this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2023
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Woodworking
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Maybe try a darker stain? You said you used construction wood and well... It shows. And when in contrast with the nicer boards you used, it makes the "feature" wood look like rotten planks found on the side of the road. A darker stain on the construction wood might help it blend more.
Absolutely I knew the aesthetics wouldn’t be good, Those “nicer” boards were just someone’s offcuts I got, so you’re not far off with that assessment. I’ve never used a stain before, so don’t have anything on hand. For finishing, I just have walrus oil (free sample from the hardware shop) and shellac available, but If I had some money I would have gone uniform timber all over.
You can ebonize wood by applying Iron Acetate. Take steel wool and dissolves it in vinegar for a few days. (use a mason jar or whatnot) then apply to the wood with a rag. It "burn" the wood to a much darker color. I like to let rust form and use the rust as part of the stain. It gives it a deep red color.