Oak Finishes & Wood Stains

Fumed Oak

¶ Used on Oak, Poplar, Pine, Maple, Ash, Chestnut .

¶ Formula:

2 to 4 ounces tannic acid,
1 gallon warm water.
Mix above, brush on and let dry. Sandpaper the raised wood grain If a reddish brown iet wanted add 1 ounce or more of pyrogallic acid to the above solution.
For the second coat,
4 ounces bichromate of potash,
1 ounce carbonate of potash,
1 gallon of hot water (125 degrees).
Mix and brush on while hot.

Fumed Oak on Birch

¶ Formula:

½ ounce pyrogallic acid,
½ ounce tannic acid,
1 gallon warm water.
Mix, brush on and let dry. Do not sandpaper.
2 ounces carbonate of soda,
1 ounce bichromate of potash,
1 gallon hot water.
Dissolve the above chemicals in the water and then add to the mixture a solution mixed as follows:
1 ounce of copper sulphate dissolved in 8 ounces of water.
Add enough ammonia, 26 degree, to the copper solution to cause a precipitation, a settling of a crystallized substance to the bottom. Continue to add ammonia then until the precipitated substance is redissolved and disappears.
Brush on the above as a second coat after the first is dry. Sandpaper and clean up. Any shade of'brown can be secured by using stronger or weaker solutions, that is more or less water.

¶ Filler:

None

¶ Finish:

Shellac, white for light browns and orange for dark brown; varnish and rub dull; or flat varnish or wax.

Antique Oak

¶ Used on oak, ash, and chestnut.

¶ Formula:

4 to 6 ounces permanganate of potash,
1 gallon soft water.
Mix and brush on. Let dry and if not dark enough apply one or more additional coats.
For a second coat apply a wash of iron acetate dissolved in water, a saturated or a weaker solution, depending upon the color wanted and the wood being stained.

¶ Filler:

No filler required. Open pores desirable.

¶ Finish:

Rub in several coats of oil, preferably while hot. Mix the oil, - 2 ounces raw linseed oil, 1 ounce japan drier and 5 ounces benzine. Wipe off after application and let dry before another coat is rubbed in. Or shellac, varnish and rub dull, or wax, or flat varnish.

Next Page: Mission Style Finish.