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How to Easily Ebonize Wood

Learn how to easily ebonize wood for your next project! The chemical reaction that occurs when you apply the iron acetate to wood creates a beautiful and durable black finish, a similar look to ebony (hence the name).
➤Materials List:
Wood (Duh)
0000 Steel Wool
White Vinegar
Quart Jar
Coffee filter
Funnel
Small jar
Sponge Brush
Black Tea
➤Follow Me on Social Media:
/ crowhollowwoodworks

Пікірлер: 118

  • @MrSlyQue
    @MrSlyQue3 жыл бұрын

    Many videos out there with this method, but you actually took the time to show the how-to of the acetate. I thank you for the thoroughness!

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Andrew, happy to help.

  • @robertthomas1286

    @robertthomas1286

    Жыл бұрын

    You can speed up the process by adding hydrogen peroxide to the vinegar. I still waited about a week to use it though.

  • @mgeorge4347

    @mgeorge4347

    Жыл бұрын

    Interesting... and thanks.

  • @Tiny_Island_Designs
    @Tiny_Island_Designs4 жыл бұрын

    This is so brilliant - previously I was told this trick only worked on white oak because of its tannins but adding your own tannin with the black tea is such a no brainer. Thank you for sharing!

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    4 жыл бұрын

    No problem at all, happy to help!

  • @jameslouder
    @jameslouder3 жыл бұрын

    You will get an even deeper and more convincing black when you use this on white oak, whose tannin content is a lot higher than red oak's. On white oak you probably won't need the tea, though you can use it to balance the color on an uneven board. Black walnut also responds super well to this treatment.

  • @Bjornarp
    @Bjornarp3 жыл бұрын

    pressed subscribe the moment i saw that double clamp funnel holding solution. so simple so smart! Ebonizing oak is the only "staining" of oak acceptable imo!

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @Wolf_Avery
    @Wolf_Avery Жыл бұрын

    Your video is very well laid out, concise and informative. Thank you.

  • @ronniebrummett4995
    @ronniebrummett49957 ай бұрын

    New to the channel. But you laid everything out and made everything known. I’ve seen a few videos. But never anything about the black tea. Subscribed. Thank you sir.

  • @samr4868
    @samr4868 Жыл бұрын

    Love this video - super helpful! I’ve found trying this out, you make make the solution much quicker if you use strong 20% vinegar - sometimes referred to as ‘cleaning vinegar’ Hope it helps - keep up the good stuff!

  • @mgeorge4347

    @mgeorge4347

    Жыл бұрын

    When I was looked into cleaning vinegar it was full of chemicals. Strange as I was, corn wasn't one of the ingredients listed.

  • @MoscaWoodworking
    @MoscaWoodworking5 жыл бұрын

    by far better than the black stain I used in the past. I've got to give it a try

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    5 жыл бұрын

    Great to hear! I’ve used a homemade walnut stain in the past also, it darkened the wood but it just sort of looked dirty haha

  • @MoscaWoodworking

    @MoscaWoodworking

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@Crowhollowwoodworks Yes, I've heard that another alternatve is india ink. but I find this better at first sight

  • @saraking9662
    @saraking96624 жыл бұрын

    I'll definitely be using the black tea treatments inbetween from now on. Is there a shelf life on the iron acetate? Meaning after the 7 days it takes to make it? Awesome video

  • @shyannerobberson9217
    @shyannerobberson9217 Жыл бұрын

    if you were using this on a chair how would you recommend sealing the stain in? do you need to worry about transfer of iron onto white clothing and would it help prolong the life of the color?

  • @mgeorge4347
    @mgeorge4347 Жыл бұрын

    Kick ass video. Deep yet simplistic.

  • @lecobra418
    @lecobra4182 жыл бұрын

    Nice, I'll try this with the black tea between each layer. I have to make a new pommel for my car and with its black and plastic interior any plain wooden pommel would look silly. This finish would keep the character of the wood and would fit perfectly into my car! Thanks a lot for the precious informations!

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Awesome!

  • @michaelvoytsekhovsky
    @michaelvoytsekhovsky3 жыл бұрын

    Iron(II) sulfate (copperas, green vitriol) gives the same effect without the stench and worries. After staining, the wood must be washed with a soda solution and water.

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the info👍🏻

  • @Dragondezznuts
    @Dragondezznuts Жыл бұрын

    Tip: if you flip the lid upside down it will allow the gas to escape and keep the lid for canning later.

