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phavriluk
 Post subject: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2023 12:59 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:49 pm
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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!

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Chris Pile
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2023 2:08 pm 
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Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5823
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
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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.

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kfish
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2023 2:14 pm 
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Location: Woodstock, Illinois
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Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Here's a previous discussion.
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=54854&hilit=fuming
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phavriluk
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2023 2:31 pm 
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Koa
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First name: peter
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City: granby
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Oops. I see my comments from 14 months ago in that thread, too. I dead forgot I'd asked about this before. Thanks!

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CarlD
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2023 11:59 am 
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First name: Carl
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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.....
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Colin North
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2023 2:36 pm 
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First name: colin
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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

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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.
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Doc
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2023 4:01 pm 
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First name: Howard
Last Name: Wilson
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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.
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doncaparker
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2023 4:04 pm 
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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.
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surveyor
 Post subject: Re: fumed white oak
PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2023 4:59 pm 
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Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 10:06 am
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First name: Mike
Last Name: Spector
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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.
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