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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
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    Townsville, Nth Qld
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    102

    Default A black stain and shellac finish

    I have been asked to do a high gloss black finish on a board, so that you can see the grain, and was thinking of a deep black stain followed by several coats of shellac.
    Can anyone please recommend a suitable stain?
    regards,

    Dengy

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    99

    Default

    Do you want to see the grain at all or just the marks of it in the finish.
    As in dead shiny black or opaque?
    If black just add black to you shellac and fad up to a shine.
    Ive still a paper bag of the stuff but having a senior moment remembering what it is.
    Im sure one of the pro French polishers on here will chime in with that info
    Probably same stuff I used as a patternfakir to delineate the different bits on the wooden patterns we made back then.
    Heres a couple of iPad shots of a chair I did over thirty years back as you can see it doesn’t fade or but doesn’t like the rivets in jeans.
    H.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Townsville, Nth Qld
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    102

    Default

    Thanks clear_out. You raise an interesting point.
    Should I just add black spirit based stain to my shellac and brush it on? I make my own dewaxed white shellac, usually a 1lb cut
    regards,

    Dengy

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    99

    Default

    What I used was a filthy black powder.
    As I said I can’t remember what it’s called.
    I mixed it with DNA and then added shellac to it to the right consistency.
    H.
    Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sth Gippsland Vic
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Dyes-Aniline : Dye, Aniline, Powder, SPIRIT (ALCOHOL) Soluble, Black,

    Get some of that Spirit Black. 1 Tea spoon full will make a very strong black mix in 250ml of metho . The addition of a little red turns it from a blue Black to Jet black.
    I use this for the red in it .https://www.thewoodworks.com.au/shop...k-brown-detail

    The blueness of it isn't really noticeable in the jar but sometimes it makes a difference to a job. To test it put a dab of the black mix on a piece of glass and view it with light behind . Then add a tiny amount of red, (Bismark Brown) a drop, and you will see what I mean.

    If The timber your using reacts to an iron oxide stain its a good idea to do that first otherwise just go with the stain. Iron oxide stain. Dissolve steel wool in vinegar over a day or two in a jar. Water treat the board first by wetting and sanding , then apply Iron oxide stain. That will turn the wood black if its Oak or Blackwood . Woods with a high Tanic acid content is what does it I think .

    Lightly sand again .

    Then stain black with the spirit mix, mostly metho with 5% shellac added with the powder. Then use spirit mix in your normal shellac mix when giving it some body . Then finish with clear shellac at the end .

    Rob

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Townsville, Nth Qld
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    102

    Default

    Get some of that Spirit Black. 1 Tea spoon full will make a very strong black mix in 250ml of metho
    Thanks for this helpful advice, Rob.
    Are you referring to powder here?
    I always thought aniline powder was very carcinogenic
    regards,

    Dengy

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sth Gippsland Vic
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dengue View Post
    Thanks for this helpful advice, Rob.
    Are you referring to powder here?
    I always thought aniline powder was very carcinogenic
    Yeah Its a powder when you buy it . like in the link.

    Read up on how toxic it may be . I just saw this .

    https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts171.pdf



    like a lot of stuff in my polishing cabinet . I avoid ingesting it in any way.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    28

    Default

    I was planning on trying this method which seems completely safe.

    Homemade Ebonizing Stain Formula - YouTube

    The results look pretty impressive

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,183

    Default

    Osmo 3590 Black Oil Stain will do this.....

    36717770_235851770471625_1955108205931528192_n.jpg

    edit - Two coats, light rub between, buff once dry.

    I also do the handles of my Japanese knives with it. It uses a rather evil smelling thinner, which also acts as a brush cleaner. The stuff in the can is ever so slightly thick, not a fluid like alcohol, but more like a good Thai poosin sauce

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,183

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by taz01 View Post
    I was planning on trying this method which seems completely safe.

    Homemade Ebonizing Stain Formula - YouTube

    The results look pretty impressive


    Quebracho powder!

    Magic stuff. Magic.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Kew, Vic
    Posts
    123

    Default

    wP,

    Thanks for the heads-up on the Osmo Black stain. I’m a fan of Osmo products and I need a very black black.
    May I ask what timber you used in your pic above?

    Many thanks,

    Brian

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,183

    Default

    This is the blackest black you are going to get without it being a physics project.

    It is Oak.

    The work is by an Instagram artist I follow. Ill try to find the source and update this post. We had a good chat about his work and he went down the "black hole" and found this was the blackest black one could achieve.

    I've also tried the Quebracho, India ink, soot-black and aniline inks. I also gave other stuff a crack that was no good - printers ink, dyes from China and RIT clothing powders.

    This stuff by Osmo is the best.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Kew, Vic
    Posts
    123

    Default

    Thanks, wP. You’ve saved me a heap of experimentation. I’ve just ordered some Osmo to make a couple of black boxes to go with this top panel:

    73170EF2-6041-4650-8813-0AC6873800B8.jpeg

    It’s thick celluloid used on guitars - thought it could make an interesting box.

    Dengue - apologies for temporarily hijacking your thread

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