Fuming wood with ammomia ...

Dear Fellow Woodworkers:

Have you ever heard of finishing wood (especially white oak)? I am building all the furniture in my home in the American "Mission or Arts & Crafts" style popular in the early 1900's.

This finishing process involves exposing furniture components to aquaeous ammonia as it outgasses into and out of the wood for a few hours. Therefore, staining and its negative absorption properties are totally avoided.

When fuming is complete, rub tung oil (from the Chinese tung tree) on the wood and stand back. It's the tannic acid entrapped in the wood that makes this chemical possible. My experience is limited to working wit WHITE oak, but I've read that other woods will fume more or less.

If you would like to try this process for yourself, email me for a comprehensive procedure from our new book.

Even if white oak is not available in Australia, get a small sample and try it.

Have fun woodworking.

Brian


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Brian Swift
http://www.pooltableplans.com

[This message has been edited by ubeaut (edited 26 October 2001).]