  • @dwightl5863

    @dwightl5863

    11 ай бұрын

    Canning is used for preserving food. I don't think I'd be so cheap as to reuse a lid that had been exposed to this solution for canning food. IMHO

  • @Dragondezznuts

    @Dragondezznuts

    11 ай бұрын

    @@dwightl5863 you make no sense. The gases in the vinegar and steel wool mixture needs to escape. If you turn the lid upside down the seal of the lid will not block the gases from escaping. When you are done and would like to use the lid for canning you can flip it around. He’s not canning the vinegar and steel wool.

  • @dwightl5863

    @dwightl5863

    11 ай бұрын

    @@Dragondezznuts I fully understand what you are accomplishing by having the lid upside down so it doesn't seal. Just saying I don't think it is a good idea to use the same lid for preserving food. Why risk the chance of contaminating food with vinegar/steel wool solution. Save the lid and jar for another batch or whatever.

  • @Dragondezznuts

    @Dragondezznuts

    11 ай бұрын

    @@dwightl5863 to each his own I guess.

  • @ErnestAutist
    @ErnestAutist19 күн бұрын

    I'm trying this with a non oak axe handle (had to de rust a bunch of tools might as well use the left overs)

  • @sarahwilson1102
    @sarahwilson11024 жыл бұрын

    Very informative. Thank you.

  • @738polarbear
    @738polarbear4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks very much I need to do this as I am making a red oak campaign chest with ebonitzed accents . Very appreciated.

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    4 жыл бұрын

    Awesome, glad I could help. Good luck with the chest, I love campaign furniture👍🏻

  • @suzannewinz1099
    @suzannewinz109911 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the detailed tutorial

  • @Pressingontoperfection
    @Pressingontoperfection2 жыл бұрын

    That was rad!

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @chefgarrin
    @chefgarrin5 ай бұрын

    Brilliant, can you do this to golden oak cabinets or does it only work on plain not previously stained oak. Tks

  • @deaultusername
    @deaultusername11 ай бұрын

    if you want consistent Tannin source go to a homebrew shop and buy the tanin there, is used to improve wine and add flavor to cider.

  • @SnakeAndTurtleQigong
    @SnakeAndTurtleQigong Жыл бұрын

    Thanks! Looking forward to trying this!

  • @cwsgt2806
    @cwsgt28062 жыл бұрын

    Well done thanks

  • @dekeros-recreationalwoodwo6456
    @dekeros-recreationalwoodwo64564 жыл бұрын

    Very nice color indeed. I get more reddish tone when using this, but I saw a few things I made different. Thanks for sharing! Happy to found your channel! :-)

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    4 жыл бұрын

    Glad I could help! Hopefully I’ll be adding some more content in the near future.

  • @TheOrcasRule

    @TheOrcasRule

    4 жыл бұрын

    From watching other videos out there, the red-ish stuff should just wipe off. It's the "rust" from the steel wool, which shouldn't soak into the wood. I've never tested this, but, like I said, others have said that who have used this method.

  • @crazybobby14

    @crazybobby14

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@TheOrcasRule yes and the iron smell is strong. If I get it on my fingers it smells all day like pennies.

  • @joshuadunn7140
    @joshuadunn71406 ай бұрын

    Do you wait for the black tea to dry before applying the acetate solution?

  • @maziamini9604
    @maziamini9604 Жыл бұрын

    I made my gun stock black unintentionally, I used steel wool and vinegar and rubbing alcohol to remove the old finish but it turned black, how can I get rid of black stain? Thanks

  • @manukunama6928
    @manukunama6928 Жыл бұрын

    I just made the mix and it didn't darken right away at all. I think because it is alcohol vinegar. This destilated vinegar that you use is hard to find here in Europe. will it work with this alcohol vinegar? ...we wil see in a week!

  • @georgebarnes7023
    @georgebarnes70235 ай бұрын

    Would this be good to do on knife handles?

  • @normbarrows
    @normbarrows2 жыл бұрын

    As a guitar builder, I've been looking for ways to ebonize rosewood and maple. Stains, dyes, and inks don't seem to really do the job. Black tea and iron acetate just might.

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hopefully it works for what you are looking for!

  • @normbarrows

    @normbarrows

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Crowhollowwoodworks Nothing seems to yield a true ebony look. India ink seems to work best for darkening.

  • @rsstnnr76
    @rsstnnr762 жыл бұрын

    How deep does the color penetrate? And will this work with African mahogany?

