***** Guitar Project Jigs, Tools & Techniques Online Resources Archives OLF Video Page Library of plans MP3 Library Inlay Class
Offical Luthiers Forum





And our community proudly sponsored by:

RC Tonewoods | Stewart MacDonald | LuthiersForum
TasmanianTonewoods | OLF | OLF MERCH
Luthier Suppliers | Pacific Coast Woods | ELEVATE
OLF X | Tasmanian Acoustic Tonewood | Luthiers Forum Store!
Luthiers Forum | OLF Facebook | AVAIL SPACE
OLF | Alaska Specialty Woods | A.Hix Tonewood
Duke of Pearl | Birkonium CNC | Space




Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Sun Feb 16, 2025 8:32 am


Board index » Luthiers Forum Rooms » Guitar Building Forum

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Forum rules


Be nice, no cussin and enjoy!




Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
  [ 9 posts ] 
  Print view Previous topic | Next topic 
Author Message
phavriluk
 Post subject: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2023 12:59 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:49 pm
Posts: 1050
First name: peter
Last Name: havriluk
City: granby
State: ct
Zip/Postal Code: 06035
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I think I want to use a set of white oak for my next project. I've seen mention of 'fuming' the oak in an ammonia atmosphere in order to darken it. Sounds like I might want to do that. Now what? I'd love some comments, advice, information, opinions....

Thanks!

_________________
Peter Havriluk
Top
 Profile  
 
Chris Pile
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2023 2:08 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5845
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
It does work. Or you can dilute the ammonia with water and use a rag. Keep in mind, this is mostly a technique furniture makers have employed. I've never done it, just read about it in Fine Woodworking.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince
Top
 Profile  
 
kfish
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2023 2:14 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:44 pm
Posts: 104
Location: Woodstock, Illinois
First name: Kent
Last Name: Fishburn
City: Woodstock
State: Illinois
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Here's a previous discussion.
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=54854&hilit=fuming
Top
 Profile  
 
phavriluk
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2023 2:31 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:49 pm
Posts: 1050
First name: peter
Last Name: havriluk
City: granby
State: ct
Zip/Postal Code: 06035
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Oops. I see my comments from 14 months ago in that thread, too. I dead forgot I'd asked about this before. Thanks!

_________________
Peter Havriluk
Top
 Profile  
 
CarlD
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2023 11:59 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2013 2:26 pm
Posts: 497
First name: Carl
Last Name: Dickinson
City: Forest Ranch
State: California
Zip/Postal Code: 95942
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I'm working on a white oak body that I fumed. Made a tent w/pvc pipe frame and clear poly over. Got some 28% ammonia @ Amazon (careful of the fumes!!) and left it in about a week. Came out a nice honey brown. Now if I could get the AquaCoat to fill the pores (I'm up to 10 coats so far) I'd get on to the finish.....
Top
 Profile  
 
Colin North
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2023 2:36 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:44 am
Posts: 5533
First name: colin
Last Name: north
Country: Scotland.
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
CarlD wrote:
........Now if I could get the AquaCoat to fill the pores (I'm up to 10 coats so far) I'd get on to the finish.....

Yup, I haven't got the hang of it either. idunno

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.
Top
 Profile  
 
Doc
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2023 4:01 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:06 pm
Posts: 153
First name: Howard
Last Name: Wilson
State: Virginia
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I completed one a couple months back, too. Put the body in a clear plastic dry cleaning bag with some household ammonia for about 6 hours and checked it. Decided a few days later to do more so I left it in overnight. Did the trick and as mentioned a nice honey brown color. I used a couple coats of System 3 epoxy which worked nicely.
Top
 Profile  
 
doncaparker
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2023 4:04 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:52 pm
Posts: 3110
First name: Don
Last Name: Parker
City: Charleston
State: West Virginia
Zip/Postal Code: 25314
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I haven’t fumed a guitar body yet, but I filled the pores in one recently that had QS white oak back and sides. The pore filling was a real challenge. I used Silver Tip. It eventually worked great, but it took a LOT of coats.
Top
 Profile  
 
surveyor
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2023 4:59 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 10:06 am
Posts: 256
First name: Mike
Last Name: Spector
City: ORANGE
State: TX
Zip/Postal Code: 77632
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I haven't "fumed" one yet, but might try that in the future. I did "ebonize" one using vinegar and old rusty nails, steel wool, etc.
Image
Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
  [ 9 posts ] 

Board index » Luthiers Forum Rooms » Guitar Building Forum

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 25 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com