It can be difficult for some craftsmen to stain a project made from a beautiful hardwood like walnut. A purist might say that staining any wood is unnatural and thoughtless. Sometimes though, a wood requires stain to bring out its hidden beauty. And as woodworkers, most of us appreciate the beauty of grain in wood and it's uncommon for us to hide it.

Wouldn't it be nice to see this inner beauty develop without a can of commercial stain?

A few household ingredients will create a potent chemical stain that will profoundly change the color of a wood with a high tanin content... most notably, oak and walnut.

Don't forget to wear your rubber gloves and eye protection!

Ingredients:

• Apple cider vinegar
• Steel wool pad
• 1 table spoon of salt
• Ordinary nails (not galvanized)
• ½ cup of water in a spray bottle

You will need a bucket or some other means to contain the mixture. I use a long, narrow plant holder that is typically placed on a porch rail.

Unroll the steel wool pad and place it in the bucket. Toss in a few old nails or any other rusted items you many have.

Next, place 1 tablespoon of salt into a spray bottle and add ½ cup of water. Shake the bottle until most of the salt has dissolved. Spray the steel wool and nails with this mixture until the bottle is empty.

Prepare Your Project

There will be a tendency for this stain to raise the grain of the wood. In certain situations, it may be preferable to wipe down your project with a wet rag to raise the grain, allow the surface to dry, and sand it lightly with 220 grit sandpaper.

Apply the "Stain" Apply the stain with a foam paint brush (available at most craft stores). Within seconds, you will see the chemical reaction take place. Walnut's brown will change to black almost immediately. On oak, the result will be interesting but less dramatic. After the coat of stain has dried, sand the project again and apply another coat. Walnut typically requires 2 coats and oak may require 3 or more. Sanding will become less necessary with each additional coat as long as you do not sand too much from the surface.

Click here to see the difference

The mixture will remain somewhat potent if kept in a sealed glass jar. Within a year though, the chemical will start to turn green and the results will not be as astounding. And though I hate to say it....A coat of Minwax "Ebony" stain on top of this mixture will further deepen the color and give you a very, very deep black color.

Neutralizing the Surface

Before applying a finish, it is a good idea to mix some baking soda with water and wash the surface of the wood to neutralize the acid in the vinegar. Then rinse the project surface well with plain water.

Wow!
Walnut will now look like ebony. The tremendous change in walnut will open up a whole new world of wood combinations. How about a pedestal table made from ebonized walnut and unstained cherry? Or how about an ebonized walnut bowl or vase?

Ebonized Walnut Vase

Ebonized Walnut Base