Ebonizing Wood With India Ink - Finishing 101 Series

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For this Finishing 101 demo, I show you how to ebonize wood using India ink.
Supplies used:
India Ink: amzn.to/2cOyamv
Spray Lacquer: amzn.to/2c5JM7m
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[@gayesha]

Wow straight to the point, informative and easy to watch. Best wood inking video I’ve seen. Most people blab on too much and it’s painful to watch. Loved this video 👍🏼

[@DamianoftheRyans]

🤣🤗😎

[@joevannucci1392]

Well done. Concise, clear visuals and descriptions. If only all demos were this informative.

[@haveyouseentheone]

I used the ink in your video last night. I poured it directly onto the wood, but it soaked in pretty quick. I changed and pour some in a container and then applied with a foam brush. 1-2 coats was plenty and it was very easy to use. Thanks for the video.

[@lchulo4nyc]

Thank you very much!!! I'm doing this method today on a 63x28 wood board from a computer gaming rig desk set up. I'll provide an update when all is done. So far one coat of ink is on every side of this wood. Thanks again!

[@tynado1173]

this is EXACTLY what I'm looking for. Thank you!

[@Muler3627]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I've been desperate to find a way of properly staining wood grains black - and this is the only damn product that seems to do the job. Off to purchase some now, and will report back for other commenters (UK based) which product I've used and if I'm as successful as this video!

[@robinjackson7540]

Relative to my project: the most informative video I've come across. Thanks a lot for this bro imma about to take off like a 🚀👍

[@SweetieBJB]

I am inking a chest and a dresser, thanks to your video. I can't believe how easy it is. Thank you so much.

[@beatricelutchmiah8399]

Where do you get the ink ?

[@russellborrego1689]

Pretty awesome, going to have to try this out on some scrap plywood! Thank you!

[@josuemendes7324]

Muito obrigado!!! Estava procurando uma tinta pra dar esse tipo de acabamento!!!

[@imseanmross]

Thank you for the video, I'm going to be making a bed frame and using this technique.

[@SweetieBJB]

Exactly what I am looking for! Thank you!

[@RobSandstromDesigns]

Very helpful. I was trying to decide what finish i wanted to put on a trophy base that would make it black and didn't want to use paint.

[@everydaysundaydesign7571]

Very Nice Thanks Great help for my next bould

[@ericwilliams7374]

Black sharpie marker used in a pinch has worked great for me.

[@A_Class216]

Thank you. Been looking for something like this

[@dominey]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!!

[@donnymcarter]

Very nice results! Thanks for the video!

[@Simplecove]

Thanks for watching Donny!

[@INVISIBLEpussy]

Thanks! Exactly what I was after. Have you conditioned your pine wood before applying?

[@ranjdall]

I like it. Definitely gonna try this in the future

[@Simplecove]

+Randall Natomagan give it a go, it's too cheap to not try.

[@HaploPrime]

How long do you have to let the ink set before applying the finish? Also do you need to apply dewax shallac if you're going to use a brush on lacquer?

[@mrpoolplayer6379]

Nice article & presentation. I want to know which process, Stain or Dye or Ink, is least likely to run or bleed or leech into an adjoining inlay strip. I plan to give my Maple banding a shot of clear coat before attaching the different pieces. (I am planning to dye some walnut to look like ebony & inlay the finishes strips of it, next to inlay banding of maple). I was also wondering how the stain or dye would effect it's gluing properties.

[@mihumus]

Looks really nice, thanks for sharing.

[@Simplecove]

+Humus Workshop you're welcome, thanks for watching.

[@rhihodag9873]

Great tutorial! Great option to plowing through my ebony coffer. Going to try this! Thanks!

[@RobMoreland]

I'm trying this on scraps of red oak that I salvaged from old shaker cabinet doors. If my tests are successful, I'll convert much of the oak into picture frames. I had a tough time getting the ink into the open grain . When I poured extra ink on, most of it ended up in the cotton rag. When I switched to a cheap $0.99 brush, I got much better results. I'm going to run two more tests. On the first, I'll raise the grain twice and sand it to no more than 120 grit. I'll do the same for the 2nd test, but fill the grain before I apply the ink. If I get good results with either test, I'll post here. Thanks for posting this video. It's the best one for what I'm trying to do.

[@mrjsutphenEDU]

did you get good results?

[@montewoods4766]

I have used India ink for several projects. where did you obtain the pint bottle of IA?

[@jrgoddard3378]

thats great. i am looking forward to ebonising a display cabinet im making from scrap wood

[@sueliperian3283]

I'd like to use this technique on a pine chest, which has lots of knots. Should I treat the knots first? Many thanks.

[@TheRealCoachRegg]

this looks awesome. Im going to be doing this on a piece that 62 x 14 inches i want it really dark. Im thinking minimum 3 coats mabey even 3. how many containers of the ink do you think id need? im getting the one from the link in your description

[@Cactusworkshopchannel]

Those finishes are fantastic! nice video!

[@Simplecove]

Thanks Carlos! They came out great.

