QuestionableMaynard8130 wrote on Feb 22
nd, 2015 at 4:04pm:
many old time stock (and furniture) makers used a stain brewed from alkanet root shavings long-soaked in turpentine to even out color irregularities in walnut wood. My understanding is that it was standard practice at Winchester and perhaps others.
I bought a packet of Alkanet shavings years ago from Dick Binger I believe he used it when doing Winchester stocks. He told me to put it in a small bottle of natural turp. and just let its soak like a "sun tea". Then when doing a stock once its all sanded but before applying any finish rub the turp.- based stain into the wool and let it soak in and dry before applying any finish. Alkanet can be googled to find sources.
If you want to 'age' walnut (or many other hardwoods - all fruitwoods, oak and mahogany to mention a few), make a weak solution of potassium dichromate and apply it with a brush or swab. Reapply until you have the desired colour.
Note - this is not a stain, this oxidises the wood to the colour that age would naturally bestow, and unlike stain, it does the job properly. By that I mean, the harder (winter growth, etc) parts take on more depth of colour, and the softer areas, less.
Staining imparts a 'negative' quality to the wood, where the softer areas soak-up more stain, leaving the harder areas lighter, and in some cases, almost untouched.
You can use chromic acid instead or, I am informed, ammonia. (But haven't tried ammonia, yet...)
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Aonghas
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Duplicating original stock finishes (Read 16753 times)
