Thank you Frank McVey for the tip on aging walnut with lye. The base color changed from purple to brown just as I was hoping it would. Just got a can of Red Devil lye and poured a capful into half a coffee can of water (slowly.) I brushed it on, the reaction happens almost immediately. Then I rinsed it right away with water and dried with a heat gun. You can sand the crap out of the wood without getting down to the base color, and the color penetrates evenly. Saved my ass on this job!
- posted
20 years ago