Unusual woodstains

#1 02-10-2002, 03:21 PM

I just purchased 'The Elements of Woodcarving' by Chris Pye.

And in there he says that he used'COFFEE' to darken the background on a relief carving.
I was wondering if anyone else has ever tried this and if they were happy with the results?
Also this got me to wondering what else( besides store bought stains and paints) could be used (or rather ) have been used to achieve an unusual coloring for a project. Things like kool-aid or berry juice.
I would also like to know how pleased you were from the results of using these items.

or :'(

#2 02-10-2002, 05:07 PM

Grump,
I was at a carving meeting last Friday and they had chocolate chip cookies. Soon I noticed I had stained my carving with chocolate. I didn't care much for that finish, I haven't spilled coffee on my carvings yet, so I can't say how that might look.

#3 02-10-2002, 09:14 PM

I've used a propane torch to darken wood on a walking stick. Use a very light touch and move the torch around slowly. Darken the knots with a little more heat, then lightly abrade the surface with 0000 steel wool. This gives nice darkened aged look.

Al

Captain_Bandaid · #4 02-11-2002, 11:44 AM

blood makes an interesting stain. I have used it several times to good affect. I found that if I try to use it on a large carving, I get a little light-headed, though. O-positive seems to give the most pleasing results.

#5 02-11-2002, 12:48 PM

Someone said to use used motor oil for a black stain. I put it on a chainsaw bear but it faded after awhile and got kind of gray out in the weather. People around here use transmission fluid on their wooden trailer beds to darken and waterproof them. It really works. One guy has a trailer bed made of popular which normally rots fast. He puts the transmission fluid on every year and he says it is 12 years old and out in the weather year round.

#6 02-11-2002, 09:47 PM

I have used vanilla. It gives a light stain and smells good too.

#7 02-14-2002, 10:00 AM

I wasn't thinking about blood cap'n,I've used that one too.
Better save that O-pos., I hear it's in high demand.
So far we have blood,oil,vanilla,fire,chocolate, and coffee.
Anybody else use something unusual to stain wood with?

#8 03-01-2002, 04:27 PM

I have used beets from the garden to stain clay flower pots but never on wood. Â*Bandaid should try this on his larger works before he faints of blood loss.
ah chip

Bandaid · #9 03-02-2002, 10:06 AM

Nails or steel wool soaked in vinegar makes a stain that closely resembles weathered barnwood.

#10 03-02-2002, 01:51 PM

Bandaid... How long do you soak the iron in the vinegar to get the stain? The longer the soak, the darker the stain? Do you apply the vinegar full strength or dilute it first? Must the vinegar be rinsed off after it sets for a while? This sounds very interesting.....