There have been recent discussions in the Musical Instrument Makers Forum about the use of nitric acid to color wood. I don't know if those discussions are still posted, but if not, will likely show up in their library in a few weeks. http://www.mimf.com
Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marcus Merrin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 4:40 PM Subject: Re: Aquafortis > > > Aquafortis is dilute nitric acid. It is a strong oxidizing agent and > attacks sugars and cellulose in wood, partially turning them black. It > also turns fingers bright yellow, possibly useful for performances in > low-contrast environments. > > Potash is potassium hydroxide, a strong base which will remove flesh > from unwanted body parts. A dilute solution of it can be made by > mixing wood ash with water and filtering out the bits. I've never heard > of it being used for staining wood, but I would suggest that it would be > a bad idea to soak wood in it as it will seriously affect the strength. > Also, don't get it in contact with aluminum as it makes hydrogen . (That > was the method used to fill the Hindenburg, and look where that got them.) > > Marcus > > Jon Murphy wrote: > > >I don't remember the nitric versus the hydocholric acid (although I do > >remember my hands turning brown from pure nitric acid). But I do remember > >that a fine furniture man, Mario Lauria, used a dilute mix of Potash - which > >I think would make a nitric acid - to turn the wood without stain. We made a > >bartop of Mahogany (white, in the natural state) and turned it into a fine > >deep reddish with the Potash (and it wouldn't burn with cigarettes, as there > >was no stain to burn). Hope this helps. > > > >Best, Jon > > > > > > > > > > > >>Is nitric or hydrochloric acid( I forgot which) which you wet the wood > >> > >> > >with > > > > > >>then apply heat and it turns the wood brown (or green if you are unlucky) > >> > >> > >use > > > > > >>dilute. I used on a rifle stock and by the time I was done it was too > >> > >> > >dark. > > > > > >>As I understand it it works on maple (sycamore to you UK folks) and reacts > >> > >> > >with > > > > > >>the sugar in the wood. > >> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > // Marcus Merrin PhD. > // EmptyAir Consulting > // Linux/Unix-platform database and custom server technology > // [EMAIL PROTECTED] |||||||| http://emptyair.com > // (902)225-5188 (Mobile) |||||||||| (902)455-2284 (Office) > ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > > >
