Darken wood without stain - Fuming White Oak with Ammonia

[winkys workshop]

This is cool!

[DIYer]

Thanks winkys workshop! We've added your Wood Darkening Setup to our Woodworking category,
as well as to your builder page: winkys workshop's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Wood Darkening Setup by winkys workshop

tags: wood, staining

[marksbug]

awesome!! I just learned somethen.

[mwmkravchenko]

Just be careful to do this in an area that is not below ground level, and has proper cross ventilation. Ammonia is not exactly friendly to our lungs.

Mark

[winkys workshop]

You are correct, the 28% I'm using is very bad. I recently bought and use a full face respirator. Thanks!

[mwmkravchenko]

You are correct, the 28% I'm using is very bad. I recently bought and use a full face respirator. Thanks!

I enjoy your videos. It's nice to see a well rounded out craftsman. Fewer and fewer are left.


It used to be done with the Ammonia in an aluminum pie plate or aluminum cupcake pan and a little candle underneath to get the Ammonia into it's gas form. Makes for some very pretty wood work. I'm an experienced Cabinet maker and finisher. More than 40 years practicing it. Still learning!

Decades past Ammonia was used as a refrigerant for early refrigerators as it was effective and inexpensive. Leaks proved fatal. Same goes for Ice arena cooling. Ammonia is still a refrigerant that gets used for this purpose.

Mark

[winkys workshop]

Thanks Mark,

Interesting on the pie tin and candle. I have notice that the process is much quicker in warm weather. When it is below 40 degrees I load the chamber outside, seal it and then bring it inside.

I've been doing woodworking all my life but never as a profession. I'm probably a little above average in ability but also a long ways from a master woodworker. I lean toward realistic and functional but I'd rather just buy furniture or (or whatever) if thats what I need. Making it myself is an opportunity to make it totally unique.

Thanks, Mark