"Andy Dingley" wrote in message
...
On 8 Sep, 09:44, "Mary Fisher" wrote:

I wondered why you'd want to colour it at all ("I begin by
ammonia fuming it (dead easy) to a mid-brown."


....

I've even ammonia-darkened whole buildings (timber frames) where the
intention was to match new frames into an old building. As this was
done wet, it goes to blackish rather than mod brown.

Timber frames inside old buildings were originally the light colour of oak
but they were darkened by smoke. When such buildings are restored nowadays
the new timbers are left the natural colour to show that they're new - in my
experience.

Of course, if they're in private houses and the owners think that darkened
timbers look more authentic ...

External timbers were usually painted in pastel or even bright colours -
pink was especially popular. 'Black and white Tudor' timbers is a myth.

Mary