I got my recipe off the internet a while back. Quart jar, prox half full of steel wool, covered with vinegar (do not seal-let the gasses escape) - let set for a couple of days or a week. The mixture will bubble and form scum on the top. (Really gross lookin stuff). I added a few small steel nails (not galvanized or coated). To hurry along the solution, I put it on a small cup warmer for a few hours - causes a quicker reaction. My instructions said to wash the steel wool in soap and water to remove any oil - oil inhibits the reaction. So now I have this really icky looking and smelly stuff under my work bench in an unsealed jar. To prepare for use - I screw a cover on tight and shake up the mixture - remove cover and dip brush into said jar. I used a foam brush - and just slopped it on the board. I let mine set for 3-4 minutes, and wiped off. Supposedly this will coat the surface of heavy tannin woods with a black opaque finish. I need to experiment more with this. If the solution is being used up, add more steel wool and vinegar - let set until needed.
I plan on cutting off the ends of this sign and routing over the edges - will try to touch up the worked edges to match the overall finish. Will then try the PolyUrethane. Will post pics when done.
Plain tea (as in tea bags) has tannin in it. Make a cup of really strong tea. My instructions said on softer woods or woods with less tannin - add a strong tea coating to the wood first - let it almost dry - then apply the ebonizer.
Jerry
Having fun with my CW now!
C Machine spring of 2013, CarveTight, Rotary, designer 3.102, probe/PE,
vector 2d, 3d advanced, conforming vectors, STL. Photo Explosion 4.
HF 2hp dust collector. Headquartered in West-Central IL.