Ebonizing Walnut

[Ernie Kuhn]

Turning a small bowl out of dry walnut. Can I use the steel wool/white vinegar mix to ebonize it?
Ernie

[Jim Becker]

I know that works for woods that have a lot of tanin, such as oak, but I'm not sure for walnut. Suitable alternatives are India ink or black shoe polish...

[Ernie Kuhn]

Thanks Jim. The India ink sounds more like its for sure. Will do that with lacquer over the top.
Ernie

[sol ramos]

black leather shoe dye, i swear by it for ebonising projects.

[James Kuhn]

I've used the vin/iron method and the dye method with quartersawn walnut and they both work fine. The chemical process preserves more of the original figure but can take more than one "dose" to get right. The dye process is fast and repeatable but homogenizes the tones a bit too much for my taste.



btw: Are you a "Coon" or a "Keeoon"?

[Ernie Kuhn]

Sol, James,
Thank you both. I have two bowls working at the moment and will definitely try one of each.
James, the pronunciation is the Germanic, as in RaCOON. There is no "umlaut" over the "u". At least that's how my dad and my grandmother pronounced it, and both were emigres from Germany.
Will post pics of both in a couple of weeks or so, when they are done.
Ernie

[Richard Link]

You might want to check this out (uses ebonized walnut):

http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=65060

Rick

[Ernie Kuhn]

Rick,
Thank you. Further convinced me that I really want to try ebonizing.
Ernie