How to Beautifully Fume Furniture with Cheap Ammonia

Will cheap hardware store ammonia fuming work to beautifully darken your lumber? Joshua Farnsworth conducts this fascinating experiment, and even discovers a trick to give awesome results to arts & crafts style furniture. See the article & photos here: woodandshop.com...
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[@ryanh4136]

It seems pretty universal that people would love to see a video on your finish, and maybe others you may have. Please also recognize that many, instead of typing a comment, used the thumbs up to signify their desire also to see the recipe. Thanks again for one of your many great videos!

[@ebuford]

Thanks for the upload - I love the dark color! I would also love to see a video on your recipe for your beeswax finish. Keep up the great content!

[@johnkunstman1070]

Hello Joshua, Great Work as usual. I have used Ammonia to finish several different projects, from small Stickley inspired pieces to large dining sets. I have found that if you have access to a chemical supply dealer, they may carry an industrial strength ammonia. something like 26% you will have to have a drivers license to purchase it due to sales restrictions. I usually by it by the quart for $5.00 to $8.00 and it lasts forever. I have found that using the higher concentration it has a very dramatic effect on a 24 hour exposure. I will put the pieces in unfinished and they typically come out very dark almost black. Then with a coat of oil they turn that unique brownish color. Safety note: use heavy gloves, face shield and respirator, and only use outside or in a very well ventilated area when dealing with the high concentration / industrial strength ammonia. It will take your breath away by depleting the oxygen which can cause death. I would not recommend fuming in your shop. unless you want to fume all of your lumber stock.

[@markswoodworkingtips2350]

I just did this with white oak. I left it in the chamber for 3 days and then changed the ammonia and left it in for another 3 days. I was using 28% ammonia. What amazed me was that the ammonia gets everywhere. I had a test board laying flat on the bottom of the chamber and it was just as dark on the bottom. When i removed the wood it looked fairly dark but after I applied an oil finish it turned almost black... too dark actually. I made a video but I didn't want to spam your video. I never thought about applying finish BEFORE fuming.

[@graphene1487]

Love the acoustics in this video. Probably all the quality wood 🙂

[@ilbotteghino]

I like the result of this experiment , thanks for sharing your experience 👍👍👍

[@PPMOCRG]

Very nice, thanks for sharing! That's a great color. This is kind of perfect timing because I am making two new handles for an oak cabinet that I have. That is the color that I need them to be. The color is similar to the patina that furniture gets after years of use.

[@travisreese7229]

Great technique. Would totally appreciate the formula on the finish.

[@MrNedelcuBogdan]

What else can I say. Thank you for taking your time to teach us, viewers!

[@derekforestier1708]

I just recently found your channel, and love it. As soon as you said the recipe, I looked on your channel for it, and couldn't find it. When I went back to the video I was happy to hear you say you would make a video of it, PLEASE do. Thanks for sharing

[@joshuaweaver7124]

I'd love to learn about the recipe for your wax mixture

[@MrBonners]

Try whatever you like. do you not know the word 'experiment' that he said many times and the stock you are using. A few few cut-off scrap. Don't be so cheap. Need everything handed to you?

[@WoodAndShop]

The recipe is here: woodandshop.com/how-to-fume-ammonia-fuming-experiment-cheap-ammonia

[@james-jq8sk]

@@MrBonners dick head...

[@williamtreadwell7814]

I do like the finish and would like the video on the mixture

[@hughrodgers6204]

Really nice stool. And, yes, I would like to see the recipe for the wax mixture.

[@alexlatiff4198]

Fantastic video!

[@amal-ti2zz]

Great video, Found your video while trying to look for a way to fume my tabletop really darkly

[@WoodAndShop]

Cool! Check out my video where I used stronger ammonia.

[@BDM_PT]

Hi there from Portugal, Please let us know the recipe for you wax finish :D Obrigado(Thanks)

[@kendehaas668]

Thanks for the video & the experiment. Very nice color and richness to the stool. I like the stool also.

[@HershelKreis]

Definitely share the recipe! The stool looks beautiful.

[@giorgos424]

Please do the recipe video! Thank you for sharing this method it's very interesting!!

