Thank you Frank McVey for the tip on aging walnut with lye. The base color
changed from purple to brown just as I was hoping it would. Just got a can
of Red Devil lye and poured a capful into half a coffee can of water (slowly.)
I brushed it on, the reaction happens almost immediately. Then I rinsed it
right away with water and dried with a heat gun. You can sand the crap out
of the wood without getting down to the base color, and the color penetrates
evenly. Saved my ass on this job!
BUB 209 wrote:
> Thank you Frank McVey for the tip on aging walnut with lye.
Does the lye get used up in the process and become naturalized?
--
Mark
N.E. Ohio
Never argue with a fool, a bystander can't tell you apart. (S. Clemens,
A.K.A. Mark Twain)
When in doubt hit the throttle. It may not help but it sure ends the
suspense. (Gaz, r.moto)
I used a vinegar wash when I used lye on a cherry crib just to be sure.
The final rinse was lots of water!
Grant
BUB 209 wrote:
> >Does the lye get used up in the process and become naturalized?
> >
>
> I'm don't know what you mean exactly but
> I'm hoping the water rinse neutralized it
> enough that it won't be effecting the stain
> and varnish, I know that lye and corn
> starch was a formula for paint stripper in
> the past.
Glad to be of help, Bub. I'd have gone along with Grant and used a little
vinegar (or any dilute acid) to be sure that the lye was neutralised, but I
reckon if you flooded the job well, you'll be fine.
Cheers
Frank
"Grant P. Beagles" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
> I used a vinegar wash when I used lye on a cherry crib just to be sure.
> The final rinse was lots of water!
>
> Grant
>
>
> BUB 209 wrote:
>
> > >Does the lye get used up in the process and become naturalized?
> > >
> >
> > I'm don't know what you mean exactly but
> > I'm hoping the water rinse neutralized it
> > enough that it won't be effecting the stain
> > and varnish, I know that lye and corn
> > starch was a formula for paint stripper in
> > the past.
>
the cabinet I made in shop class, WAY BACK in 66, was 'aged'
that way, then finished with 1/3 varnish, 1/3 linseed oil, and
1/3 thinner- a coat a day for a week, then a coat a week for a
month... got a little darker over the years, but is STILL just
fine.
I put the 'ageing solution' on every day for a week, and then
let it dry over the weekend before starting to finish it...
--Shiva--
On 20 Nov 2003 03:26:56 GMT, [email protected] (BUB 209) wrote:
> Thank you Frank McVey for the tip on aging walnut with lye. The base color
>changed from purple to brown just as I was hoping it would. Just got a can
>of Red Devil lye and poured a capful into half a coffee can of water (slowly.)
>I brushed it on, the reaction happens almost immediately. Then I rinsed it
>right away with water and dried with a heat gun. You can sand the crap out
>of the wood without getting down to the base color, and the color penetrates
>evenly. Saved my ass on this job!
I have been reading up on walnut, as I am planning a dining room table
and allowing the walnut to age naturally. Unlike cherry and some
other woods, walnut lightens with age, taking on a yellow hue.