How goes it,
I’m wanting to get into fuming white oak and am concerned about the finished color variation between boards. I realize that using lumber from the same tree would be ideal, but I’m not sure that I can accomplish that from the suppliers I use. The piece I’m considering fuming is a farely large sideboard, so there will be several different boards used. Before I even start milling the lumber, could I cut a small piece from each board and fume them to see which boards would go well with one another, or is that a waste of time? Also, after the side board was fumed and I noticed color variation,(for example, one leg is darker than the rest) could I block off the fumes from that leg using tape, and leave the whole piece fuming so that the rest would catch up with that leg?, or is that a terrible idea that I should be embarrassed to have asked. If there are any secret tricks that you have to offer, I promise not to tell anyone.
God bless, and happy paintings(Bob Ross)
Thanks,
Jeremiah
Replies
"Before I even start milling the lumber, could I cut a small piece from each board and fume them to see which boards would go well with one another, or is that a waste of time?"
Well, I hope it's not a waste of time, because that's exactly what I'm planning to do in a couple of weeks. I have a bunch of white oak to make into baseboard and trim, and I want everything to match reasonably well, so my plan is to do a practice fuming run on cutoffs before committing the actual pieces.
I don't think blocking off parts of the finished piece with tape will work. The ammonia penetrates very deeply into the wood (at least 3/8" into a sample piece I fumed overnight), so it will easily go "around corners." It would be best to fume before assembly.
-Steve
Steve,
Thanks for the reply- helpful information. This will be my first time fuming so if you have any other suggestions on how to smooth on through this process, I would appreciate it.
Thanks again Steve,
Jeremiah
I'm pretty much a fuming beginner, too. I'll let you know how I make out.
-Steve
Dear Jeremiah,
Check the "Finish Line" article that Kelly Dunton wrote in FWW #186 about how to fume oak. He explains how he adjusted fuming times to try to balance out the color.
David Heim
Managing Editor
FineWoodworking.Com
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