Nice Natural Stains

Thru the years I have discovered some nice natural stain recipes=20
but I am always searching for more.

Black or dark Vinegar and Steel wool

Get a jar fill it 3/4 with white vinegar
add about 1/3 of a 0000 steel wool pad- more darker less lighter darkening
Let it sit about 1 week and voila no more steel wool it has melted into th=
e vinegar. Test it out on a test piece of your project wood too dark add m=
ore vinegar. too light apply more coats after drying.

Black walnut hulls
in the fall I gather Black Walnuts from my favorite tree haunts in the area=
If You like this stain Yo may want to gather a lot because you will have to=
wait another nut bearing year for more.
Use Leather or latex gloves when harvesting This stuff will really blacke=
n your fingers. When you get home and are ready put Your gloves on then tak=
e a hammer or some channel lock pliers and begin to take off the outer laye=
r the black walnut hull. let them sit around a couple of days in a pan can=
or bucket,
Anything other than stainless steel will be permanently stained so use a ve=
ssel you won't care about that staining. when they get mushy get an old 2x=
3 about 16" long and pound them into fragments. then put them in jars fill=
ed half way with the mush.
type #1=3D I fill the jar with water =3D nice soft Brown color
Dump it out in a stainless steel pan and heat until near boil let cool and=
replace into the jars. Let it sit for a couple of weeks shake up time to t=
ime. then strain and discard the solids Now it's ready to use always with l=
atex gloves.

type #2=3D I fill the jar with Household Ammonia =3D darker rich brown colo=
r
Let it sit for a couple of weeks shake up time to time. then strain and dis=
card the solids Now it's ready to use always with latex gloves.

Turmeric Stain Golden Yellow
Turmeric and warm water , that's it in a jar about 1 tblspn. to a Skippy p=
eanut butter Jar let sit 24 hrs.
The more turmeric , the yellower thin with warm water to go lighter gold
Ready to use. With latex gloves

Welches Grape juice stain as is =3D Nice Burgundy stain

Red wine Stain depending on the wine nice burgundy colors

Beet juice and Ammonia =3D rich cherry reds and burgundy colors
Cook your beets discard water or use it for a lighter stain color.=20
Smash the beets fill Your jar 3/4 and add Household ammonia.
let sit for a week then strain. Ready to use. With latex gloves

Beet juice and water =3D same as above except save the boiling water and s=
mash up the beets let stand 1 week then strain Ready to use. With latex glo=
ves.

Saffron=3Dbeautiful orangey and gold=E2=80=99s
Tablespoon of saffron to 8 oz. boiling water , let stand 2 days and strain.
More color more saffron, it=E2=80=99s expensive.
Lighter color just add water.

Tobacco and ammonia =3D rich tan browns
Tobacco and water =3D mild tan browns
Basically the same as Walnut hulls prep.=20
More tobacco richer darker.

With all of these stains You will have to wait 24-48 hours of drying time b=
efore oiling, sealing or finishing always test color by oiling ,sealing a=
nd finishing on your projects scrap wood.
You can also get creative and mix some water to water stains or water to am=
monia stains or water to vinegar is o.k.=20
DO NOT MIX Vinegar and Ammonia mixes it=E2=80=99s a chemical reaction they=
neutralize each other.

I invite folks here to share their recipes
Rick B.

Rt

Rick the antique guy