I took some black walnut husks and let them decompose to black. I then soaked them in hot water first and let them them sit for 1 week. I strained it thru cheesecloth and the result is exceptionally good. I’m very pleased. I don’t like the fact that the homemade raises grain however. I go thru the steps to raise the grain before applying this homemade stain.
Later I tried to make the same mix using lacquer thinner, mineral spirits, and alcohol. It didn’t work. The husks didn’t disolve in the solvents.
Can you recommend a homemade walnut husk system that will results in a stain that doesn’t raise the grain.
TIA,
Don
Replies
Hi Don.
Although I've not tried this, It might be possible to make an alcohol based stain by "backing out" the water in the walnuts, or their extract. It's a time consuming procedure used in histology labs to make tissue samples (water based) take up stains (organic solvent based) for microscopy.
I would try first, with the water extract that you made. Using gentle heat and circulation of both extract and air on the surface, dry down the extract to full dryness (film). Be careful with the temperature as you approach full dry, you don't want to burn it. It might be a good idea to finish up with a heat lamp, increasing the distance as you approach dry. Take your time, maybe overnight.
If I were doing this in the lab, I would use a vacuume and add some anhydrous sodium sulfate to take up the remaining water.
After you get it dry, try to take up the stain with warm alcohol. It may take overnight, or even a couple of days.
Assuming this works, the resulting alcohol extract, may still raise the grain of your wood some, but probably not as much.
Unless you like playing with this sort of thing, you're probably better off doing as you have already, raising the grain first, then staining.
Tom
don't like the fact that the homemade raises grain however...
Gee... I'd expect that and gives a final chance at the 'scraper'.. All the last holdouts stick up!
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