow over time with exposure to sunlight. The change is gradual, but will be noticeable pretty quickly (over a couple months) if a comparison is available, as a picture on a panelled wall being moved, or a vase on a tabletop. Even the most "permanent" stains and dyes will bleach out as well upon exposure to strong sunlight.
Regards,
Ray Pine
thanks for the help and reference to previous walnut finish post. I am still working w/tint color selection.
Current focus is #6005 dark walnut at 25% of suggest dilution, w/ dash of #6002 golden brown added. Sealing w/shallac that is wax free.
Have not tried a glaze yet to see its effect? thoughts?
Also need to select top coat material, plan to try Waterlox satin finish.
Jeff Jewitt's article/information is great help, and got me on the right path quickly. However for me it is hard to know/see what each process added to the final finish. I know what final finishes I like, but do not know what processes are needed/what each adds to the final finish look? I was thinking pictures of just samples of walnut after each process would provide a good idea of what they add to the final finish? FWW has had some article like this.
This trial and error exploring is fun but takes a lot of time, weeks so far, and not real close to complete formula for a finish.
Thanks again for the help.
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