how do get the ebonized effect of burned wood?i have a cherry wood spoon that has a really nice comepletely smooth black i also found it seals well even without a finish. and i would like to duplicate that on bowls. do you burn it with a torch lightly and then sand the charcoal away? is there a simpler way to do it? any suggestions would be appreciated ~B
Use an ebonizing technique. Put some clean steel wool in a glass container and add some vinegar. This is the ebonizer and you can use it for ever just add more steel wool/vineger as it runs out. To work this mix needs tannic acid in the wood. If in doubt brew up some tea and apply to the piece first. Then use the steel wool pad to apply the ebonizer. The wood will go instantly black. Allow to dry and apply favourite finish. Alternately use india ink purchased from artist supply store.
how food safe is the wood after the steel vinegar system? after the indian ink? do u put ur normal finish on after or do u use it as is?
how food safe is the wood after the steel vinegar system? after the indian ink? do u put ur normal finish on after or do u use it as is?
I suppose it depends on the type of wood, but I haven't found that burning with the technique you're describing leaves a smooth finish. It may all turn black, but when you sand away the loose charcoal, it ends up with a fairly large amount of variation along the grain lines. I'd suggest using the other suggestion of india ink or that steel wool & vinegar technique.
Food safe? Who knows- according to some folks, anything is fine once it's outgassed and fully cured, for others, nothing is safe but certain oils and wax. Depends on who you are, I guess. In any case, if you use the India ink, you'll need to use a water-based finish. Shellac will dissolve it, and I think (though do not remember for sure) that Deft will as well. In any case, I know the waterbourne poly will work fine over it, and I'd consider it safe enough for me and anyone else.
Hey BizH I have had good results with cherry and oak in simulating an ebonize surface by a chemical mehod. Soak some pieces of rusty iron, ol nails or the like, in vinegar for a few days and paint the (filtered solution on to the wood. You will want to experiment with dilution s as to contol the effect - it gets real black real fast if you are no careful . The dissolved iron salts interect with the tannin in th wood to turn it black
Doc Ro
The ebonizing is not a finish! Like I said "use your favourite finish" As far as kitchen utensils and food containers (treenware) go there is no perfect finish. The biggest enemy of treenware is the dishwasher and it should not be used. A good coat of mineral oil and gentle hand washing in warm soapy water is really all that is needed. To maintain appearance re-coat as needed with mineral oil. There are of course many who think that wood is a bacteria disaster waiting to happen. In fact there was a survey done which showed wood cutting boards were the most sanitary and had a natural built in disinfectant that stopped bacteria developing.
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