How do I darken Q-sawn oak rays without using stain?

[doc henderson]

steel wool soaking in vinegar but may be more blue/black.  could add some depth if you feel like endless experimentation.  

[Brad_bb]

@doc henderson I've experimented with that on all types of wood.  Turns oaks black or grey.  It works the best on Doug Fir.  I used that on my doug fir floors in my shop loft and the barn loft with 2x6 circle sawn doug fir T&G.  I really like the fuming on white oak, and now with what I know about red oak and the tannic acid, I think that may be what was used in the original quarter sawn pic that started this thread.  They managed to get that piece really dark and then I think they did a white stain over it.


Being able to so closely simulate the reclaimed oak beams is a really good thing, and my education in these techniques is growing.  Some people aren't that particular, but I have a clear vision on the look I'm going for.  The pictures from my phone never do the colors complete justice, the sample is looking really good to me and got my mom's approval.

 

[doc henderson]

@Jeff I am trying coffee now and it seems to be working!  

[Jeff]

@Jeff I am trying coffee now and it seems to be working! 

I'm sure my suggestion was taken as smarrt ass by most. It was not. I've used coffee for multiple creative projects., including staining sawdust and glue woodfiller, paint in a painting of the background in a portrait of zebras,  coloring for tissue paper when I dressed jeremy up one time for Halloween as a burn victim.

Squueze the grounds in the filter to get the richest ciolors.

[Larry]

I didn't but I like Bigelow black tea (available at Walmart) better. I steep two or three bags in a bit of water and let it sit overnight before using. I don't know but it may have more tanin in it than my coffee. Multiply coats also help, try it on a piece of scrap first and run your own comparison tests.

[doc henderson]

I have used it as well and also the torch to raise grain to make it look aged after cycles of swelling and drying.  Of course, I was referring to the cup of it in my hand as I was waking up reading your comment.  us smart asses have to stick together!  

[Old Greenhorn]

Well I have never tried this technique, but I will. SO one question before I start: Do you guys use Milk, cream, or the powdered stuff"? Also, how many sugars?

[doc henderson]

I use Irish cream, but in a separate cup not for the wood!

[doc henderson]

In fact, I think they carry it at Baileys and that is a logging site.  At least I have heard of Baileys Irish Cream!

[Brad_bb]

I've tried a number of natural things like coffee and Walnut juice.  In this case with oak, I like the fuming not only because of the colors you can get, but that it also penetrates up to 1/8 inch into the wood.  If you get some damage, it shouldn't affect the color.  Not many other things will do that.  So it would even be forgiving with sanding, whereas with most other things, are just on the surface.

[SwampDonkey]

I've heard of coffee being used. I knew an old timer from the WW2 era who tinkered in the wood shop. He used stuff, that at the time, I had never used or heard of.   Hide glue for instance, having just heard about it from him at the time, I wondered what is that stuff?   Can still buy it in crystal form and prepare it in a glue pot. I see Larry uses it for chair joints. ;)