Oh great finishing gurus --
What's the story here? I want to finish a small poplar beside table but
want a dark finish. I have heard of a vinegar and steel wool finish. Is
this supposed to darken light woods? White vinegar or cider vinegar? Seal
with polyurethane or shellac afterwards? Would really like to hear more
about this. -- vinegar is sure cheaper than stain....
Chuck

"Effer Vescent" wrote in message
...
Oh great finishing gurus --
What's the story here? I want to finish a small poplar beside table but
want a dark finish. I have heard of a vinegar and steel wool finish. Is
this supposed to darken light woods? White vinegar or cider vinegar?
Seal with polyurethane or shellac afterwards? Would really like to hear
more about this. -- vinegar is sure cheaper than stain....
Chuck


Acetic acid and iron. You can use steel wool, after degreasing. The
process is completed by applying the black solution to a wood high in
tannates. Poplar, whether you're speaking of true or that magnolia
masquerading, does not qualify.

Get the same for less fuss with ferrous sulfate (fertilizer) solution. It's
the tannate you're after.

thanks, George; a great explanation

"George" wrote in message
news

"Effer Vescent" wrote in message
...
Oh great finishing gurus --
What's the story here? I want to finish a small poplar beside table but
want a dark finish. I have heard of a vinegar and steel wool finish. Is
this supposed to darken light woods? White vinegar or cider vinegar?
Seal with polyurethane or shellac afterwards? Would really like to hear
more about this. -- vinegar is sure cheaper than stain....
Chuck


Acetic acid and iron. You can use steel wool, after degreasing. The
process is completed by applying the black solution to a wood high in
tannates. Poplar, whether you're speaking of true or that magnolia
masquerading, does not qualify.

Get the same for less fuss with ferrous sulfate (fertilizer) solution.
It's the tannate you're after.

I put some on some Maple.
Not knowing what the exact process was, I soaked some steel wool in a small
bowl of vinegar for an hour.
The steelwool didn't oxidize, but I became impatient and decided to brush
some on.

It went on clear and by the time it dried, it was a rich, beautiful color.
I'll try to get you a shot of the piece later today and post it in this
group.

I think you should give it a try on the underside (as I said before) if you
don't like it,or it doesn't work, nothing lost but a little vinegar and
steel wool, maybe a little time.

Kate

"George" wrote in message
news
"Effer Vescent" wrote in message
...
Oh great finishing gurus --
What's the story here? I want to finish a small poplar beside table but
want a dark finish. I have heard of a vinegar and steel wool finish. Is
this supposed to darken light woods? White vinegar or cider vinegar?
Seal with polyurethane or shellac afterwards? Would really like to hear
more about this. -- vinegar is sure cheaper than stain....
Chuck


Acetic acid and iron. You can use steel wool, after degreasing. The
process is completed by applying the black solution to a wood high in
tannates. Poplar, whether you're speaking of true or that magnolia
masquerading, does not qualify.

Get the same for less fuss with ferrous sulfate (fertilizer) solution. It's
the tannate you're after.

Here ya go!

"Kate" wrote in message
...
I put some on some Maple.
Not knowing what the exact process was, I soaked some steel wool in a small
bowl of vinegar for an hour.
The steelwool didn't oxidize, but I became impatient and decided to brush
some on.

It went on clear and by the time it dried, it was a rich, beautiful color.
I'll try to get you a shot of the piece later today and post it in this
group.

I think you should give it a try on the underside (as I said before) if you
don't like it,or it doesn't work, nothing lost but a little vinegar and
steel wool, maybe a little time.

Kate wrote:

Not knowing what the exact process was, I soaked some steel wool
in a small bowl of vinegar for an hour.
The steelwool didn't oxidize, but I became impatient and decided
to brush some on.


It doesn't oxidize. Visually, the steel wool doesn't do much of
anything.

If you leave the steel wool in the vinegar longer... about 24 hours...
it will result (often) in turning the wood even darker.

Others I'm sure know more about the chemistry behind it, but the steel
wool reacts with the vinegar to create a new chemical in the vinegar
that reacts with something in the wood. Different woods have that
something in different concentrations so some woods will barely turn
and some will turn almost black.

Also important is the concentration of the chemical in the liquid. The
reaction gets stronger when the steel wool has soaked for a longer
time, seemingly leveling off after about 24 hours. In other words
wiping wood with the solution after 24 hours of soaking will result in
a somewhat darker "stain" than wiping the wood with a solution that
has been soaking for only an hour.

In my limited experience with the technique, red oak turns beautifully
and pine just looks like it was brushed with dirty water.

Joe Barta