I posted before about ageing cherry, I have been using the suggestion of
Drano it works great the color is perfect, the only problem is I some times
get small black specks almost like mold. The parts I am making now are small
so I dip them in a diluted solution of drano and then dip them in vinegar,
then dry them off the spots show up very quick only a couple minutes. I was
thinking it might be from the type of draino (kitchen sink) maybe I should
use plain lye? Or if any one knows of a stain that would give me the same
color I would appreciate knowing what that might be since, I can get larger
parts to quote on but I don't if I can control the color, and if I keep
getting the black speckles that will be a problem
Thanks
Joe
"Joe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:gMugf.1248$Tr3.770@trnddc08...
> I posted before about ageing cherry, I have been using the suggestion of
> Drano it works great the color is perfect, the only problem is I some
times
> get small black specks almost like mold. The parts I am making now are
small
> so I dip them in a diluted solution of drano and then dip them in
vinegar,
> then dry them off the spots show up very quick only a couple minutes. I
was
> thinking it might be from the type of draino (kitchen sink) maybe I should
> use plain lye? Or if any one knows of a stain that would give me the same
> color I would appreciate knowing what that might be since, I can get
larger
> parts to quote on but I don't if I can control the color, and if I keep
> getting the black speckles that will be a problem
> Thanks
> Joe
>
>
Drano?? That stuff is full of other crap. Never put your projects in drano
Joe wrote:
> I posted before about ageing cherry, I have been using the suggestion of
> Drano it works great the color is perfect, the only problem is I some times
> get small black specks almost like mold. The parts I am making now are small
> so I dip them in a diluted solution of drano and then dip them in vinegar,
> then dry them off the spots show up very quick only a couple minutes. I was
> thinking it might be from the type of draino (kitchen sink) maybe I should
> use plain lye? Or if any one knows of a stain that would give me the same
> color I would appreciate knowing what that might be since, I can get larger
> parts to quote on but I don't if I can control the color, and if I keep
> getting the black speckles that will be a problem
> Thanks
> Joe
Drano has flakes of aluminum in it which reacts VERY vigorously with
the sodium hydroxide to heat up the solution thus helping to melt
grease. The spots you are getting are possibly a reaction to the
aluminum ions.
Besides, doesn't drano also have a blue dye in it?
Yes, use straight lye, you can vary the shade (so I've been told) by
adjusting the concentration of the solution.
--
FF
Doug Miller wrote:
>
> You might look into ammonia fuming, too. There have been a few posts here in
> the last year or two describing the effects of ammonia fuming on cherry.
> Google is your friend: groups.google.com
I fume most of my cherry, and the effect is stunning. Beautiful
ageing, and absolutley no obscuring of the figure whatsoever. The
richness of the resulting wood is unlike any I've ever seen.
Cherry is rich with tannin (what causes the reaction with ammonia in
the first place), but you may run into a difference in tannin content
between boards from different trees. If you're not using boards from
the same tree, best to mix up a weak solution of tannic acid and brush
it on before fuming. (Tannic acid is commonly available in a powder,
you mix it with distilled water yourself.) It's very safe stuff, so
don't worry about using it. The ammonia fuming, however...best to read
up big-time before doing it. It's quite safe if you're cautious, quite
dangerous if you're not.
Doug Miller wrote:
> FWIW... you can find tannic acid powder at any place that sells winemaking
> supplies.
Good tip...the mail-order chem-supply place I get mine from isn't
cheap, and I also have to pay shipping if I use them.
On the other hand, there's wine-making places all over where I live, so
when I run out, it's nice to know there's a ready supply 20 minutes
away.
Thanks again, Doug!
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] wrote:
>Cherry is rich with tannin (what causes the reaction with ammonia in
>the first place), but you may run into a difference in tannin content
>between boards from different trees. If you're not using boards from
>the same tree, best to mix up a weak solution of tannic acid and brush
>it on before fuming. (Tannic acid is commonly available in a powder,
>you mix it with distilled water yourself.)
FWIW... you can find tannic acid powder at any place that sells winemaking
supplies.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)
It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.
Joe - Would you mind describing this process in a little more detail ? I've
never heard of it. Thanks.
"Joe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:gMugf.1248$Tr3.770@trnddc08...
> I posted before about ageing cherry, I have been using the suggestion of
> Drano it works great the color is perfect, \
>
In article <gMugf.1248$Tr3.770@trnddc08>, "Joe" <[email protected]> wrote:
>I posted before about ageing cherry, I have been using the suggestion of
>Drano it works great the color is perfect, the only problem is I some times
>get small black specks almost like mold. The parts I am making now are small
>so I dip them in a diluted solution of drano and then dip them in vinegar,
>then dry them off the spots show up very quick only a couple minutes. I was
>thinking it might be from the type of draino (kitchen sink) maybe I should
>use plain lye?
Dunno... but I've always used Red Devil lye, never Drano, and I've never seen
spots like you describe.
>Or if any one knows of a stain that would give me the same
>color I would appreciate knowing what that might be since, I can get larger
>parts to quote on but I don't if I can control the color, and if I keep
>getting the black speckles that will be a problem
You might look into ammonia fuming, too. There have been a few posts here in
the last year or two describing the effects of ammonia fuming on cherry.
Google is your friend: groups.google.com
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)
It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.
In article <gMugf.1248$Tr3.770@trnddc08>,
"Joe" <[email protected]> wrote:
> I posted before about ageing cherry, I have been using the suggestion of
> Drano it works great the color is perfect, the only problem is I some times
> get small black specks almost like mold. The parts I am making now are small
> so I dip them in a diluted solution of drano and then dip them in vinegar,
> then dry them off the spots show up very quick only a couple minutes. I was
> thinking it might be from the type of draino (kitchen sink) maybe I should
> use plain lye? Or if any one knows of a stain that would give me the same
> color I would appreciate knowing what that might be since, I can get larger
> parts to quote on but I don't if I can control the color, and if I keep
> getting the black speckles that will be a problem
> Thanks
> Joe
>
>
Joe, try using plain lye, like Red Devil Lye. Drano has little pieces of
aluminum in it to help the drain cleaning action. Perhaps this is what's
causing the specks.
As a chemist, I can tell you that lye (and Drano) is EXTREMELY
dangerous. Always wear rubber gloves and mix up your solution slowly
(add the Drano to cold water a little at a time) so that it doesn't
overheat and boil.
--
To reply, remove .nojunk from my email address.
"Joe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:gMugf.1248$Tr3.770@trnddc08...
>I posted before about ageing cherry, I have been using the suggestion of
> Drano it works great the color is perfect, the only problem is I some
> times
> get small black specks almost like mold. The parts I am making now are
> small
> so I dip them in a diluted solution of drano and then dip them in
> vinegar,
> then dry them off the spots show up very quick only a couple minutes. I
> was
> thinking it might be from the type of draino (kitchen sink) maybe I should
> use plain lye? Or if any one knows of a stain that would give me the same
> color I would appreciate knowing what that might be since, I can get
> larger
> parts to quote on but I don't if I can control the color, and if I keep
> getting the black speckles that will be a problem
> Thanks
> Joe
>
>
As others have mentioned impurities will give black spots.
I use pure lye to age cherry. Once I encountered small black
spots. I think it was caused by aluminum oxide left over from
sandpaper. A more careful cleaning after sanding got rid of
the problem.
Some of my cherry projects can bee seen at:
http://webpages.charter.net/ray93402/Woodwork/woodwork.html