  • @michebre
    @michebre2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much for this video, very informational.

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @herilianeria3735
    @herilianeria37353 жыл бұрын

    my steel wool and vinegar solution didn't get brownish when i combined them, how concentrated is your vinegar?

  • @ArdaAslan3172

    @ArdaAslan3172

    3 жыл бұрын

    At the beginning of the video you can see what brand he uses. I think it’s says 5% acidity.

  • @iajhy
    @iajhy3 жыл бұрын

    Amazing video, man! Can I finish it with Tung oil?

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Should be able to.

  • @liamzhang8916
    @liamzhang8916 Жыл бұрын

    Why is it that when i pour white vinegar onto that steel wool, it doesn’t change color instantly like how it is in the video, and even after a couple of hours the solution is still clear even after I shaked it?

  • @jnelsimpson1190
    @jnelsimpson1190 Жыл бұрын

    Can you please advise on what to seal the finished Ebonized wood with? I have an antique wood table and I want a satin type finish.

  • @shokojimhollingsworth3940
    @shokojimhollingsworth39403 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the video. How do you recommend sealing the finished ebonized wood? Does this process create a natural seal/durable finish?

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    3 жыл бұрын

    Boiled linseed oil, danish oil, or plain wax would work great. A regular varnish finish should work just fine also.

  • @shokojimhollingsworth3940

    @shokojimhollingsworth3940

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Crowhollowwoodworks Thanks, I'm looking forward to trying it out!

  • @johnkearns6523

    @johnkearns6523

    11 ай бұрын

    @@Crowhollowwoodworks thanks for this vid. Nice to see a video from someone who knows what they are doing (so many have absolutely no clue). Side note from a finishing specialist. Wax in itself is not a finish, it's a finish 'conditioner'. It will dissipate over time. You'll need a sealer/finish. Which finish will depend on how the piece will be used or what you want to bring out in the wood. A shelf (light duty) might only need an oil finish, whereas a kitchen table or chair (heavy duty) would benefit from a more durable finish like urethane or lacquer.

  • @pas0003
    @pas0003 Жыл бұрын

    Brilliant! Does it wear well? I assume so as the colour is under the surface as well?

  • @justmakeit2616
    @justmakeit26162 жыл бұрын

    Is it possible to finnish it off with some lineseed oil? To protect the black Color and the wood

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes, that would be a good finish.

  • @BombaBVI
    @BombaBVI14 күн бұрын

    Would this wood be food safe?

  • @emompong05
    @emompong05 Жыл бұрын

    Awesome info. Will this only work on specific wood types? Lets say doing this on brazillian rosewood having much denser characteristics. do you think this will work?

  • @rhykko77
    @rhykko7711 ай бұрын

    Thank you !

  • @dannydiaz1704
    @dannydiaz1704 Жыл бұрын

    What would you use to give it a clear coat?

  • @DV0N
    @DV0N11 ай бұрын

    Would I need to add some other finish at the end if the wood will have direct contact with the skin for couple of hours per day?

  • @OGSauceDaddy

    @OGSauceDaddy

    3 ай бұрын

    Yes. Like a poly finish or varnish

  • @soso-ee9ut
    @soso-ee9ut Жыл бұрын

    Can I use this technique for OBS plywood as well?

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    Жыл бұрын

    Not sure how the glue would affect the color saturation, you might try a smaller piece and see how it turns out.

  • @TheOrcasRule
    @TheOrcasRule4 жыл бұрын

    What's the approximate ratio of steel wool to vinegar? That looked like about 2 "standard" size steel wool pads to one quart vinegar?

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    4 жыл бұрын

    I believe I used. just one pad that was all pulled apart, but you could try it with two. One quart of vinegar will only dissolve so much, and the rest will be filtered out anyway.

  • @TheOrcasRule

    @TheOrcasRule

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@Crowhollowwoodworks Thanks for clarifying! I guess I need to watch more closely ;-)

  • @fjelstednord3159
    @fjelstednord31592 жыл бұрын

    I don't use Black Tea in my solution and I get a Jet Black finish every time. One coat only. I probably mix mine stronger using a higher concentrate vinegar and more steel wool.

  • @fatgrubman645
    @fatgrubman6452 жыл бұрын

    Would this make the wood poisonous or unsafe in anyway ? Like if something/someone chewed it ?

  • @waynemeriwether1739

    @waynemeriwether1739

    2 жыл бұрын

    I’m curious about this too. For instance, would it be safe to use ebonized wood on a cutting board?

