Accounts
Home Articles Forums Gallery Marketplace Videos
Super Resolution Thermal Imaging Camera
New here? How did you find us?

WoodCentral Forums

Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998

Finishing Opinion

Posts

Finishing Opinion

#1

Finishing Opinion

Raymond Overman in SC

>I recently have been trying some new techniques/ideas and had it in my mind to do something like this for some time. I've finished my turning and am now going into the sanding and finishing stage and I'm stuck. This piece was made from green pecan, alchohol dried, and pierced using a Dremel tool. It measures ~8 1/2 in diameter by 3 3/4 tall.

I'm not satisfied with the light wood of the pecan and have thought about ebonizing the piece. Then finishing with a glossy lacquer. The wood is fairly open grained. Can I use a sanding sealer to seal the grain, sand until I have a smooth surface, then ebonize it? What will be the best method of ebonizing for such light wood? Will a steel wool/white vinegar solution darken it enough or will it look grey? Whatever technique I use, I'll have some scrap to test with. I just want some opinions before I run through the gambit of choices.

Thanks for your input and help.

Re: Finishing Opinion

#2

Re: Finishing Opinion

Raymond Overman in SC

>Hmm, no pic. Try again...


img

Re: Finishing Opinion

#3

wow

Raymond Overman in SC

>116 woodturners and no opinions or ideas on how to finish this piece? Is it that bad? Should I put it in the scrap heap and start over on something else?

I at least got a little more practice with my gouge and thinner walls on a green turning so all was not lost.

Re: Finishing Opinion

#4

Re: Finishing Opinion

MikeinCapeMay

>I've never dealt with pecan, does it have a tannin level that suggests steel wool and vinegar will work? I assume it's an open grained wood...I'd try sanding sealer followed by black leather dye and I'd also try the sealer followed by aniline dye.....on scrap.

Re: Finishing Opinion

#5

Re: Finishing Opinion

JamieDonaldson

>If you expect the dye to uniformly penetrate the wood then don't use any sealer- it will make the stain or dye blotchy because it can't penetrate thru the sealer to the wood.

Re: Finishing Opinion

#6

Re: Finishing Opinion

Raymond Overman in SC

>Thanks guys, the black leather dye will be a good place to start. I'm afraid the steel wool/vinegar solution won't go dark enough.

Re: Finishing Opinion

#7

There is always black spray paint!

Paul Porter in Phoenix, AZ

>

Re: Finishing Opinion

#8

The object of ebonizing

Fred in NC

>Is to imitate ebony. Ebony is not a uniform black. Light sanding after ebonizing brings out the grain by contrast. Not all woods can be ebonized, and I am not sure about pecan. The wood needs tannin to react with the vinager/iron. I have heard that you can paint the wood with a strong tea to put some tannin in before ebonizing. I never tried it.

I have used dye before. It will not penetrate well after a sealer. Most of the time I can sand to bring out the grain.

Re: Finishing Opinion

#9

Re: The object of ebonizing

Arch

>I've heard that a less messy and perhaps a better controlled ebonizing method than nails & vinegar is to use a 'liquid iron' product from the garden shop. It is not expensive, derived from iron sulfate and used to prevent yellowing of ornamentals. I've never tried it, but probably someone here has used this product will share their experience and correct my chemistry.

Sharpened ebony scraps are great for blackening grooves and bands. Just be sure not put a finish on first.

Turn to Safety, Arch

× Share

Share on

X / Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
✉ Email this page