I've been doing some projects, and thinking I wanted some stain, to make the wood look like it had been used a long time. Not distressed, I don't believe in cruelty to wood. Just the look you get from a piece of wood, that's been in an old factory, for a hundred or so years. So I thought stain would be the way to go.
I'm trying to lean toward easy clean up stuff, water base poly, latex, etc., and didn't care to use any of the commercial stains. Had tried coffee and tea, but they didn't do what I was after.
Then today I saw some hickory nuts that had dropped beside my driveway. Viola. I don't have black walnut trees, but sure as Hell have hickory trees. I knew walnut husks were used for stains and dyes, why not hickory? Turns out, yes, hickory husks are used. But, no instructions on how. Dug more, several sources said make it same as walnut. Hmm, OK. Dug deeper. Then found this site.
I think that pretty well covers any questions I had. Altho, another site did recommend using cheap vodka. Pouring it over the husks, instead of ammonia or water.
So, tomorrow, after I get the truck brakes worked on, I shall be gathering some hickory nuts. I'm thinking no ammonia, probably just water, maybe with a shot of vinegar.
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