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    2 жыл бұрын

    This is not a food safe finish.

  • @CampDweller
    @CampDweller4 ай бұрын

    I made 3 glasses of steel wool and vinegar and it doesn’t turn my wood black.

  • @aliengrey6052
    @aliengrey60522 жыл бұрын

    Is this recommended on guitar fretboards

  • @Blenbkuqi
    @Blenbkuqi4 жыл бұрын

    nice video . do the solution penetrate deep in to the wood or just 1 or 2 mm in surface ?

  • @jensbarsoe5471
    @jensbarsoe54715 жыл бұрын

    Nice!

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    5 жыл бұрын

    Jens Barsöe thank you!

  • @AdrianDecaux
    @AdrianDecaux3 жыл бұрын

    Hi, great video, I want to make a guitar fretboard dark but I'm afraid if I use this method I'll get all my fingers stained to the touch, how can I avoid that?

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    3 жыл бұрын

    You could look at sealing it with a flat spray based finish, that should prevent it from coming off. Or a wax maybe.

  • @jg1019
    @jg10194 жыл бұрын

    Is this safe for spoons?

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    4 жыл бұрын

    I don’t believe so.

  • 3 ай бұрын

    Is this food safe?

  • @piffpete420
    @piffpete4202 жыл бұрын

    Will this work on sanded veneer?

  • @keithwinslow
    @keithwinslow4 жыл бұрын

    How long did you wait for each coat to dry?

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    4 жыл бұрын

    Just to touch, it’s mostly water so it doesn’t take long to dry.

  • @lXx_xXl
    @lXx_xXl9 ай бұрын

    Why would you put a hole in a mason jar? The whole point of the design is to let pressure escape all you have to do is not tighten the lid all the way.

  • @sohapark7875
    @sohapark78754 жыл бұрын

    Does it smell?

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    4 жыл бұрын

    It does smell like vinegar.

  • @blowersin5133
    @blowersin51333 жыл бұрын

    What type of wood is the big piece ?

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    3 жыл бұрын

    Red oak, same as the others.

  • @blowersin5133

    @blowersin5133

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Crowhollowwoodworks Thanks!

  • @Jacksteelmachines
    @Jacksteelmachines2 жыл бұрын

    and then oil it?

  • @jackjones3657
    @jackjones36573 жыл бұрын

    Great video, but honestly, that looks way to dark! It's as if the wood were just painted black. It's really hard to even make out the grain.

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    3 жыл бұрын

    You could vary the amount of times you apply it to the wood, or even vary the concentration of the black tea, to get different levels of dark.

  • @sonicd57
    @sonicd57 Жыл бұрын

    Why not use a charcoal color stain instead of this ?

  • @rodderz5615
    @rodderz56155 ай бұрын

    Why not just use black stain please?

  • @cindygalea9238
    @cindygalea92383 жыл бұрын

    🙏

  • @ArianaBauer
    @ArianaBauer2 жыл бұрын

    Is this finish food safe?

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    2 жыл бұрын

    It is not.

  • @nickkoenig2778

    @nickkoenig2778

    Жыл бұрын

    What you can do to achieve a similar look is the Shou Sugi Ban method. Finish with mineral oil.

  • @syracuse6651
    @syracuse66512 жыл бұрын

    Vinny Paul........

  • @auraflood6810
    @auraflood68103 жыл бұрын

    can i do this 100% northern white birch anyone???

  • @Crowhollowwoodworks

    @Crowhollowwoodworks

    3 жыл бұрын

    You might have to add a lot of black tea to it to get enough tannin for it to change color, and even then I’m not sure how dark it would get.

  • @CotyWK
    @CotyWK2 жыл бұрын

    Can you not just add the tea to the solution?

  • @bubblebutt2.1
    @bubblebutt2.1 Жыл бұрын

    Turn up the guitar, i can still hear you!

  • @The_Joker_
    @The_Joker_2 жыл бұрын

    How to Fokkerize wood.

  • @kerrykrishna
    @kerrykrishna2 жыл бұрын

    This is' How to ebonize red oak' not how to ebonize wood. This does not work for many species. I thought I was going to learn something here. One word does make a difference.

  • @luckyman1071
    @luckyman1071 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent video! I always wondered how this dark finish was accomplished. Ebonized wood and stone interiors bring out the best in each other. images.app.goo.gl/FsE9UqadQzMPxf7HA