[@andrewroberts8217]

can you do a butcher block counter top with this and what to seal it with if so .. I already know you cant put food on it but I want a black top for my kitchen island i would use cutting boards for food prep any ideas

[@montewoods4766]

I've used India ink for se Era project ts. where did you obtain the "pint" bottle?

[@ConorMakes]

Will this work on Mahogany as well?

[@wphiggi]

Great video. How do you think this technique would work on a stain ready spruce wood barn door from Amazon?

[@bloogaming8827]

How much ink does this method use? I want to stain about 30-35 sq ft of wood for a custom desk. Would a pint bottle be sufficient? Or should look into a more conventional method?

[@AVSMedical1]

Can you fill the grain on oak before appLying the ink?

[@JH-bg6dn]

Can you use a water based poly over the ink?

[@RickRubinesque]

With dying does the colour survive dings? Like will the wood colour show through if it's scratched?

[@mikekufner1192]

I have a quick question. I know this video is older but I want to do this to an old table I have. I hope someone will maybe know..... I sanded the old table and chairs down to remove the old finish. It is very smooth to the touch so I was wondering if the wood grain will still show through the india ink? I used 220 grit sand paper to smooth it out and remove the old finish. Should I use another grit to rough up the wood a bit so its not super smooth? I'm not much of a woodworker. My dad wasn't around to teach me but I really find it therapeutic to do this as a hobby.

[@RM-en9gk]

How long does it take for the ink to dry before applying any lacquer?

[@xzytqweo3538]

How about if you have touched up a nick or a small hole with wood putty...will it take the india ink?

[@merlinstrangetheaceofwands1050]

would like a wax work well for a finish too?

[@Justducky52]

How do you apply to the edges of the lumber?

[@samuelk8591]

Can you use this method if there is contact with food ?

[@samkhalifa3991]

can you use it on swamp ash?

[@100sofdeadbands]

Could you use Danish oil over this?

[@dgenerated]

Can I apply w clear wax finish as a sealant as I have donenin the past with chalk paint?

[@majocarloz]

is this better than stain black ?

[@sdmcustoms]

it looks good ,I might try this on something one day 👍

[@Simplecove]

+sdmcustom woodworking thanks for watching! Give it a go.

[@bigdaddy1010]

Can I do this on treads? The ink won’t come off onto socks or anything right?

[@twinenk15]

Ok! How many bottles will I needed to cover a 4x8 pine plywood?

[@abandaahlam1739]

Very nice

[@StoneJordan9]

What did you use to seal it after the ink dries?

[@tooljunkie555]

interesting..ive only used this ink for home made tattoos back in the day..haha..might have to give this a try sometime.as always,good stuff sean!!

[@Simplecove]

lol Thanks Joe!

[@HavendaleBlvd80]

The link you have is for Japanese ink. Is that the same as India ink?

[@RobinLewisMakes]

Looks great on the oak

[@Simplecove]

+Robin Lewis I agree. Thanks for watching!

[@cruisecontrol5662]

how durable is the finish for use on stairs?

[@suestracks]

I have a red oak antique table that has 2 coats of Minwax Ebony stain on it and, you guessed it, it is not black. What will I need to do, if anything, to get the table ready to accept the ink?

[@ryandavid739]

Thank you so much! You really make it easy.

[@ddelgran]

Great video! I'm going to stain my IKEA oak butcher block counter tops using India ink. I wonder if I need to use a pre-stain wood conditioner?

[@hunterm.moreno4201]

Conditioner keeps the wood from blotching (spots where dye color isn't even). Though because this is just pitch black, you won't need it.

[@hereasafanofallsorts5164]

how deep does it penetrate - would it completely blacken a maple strip .5 mm thick ??

[@nickhopwood4233]

what happens if you don't use a clear coat afterwards

[@liz1234523]

Does anyone know if I’d be able to do this on butcher block?

[@_kaushin1540]

If I already sanded my wood with 320, can I go straight to the 180, or do I still go 120 first?

[@dafiadballat6881]

I added ink to oak and it looks good but its not drying!! Please help

[@GuysShop]

Interesting how the different woods took the dye. I may have to try this sometime in the future.

[@Simplecove]

Thanks for watching, Guy. Give it a try some time.

[@pamfeinstein8742]

Will India ink work on my kitchen cabinets? I think the wood is red oak.

[@LivefreeanddiyTv]

Pretty neat 🤓

[@henrysworkshop7477]

Could you apply an oil based finish over this such as Osmo Polyx?

[@Simplecove]

I believe you can once it's dried but I would make a test board first to give it a try.

[@DR-um2bv]

Exterior doors?

[@michaelcristofano5863]

I like your video using india ink. Will it work has well on cherry?

[@Simplecove]

Yeah but why in the world would you use this on cherry?

[@ragtop63]

Great video! How do you think the results would be on darker oak? Maybe even red oak?

[@mrjsutphenEDU]

black and black just like these. Use a cheap thin paintbrush to get into crevices

[@johnmaxwell5247]

Well,, I can't buy rosewood fingerboards for my guitars anymore, and ebony is WAY too expensive, so , how would this work on a hard non porous wood? Specifically Maple ?

