Wood Finish

My Grandfather use to make a lot of rustic oak projects. He kept a bucket with water in it and put scrap iron in it. he would wipe the oak with a rag soaked in the rusty water. the iron in the water would turn the oak a silvery gray (aged) look.

-- Scott Marshburn,https://www.youtube.com/user/ecabinetstips, FaceBook, https://www.facebook.com/ecabinetstipsandtricks, Twitter, https://twitter.com/eCabinetstips

How about dyes – a whole different twist? Then there is the ammonia gas that reacts to the oak and darkens it.

-- David in Damascus, MD

The nice thing about fuming with with ammonia is that you can easily adjust the darkness of the finished project. There are many youtube videos on the process and comments on this site to assist. I use common ammonia cleaner from the grocery store and have fumed projects from a couple of hours to over 48 hours when I was looking for a darker finish. You just need to be a little careful when using ammonia.

-- Randy, Central MN

Stain over dye techniques are fun for smaller projects. I find them tedious on large furniture pieces, but the effect is really something. Especially if the oak is quartersawn, and you use a light honey colored dye first, then a walnut colored stain over the top. Jeff Jewitt is a modern expert on the topic… http://homesteadfinishingproducts.com/

-- Willie, Washington "If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice" - Rush

EBONIZIING perfect for oak

-- Tony---- Reinholds,Pa.------ REMEMBER TO ALWAYS HAVE FUN

The above are all great suggestions. But, if you want a quick and easy finish, Watco Dark Walnut Danish Oil gives a dark appearance to oak. These are some laminated screwdriver handles I made with white oak and finished with the Danish Oil:

-- Kenny, SW VA, Go Hokies!!!