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
Since ebony is so expensive ($100 per bd-ft around here), see if you can return the piece(s) you bought and pick through the stock to find some without stripes. You may have to wait for the lumberyard to get some new stock - or look for a different species of ebony.
Dye it with black ink jet printer ink.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
Larry,
Guitar makers have long dealt with this "problem" by dyeing the striped ebony a uniform very dark black-brown. You can find specific ebony dyes at luthier sites. Or you can make your own with aniline dye and alcohol.
But why not leave the striped ebony as is?
Rich
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