MechanicalHg Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 I was watching Ellen's Design Challenge the other night where one designer used vinegar and steel wool to achieve a black matte finish. Can someone explain this process to me? Can you achieve varying degrees of oxidation (i.e. darkness)? Would you apply additional protection on top of it? Anyone ever use this technique? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Actually, woods with lower tannin levels respond to this treatment, but the color change is slower. I have used it on white pine to achieve a tone close to walnut heartwood, but it took several days to fully darken. Sealing the surface effectively arrests the color progression, as the sealer blocks oxygen from reaching the surface. Beware that results can vary widely. I spilled some solution on a piece of red oak veneered plywood, and it turned purple-black within seconds. Another time, red oak came out a dingy gray. The type of vinegar used (cider or distilled white) affects the color, as do contaminants in the steel wool (usually oils left from manufacturing). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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