STAINING UPDATE

I wrote a bit back about trying hickory nut husks for staining.
Well, when I went back to gather the hickory nuts, with hustks, they
were gone. Hmm, thinks I, this is weird. Even weirder, when I got to
looking, they hadn't even been under a hickory tree.

As it turned out, there was a hickory tree close by, but a lot of
undergrowth, so I wasn't about to go wading thru it. Did get a batch of
husks, upon looking around. Apparently the squirrels prefer to dine in
a more open area, and carry the nuts, with husks, out in the open.

So, while I'm waiting for the husks to age, I re-read the piece on
staining. http://www.bright.net/~basketc/staining.html

I had some instant coffee, so brewed up a small batch, approx 1
part coffee to 1 part water. Now, I had tried coffee before, with
unsatisfactory results. But, then I had just boiled down some coffee
already made. This batch turned out just about what I was looking for.
Except for the smell. Of course, that may have been due to the brand I
used, a small jar of the cheapest brand I could find. Not a good coffee
smell at all. More like something burnt.

I had read that a tea stain smelled good. I had tried tea before
too, but by boiling tea bags. Didn't want to spend 20 min or so doing
that. So, bought a jar of cheap instant tea.

I mixed up some by guesswork, shooting for about 1 part tea to 1
part water. Apparently I was waaaay off, because it didn't do well at
all. Might as well not have even tried. Could have been because I put
it on still warm, but I'm thinking I just had too much water to tea.

For whatever reason, I decided to give it another shot, without the
guessing. So, measured 1 part instant tea to 1 part water, brewed it
up, let it set. Tried it this morning. Not only does it smell better,
lots better, it gave a stain I think comes out maybe even more pleasing,
to me, than the coffee. If I want it darker, I can add more tea (or
multiple coats will probably work too); lighter, more water. But, for
now, I'm thinking 1-1. I still don't know what it's gonna look like
with stain on it, but it looks good enough as it, to feel no prob. So,
I'm gonna call off the hickory husk staining expriment. Too much
hassle. No more coffee stain either.

Tea stain has a lot of advantages. I can brew it up at any time.
Can even replenish my instant tea at any local stop-'n-rob. Non-toxic -
no worry about your kid helping, or the dog drinking it - or even the
kid drinking some. Smells nice. Water clean up. It's also a lot
cheaper then commercial stain.

Nah, I'm not really that cheap, but I do like to be as
self-sufficient as reasonable. And, work with stuff as non-toxic as I
can.

JOAT
If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing
again.
- Terry Venables

Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 1 Oct 2003.
Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofalltrades/SOMETUNESILIKE/