Ebonising wood - Steel wool / Vinegar or Chestnut spray on stuff ?

[Neil]

I wouldn't try and colour the wood with alternative ebonising methods, if that is the right phrase, but stick with ebonising lacquers. Two things that I would bear in mind, firstly it is essential if you are going to use gilt cream that you get a perfect finish, I sand and sand with the lathe reversed to 1200 grit, spraying when necessary to raise the grain. When complete very light sprays to complete the ebonising effect, too heavy and you will fill the grain that you are trying to emphasise. As Derek says, apply gilt cream and when dry spray with melamine lacquer to seal. Ive always sealed with lacquer, dont know how durable the cream is without?
Heres one I did a few years ago:

 

[wm460]

I don't know about your steel wool over there, but here it has a protective coating of was on it, pour boiling water over the wire wool and it will react quicker with the vinegar.

Peter

Steel wool that I have rusts if you get water on it, was going to be chucked so I grabbed it.

 

[Woody]

It needs to rust Mark that's what the vinegar dose to it quicker than water which creates the black also the best thing with this method is the depth of the black deep into the wood and it wont fill the grain which also has been raised and flattened ready to seal with S/S and will allows for a better result when you apply the gilding cream which will last for years and is a perfect polish finish on its own personally I would never put lacquer over polish it dont make sense it would be like trying to paint over polish

 

[PhillH]

Interesting point re Gilding cream being a polish in its own right, I didn't realise that.

 

[Woody]

Interesting point re Gilding cream being a polish in its own right, I didn't realise that.

Yes Phill and the best way to finish it if you have to much on the wood is with past wax to remove the excess let it dry for about 30min then buff with a shoe brush or a cotton cloth job done

 

[wm460]

Thanks Woody.

 

[Neil]

It needs to rust Mark that's what the vinegar dose to it quicker than water which creates the black also the best thing with this method is the depth of the black deep into the wood and it wont fill the grain which also has been raised and flattened ready to seal with S/S and will allows for a better result when you apply the gilding cream which will last for years and is a perfect polish finish on its own personally I would never put lacquer over polish it dont make sense it would be like trying to paint over polish

I did that Woody as I use it for food.