Ebonizing ... Ebony

[MaDDreams]

My 21 year old claimed the first pen I made (about a year ago), from a beautiful, black ebony blank. Over time, he's decided that it just wasn't quite the right shape, so I've bought a handful of ebony blanks... and they've all turned out more of a chocolate color. While that doesn't bother me, he'd much prefer straight black. Before I go hunting for an African Blackwood blank (haven't seen any at my local-ish Woodcraft store), does anyone have any thoughts on how to darken the wood?

I've rough turned this blank (so anything I screw up could be turned off before I get to final diameter)... Hit it with a heat gun on low.. nothing. Left it in a ziploc in the sun for the last two weeks... it darkened slightly but not much. Then I took to the forums and found a number of posts about how heat was the bane of ebony, but I haven't found any cracks yet, whew!

I'd prefer to avoid using chemicals, including iron acetate (or worse, as suggested by one comment - sharpie!) if possible.

 

[sorcerertd]

Most woods darken when you put finish on them anyway. Test it out before turning down to correct size.

FWIW, I prefer African Blackwood over Ebony just because Ebony is so brittle and prone to cracking (my experience anyway).

 

[Hippie3180]

What about "ebonizing" with vinegar and steel wool solution? The more tannins a wood has the better, should work well. I use it on Black Walnut, it works well, because Black Walnut is so heavy grained it's not solid black as the deep grain stays brown, but the surface grain gets very black.

 

[derekdd]

Guitar fretboards have been "ebonized" for decades using lots of different methods to get that uniform black color. Everything from aniline dyes (water or alcohol based) to black furniture pens, to black shoe polish is used to varying degrees of success.

Part of it depends on what kind of finish you plan. Like Todd, I stay away from ebony as it always checks on me. I use Wenge more these days, though Blackwood works well, also.

 

[egnald]

You might want to look up some information on Shou Sugi Ban, but it is usually done on softer, lighter woods. I don't know how it would effect ebony. You could perhaps try a test using a small scrap piece. - Dave

 

[derekdd]

You might want to look up some information on Shou Sugi Ban, but it is usually done on softer, lighter woods. I don't know how it would effect ebony. You could perhaps try a test using a small scrap piece. - Dave

I hadn't thought of that.

Interesting idea for a pen. I use a heat gun to darken Purpleheart.

Curious how it would work on ebony.

 

[Humongous]

Most woods darken when you put finish on them anyway. Test it out before turning down to correct size.

FWIW, I prefer African Blackwood over Ebony just because Ebony is so brittle and prone to cracking (my experience anyway).

I have had Wenge turn black enough to barely see the grain with just a CA finish. I would give Todd's suggestion a try first.

 

[MaDDreams]

You might want to look up some information on Shou Sugi Ban, but it is usually done on softer, lighter woods. I don't know how it would effect ebony. You could perhaps try a test using a small scrap piece. - Dave

I've considered Shou Sugi Ban, but... we're back to heat and ebony... and pen making with CA in general

 

[MaDDreams]

I hadn't thought of that.

Interesting idea for a pen. I use a heat gun to darken Purpleheart.

Curious how it would work on ebony.

As mentioned above - I'd tried it on low and didn't get anything from it. Moving to high would have done something, but probably just delaminating the barrels

 

[zorro9]

Alcohol shoe dye.

 

[EricRN]

You might try Odies dark. It's supposed to oxidize the wood over time. Not sure how it would work in ebony. You might also try looking specifically for gaboon ebony. That tends to be the blackest. More so than macasar and Indian ebony.

Woodcraft Woodshop Gaboon Ebony Wood Turning Stock

The heartwood of Gaboon ebony (Diospyros spp.) is usually jet black, with little to no variation or visible grain. Ebony wood turning stock 1" X 1" X 12" takes finishes well and finishes to a high luster. Common uses include small ornamental purposes, such as piano keys, musical instrument...

www.woodcraft.com

I got a Gabon ebony about 5 years ago and it was a wonderful jet black. Turned it into a pen for my grandpa. No finish, just sanded through and the polished with micro mesh and got a wonderful satin finish.

 

[EricRN]

You might try Odies dark. It's supposed to oxidize the wood over time. Not sure how it would work in ebony. You might also try looking specifically for gaboon ebony. That tends to be the blackest. More so than macasar and Indian ebony.

Woodcraft Woodshop Gaboon Ebony Wood Turning Stock

The heartwood of Gaboon ebony (Diospyros spp.) is usually jet black, with little to no variation or visible grain. Ebony wood turning stock 1" X 1" X 12" takes finishes well and finishes to a high luster. Common uses include small ornamental purposes, such as piano keys, musical instrument...

www.woodcraft.com

I got a Gabon ebony about 5 years ago and it was a wonderful jet black. Turned it into a pen for my grandpa. No finish, just sanded through and the polished with micro mesh and got a wonderful satin finish.

Also, one more thought—I've found that Drs Pens Plus usually darkens up the wood quite a bit. I had a piece of rosewood that was chocolate brown and after the pens plus, it was a very deep dark color—a reddish tinted black.