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Thread: Thanks for the tips. I figured out how to make wood solid black

  1. #1

    Thanks for the tips. I figured out how to make wood solid black

    On top is hard maple.
    Bottom left is Baltic Birch plywood
    Bottom right is regular plywood.

    Came out pretty good I think.

    20190210_104136.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
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    WNY
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    9,645
    Care to share how you did it?

    John

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
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    SE PA - Central Bucks County
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    Yes, "do tell" what you settled on. Things look very nice in the photo.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  4. #4
    I'd love to know your secret. I always use India Ink. How'd you do it?
    "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

    “If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”

  5. #5
    The left sides were hand sanded with the grain with 120 grit, the right sides sanded to 220 grit. I didn't notice a difference between the two when finished.

    I used 8oz each of lacquer thinner and denatured alcohol with half bottle (1oz) black transtint. A little of this goes a long way. I put a coat of the dye on and let it sit for about 10 minutes. I wiped off any excess then applied a second coat wiping off excess after another 10 minutes.

    The next day I used one coat of ebony gel stain. And that was the result after the stain dried. There is no top coat.

  6. #6
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    WNY
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    They definitely are black, but it's an expensive solution.

    John

  7. #7
    I didnt realize there was such a thing as a cheap option in wood working. Lol

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
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    A bottle of Transtint dye costs about $25. You used half a bottle in 8 oz of lacquer thinner, so that's $50 for a quart plus the cost of the lacquer thinner. You can buy a quart of Speedball India Ink for $17 on Amazon Prime and that stuff will color any absorbent wood coal black, and generally with no need for any additional stain.

    You're right; nothing about woodworking is cheap, but there are often ways to save a little along the way.

    John

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kansas City
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    I am curious as to what the function of the lacquer thinner is in your mix. Slower drying of the dye?

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