Homemade wood stains
by ozarkhillbilly (Bill)
Note: If you place your cursor over some of the terms that are highlighted like
this - Ferrous sulfate, a small window will appear with a brief explanation of
that term, or a prompt asking you to click a link to read more information on
the material. Some of these chemicals may be dangerous to use without using
proper common sense precautions. Please read A word of Warning! below. Some of
the links are in PDF format. Click this link if you need Adobe Reader.
While I am new to wooden ship models, I do have over twenty years of
re-finishing and repairing and making furniture. And I was passed this
information by a master furniture maker which I would like to share with you
all, Lord knows you all will be passing information on to me.
Long before there where man made stains found on our hardware shelves of today
woodworkers discovered that chemicals could change the color of wood. These
chemical stains react with those present in the wood to form compounds that add
color or ...here's the part you all should like.... an aged appearance.
I have and still use 3 different chemicals for many of my wood projects, Ferrous
sulfate, Iron buff and Sodium carbonate. An other important thing to remember
with chemical stains is that the reaction between chemicals and wood is
unpredictable, in regards to the result so always test on a piece of scrap wood
you are using.
Two of these three chemicals can be purchased as powders with the exception of
iron buff and dissolved in warm water. A good starting point is 1 oz. powder (
by weight equals roughly 2 tablespoons) to 1 qt. water. Allow the solution to
cool to room temperature and strain the mixture to remove any residue. Apply the
same way as a water based stain flood the surface liberally with a bristle or
foam brush. NEVER SPRAY A CHEMICAL STAIN. Wait at least 4 hours for the color to
develop if an other coat isn't needed rinse the wood with clean water to remove
any residue. if desired you can smooth the raised wood with 220 grit sand paper.
Ferrous sulfate also known as iron sulfate or copperas turns most woods a light
weathered gray, it can be purchased as dry granules at Earthguild.com or
1-800-327-8448 it will react with the tannins in the wood to form iron compounds
similar to gray/black stains visible on wood that been in contact with iron. I
works well producing grays on most species, a color difficult to obtain with
dyes and pigments.
Iron buff produces grays and blacks, the simplest way to make Iron buff is to
shred 1 oz steel wool (one pad) into 1 pt. white vinegar. mix the solution with
an open container allowing the hydrogen-gas to escape. I the strain the liquid
thru a coffee filter to remove all steel particles. Leaving the steel in the
vinegar for 1 day creates light grays on tannin rich woods such as oak, cherry,
and walnut. Leaving the steel in the vinegar for a week produces color ranging
from dark gray to a deep blue or black.
Sodium carbonate is not as Strong as lye, but its much safer. It works well
duplicating the yellowish brown patina caused by photo-oxidation from sun and
air exposure. Again start with a mix of 1 oz washing soda to 1 qt. water and
increase or decrease the amounts to get the desired effect.
I have used these stains on Mahogany, white oak, ash, maple, cherry, and pine
countless times with wonderful results. They are easy to make and again the type
stains our fore fathers made and used, and the aged factor will surprise all of
you that haven't tried it.
Any questions, I'll do my best to help.
Happy staining!
Bill
A word of Warning! The chemical ingredients in some of the products listed above
can be hazardous and must be used with caution! Wear rubber gloves, a face
shield, and a mask if required. Open the window and put on the fan. Follow the
manufacturers instructions to the letter. Make sure you keep these agents in a
well secured, safe lockable cabinet. Keep away from pregnant women, kids and
pets. Accidental overdose of products containing iron is a leading cause of
fatal poisoning in children under the age of 6. Keep this product out of the
reach of children. In case of an accidental overdose, call your doctor or a
poison control center immediately. In other words, use your common sense! I'm
not trying to scare you, but just use a little precaution when using and or
mixing certain chemicals agents. - ozarkhillbilly (Bill)
More "Material Safety Data Sheets" for chemical agents. More Information on
"Shop Safety"