Replies

1. 
   Napie | Mar 09, 2010 08:31am | #1

   Dissolve some steel wool in vinegar for a few days, strain it then apply to the wood.  The iron reacts with the tannin in the oak and you’ll get a very nice black color with all the grain showing that you can apply any finish over.  I’ve used this for years to dye any wood with tannin in it with great success.  Note, this will raise the grain a bit so you'll need a very light sanding to knock down the fuzz.

2. 
   Lataxe | Mar 09, 2010 09:57am | #2

   GS,

   I'm sure Napie's method will work.  However, if you want to use a commercially available product you could try Liberon spirit dye (black) which is dense in colour but very thin so doesn't obscure the grain.  Being a spirit dye it also has the advantage that it doesn't raise the grain.

   Lataxe

1. 
   Napie | Mar 09, 2010 01:10pm | #3

   No doubt, though I will say the advantage of this old time method is that it chemically alters the woods color as opposed to a dye or stain.  Also it is dirt cheap (near free) and kinda fun to use.  

1. 
   peter28 | Mar 09, 2010 01:50pm | #4

   Napie,

   You neglected to tell him not to fasten a cover on the vinegar and iron mixture. It won't be there long if he does.

   Pros and cons; it does alter the wood chemically no doubt about that and is dirt cheap to make.

   It is not always as predictable as you may want due to different tannin contents of wood. You could always give the wood a pretreatment of tannic acid though. That's where the dye has superior control, it is more predictable. Plus you can alter a dye from cool to warm if desired.

   I recall a post you made a while ago that this site is DEAD. Does that make you the Phoenix? Interesting to see you pop up again.

1. 
   Lataxe | Mar 09, 2010 02:02pm | #5

   Peter,

   The Nap maybe somewhat of a kritic yet all in all I prefer him here rather than there.  After all, when he can stop karping he often lets slip a bit of useful knowledge, despite his anti-altruism relijin.

   I for one say: please stay.

   Lataxe, never a chap to hold others to their wilder utterances (having made plenty of his own when over-animated).

1. 
   gossamershavings | Mar 13, 2010 08:03pm | #6

   thanks for the advice...will try it on some scraps...let you know if it works!