[@Baghuul]

works quite well. It will absorb nicely, don't worry.

[@sequelman8997]

What kind of Shellac did you say to use? I couldn't make it out but it sounded like Wax Shellac.

[@Simplecove]

In the video I used a spray lacquer, but I mentioned that if you wanted to seal it in before applying a wipe on varnish, you could use a dewaxed shellac, like this: amzn.to/2cf9h7x This is what I used in the video: amzn.to/2c5JM7m

[@BruceAUlrich]

Interesting.

[@Simplecove]

+Bruce A. Ulrich agreed.

[@KSFWG]

I've never tried using any dyes, but lately have been thinking about using aniline dye for the inside of an unlined keepsake box. I wonder how hard maple would look with a blue or red dye? Would several coats clear shellac be good for a final finish on top of it?

[@Simplecove]

When you say blue or red dye, are you talking about blue or red ink? I think shellac would be a great finish for a keepsake box. I primarily only use shellac for boxes.

[@KSFWG]

Not ink. Aniline dye. It comes in various colors. I think it was either Ted Alexander or Rich McNatt on KZbin that used it on a project once. But I'm not real sure who it was on KZbin that I saw it. I've been kind of intrigued by it ever since.

[@Simplecove]

Oh Ok, I was confused. Here's a video I did on dyeing curly maple with a few dyes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iobHoJiumLGDaMU

[@dodr788]

Thanks for this video! Can you also do this in Ash?

[@Simplecove]

Sure. Give it a try on a test board first but yeah you should be able to.

[@dodr788]

Thanks man.

[@GT_Racer347]

Sweet 👍🏻 👍🏻

[@sophiereich4181]

any thoughts about how this would hold up on a table outdoors? I've heard india ink can fade dramatically in the sun

[@DR-um2bv]

What did you find out about using outside or on exterior doors ?

[@HavendaleBlvd80]

After watching your video, I am going to use India ink on the face of a guitar kit. I also want to finish with a satin surface. Just ordered off Amazon. Any recommendations on how to achieve the best possible satin finish? Any insight would be appreciated. Great video.

[@simadurik]

How did it go? Are you satisfied with the result? I am trying to do the same. Thanks.

[@cakins08]

Would this hold up outdoors!

[@johannes.f.r.]

It is not a finish, the ink is just carbon suspended in water. It will adhere to wood quite strongly, it won't wash off with water. Whether or not it holds up is up to the finish you put over it. Outdoor finished tend to be yellowing, so keep that in mind.

[@oliphauntsneverlie6227]

I've been using India ink a few years now and have found no better way to dye wood black.

[@anthonygaudiano225]

What company ink did you use?

[@Simplecove]

Look in the video description for that Info. Most how-to videos will have links to products used.

[@ramsayzaki]

what do you say at 1:24? Adding a coat of what?

[@DawImmigration]

De-waxed Shellac

[@slade52]

Would it be a good idea to use this on MDF?

[@Simplecove]

If it were me, I would just paint the MDF since MDF doesn't have any grain that will show through the ink like wood so you wouldn't benefit from using it in my opinion.

[@slade52]

Excellent. Thanks for the reply!

[@brainfreeze1925]

Is there such a thing as relatively inexpensive india ink?

[@Simplecove]

No clue

[@samueleverett3719]

what ink are you using and when can I purchase it?

[@Simplecove]

I put links in the description.

[@samueleverett3719]

@@Simplecove thanks didn't click the more tab smh

[@DamianoftheRyans]

COOOL! Quick question - I'm thinking of doing this to an electric guitar body made of African Mahogany... I bought some black stain from a guitar building supply company (Stew-Mac), but I'm concerned about it looking "blotchy." I don't think African Mahogany has any real finishing issues for that to happen, but it's a lovely guitar that I'd rather not mess up. 🤣Anyway, is there different qualities of India ink? Would it be ok to apply to my guitar and then seal it with boiled Linseed oil? Thank you! I'm a skilled artist and musician, but I don't have much experience or knowledge with these matters. 😂😎🤗Wait, I just thought too - would a RED stain with African Mahogany look pretty and red, or would the Mahogany look "muddy" with the red stain? 🤔

[@exrinnchannel6371]

What name that ink

[@johannes.f.r.]

India(n) ink. Just fine soot(carbon particles) suspended in water.

[@MustangDesudiroz]

what if I used this on a guitar

[@lilystrong9870]

I'm using it for the fretboard.

[@timcarstensen9951]

Lily Strong are you gonna clear coat it?

[@lilystrong9870]

@@timcarstensen9951 nope. I'm waiting for my solution to dissolve. If it doesn't turn my fingers black on a test piece, it should be good.

[@darrellhendren5783]

Lily Strong how did the fretboard turn out? Did the India ink turn your fingers black?

[@beckysimpson3518]

''I see a red door and I want to paint it black No colors anymore I want them to turn black ''

[@daltanionwaves]

This process should be called "dying wood black with ink"

[@johnmartinez9220]

Lol. Ebonizing refers to making it look like ebony wood