40 Ammonia Fuming: What will I be able see as an indication of color formation, and when?
Description
This article is from the Woodworking FAQ Collection 1, by multiple authors.
40 Ammonia Fuming: What will I be able see as an indication of color formation, and when?
Actually the wood will respond fairly soon (within a few hours) by
taking on what I find to be a dull, gray-brown caste. This tone will
intensify with increased fuming time, but it is only a raw (unfinished)
state, which is not much like the chocolate brown or even dark reddish
brown that can be achieved by fuming. But don't despair at the dull
unintersting color you may see at first; as the rich, final color will not
be evident until you apply a clear "finish" such as a penetrating oil or
varnish (or just use a wipe of mineral spirits in order to test the
progress of the workpiece).
So, to repeat: evaluate the color achieved by removing a test piece (see
below) from the fuming chamber and apply some oil (e.g., Watco) or mineral
spirits. This fact often is not grasped by beginners, who fume the
workpiece--perhaps extensively--and then give up in frustration after
seeing only the "raw" effect.
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