[@johngalvin1653]

Congratulations, Joshua, on your fine work. I too would like to learn your recipe.

[@fastcase1]

I rely liked this video. YES please do a video on the bees wax oil finish.

[@mikemcdonald5147]

would love a video on the recipe thanks for sharing neat idea with the ammonia never heard of doing this before until i found your video

[@thomasgilbert9347]

Yes i would enjoy your recipe. thanks for your videos.

[@mikehardy2501]

yes please show us the recipe, that's a gorgeous finish

[@billfromelma]

Hey Joshua, that second application of the bees wax mixture really got it to pop! Would like to know the recipe for it.thanks

[@vickywoodanhorses4257]

I love to cook and collect recipes, but I would love this recipe for my work shop. So beautiful. Keep the videos coming. :)

[@jameshornby6367]

Yep, do a video on that beeswax and turps and linseed oil!

[@thecordlesscarpenter7956]

Nice piece Josh, it was definitely interesting to watch the ammonia transformation, never heard of that before and yes, I'd love to see the recipe for the finish. thanks for the vid!

[@101platayoro]

Please do the recipe...thanks...nicely done...

[@owenkiggins1908]

Beeswax mixture!

[@henryallsworth]

I would like to see the recipe and process you use to make your finish. Thx

[@robertbrunston5406]

Looks beautiful thanks.

[@wanderlustjake]

Yes, please do a segment on the finish.

[@alanberickson]

The finish looks great. I was curious with the finish that was applied before fuming, if you cut to expose a section of that after fuming, is the more dramatic color change in the wood beyond the finish, or is it just mostly at the surface where the color change is occurring? Thankls.

[@gregl2249]

yes we would like to have your recipe for the bees wax finish

[@bevaroni27]

Yes. Please share the recipe for your beeswax finish.

[@hdwoodshop]

Love the technique. Please share your finish recipe.

[@AirwolfCrazy]

I would indeed like to learn about the wax mixture. Living in Amish country, I have no shortage of bees wax.

[@BlackSwan912]

Really nice. I wonder about experimenting with that recipe to find if it is only one of the ingredients that is the catalyst.

[@2bithack1010]

Also would like to see your mixture ratio.

[@azizlabkhand4225]

Fantastic! thanks for sharing. would you be able to show how you made the stool?

[@OpekiskaWood]

Once the fuming is over do you have to wait anytime before applying the final finish? I would love to see your beeswax mix.

[@el1061]

OH YES RECIPE PLEASE :)

[@matthewpennycook2308]

Could you apply a clear coat finish to harden up a gunstock after applying this combo?

[@chuckyz2]

Would like to see the finish after the wax dries. And does it need to be polished after it dries in a couple of days.

[@243WW]

Yep let us know how to do the wax mix, Fantastic colour and finish.! Looks fantastic. I have been using Tung oil cut with white spirit and then wax over the top. The wax past looks like a nice finish to apply.

[@northerntierbuilders]

Please do a video of your finish!

[@tag_of_frank]

Recipe please! Also, this video was really cool. Is it just me...or does that stool look edible.... like a frosted candy bar

[@nafisamansure1713]

Fahraynk j

[@jtlerch]

love that finish. I'd really like to see you do a video on the beeswax and oil recipe

[@cajun812]

I concur with the rest; a recipe would be great.

[@therealandrewstrains]

I'll +1 for the recipe Joshua. Most interested.

[@Padraigcoelfir]

In cabinetmaking school we tried Easy Off the oven cleaner. First damp the furniture so the grain raise, sand down. spray Easy Off all over. Let sit until it dries, give the same result. It's probably more expensive.

[@juskojj]

did you have to cover it at all?

[@cam1297]

Absolutely do a video on a recipe. As a side note, you do some of the best ww videos on YT.

[@patricklenz5857]

Yes I agree you recipe would be great But how many times are you changing your solutions to make the wood darker

[@charlesdavis2003]

I would like to see a video on the finish as well

[@mikeadams1721]

Please give us your wax mixture recipe

[@GREY1551]

I would very much like to see your finish recipe!

[@luisbarrueta8207]

Please make a video on your wax recipe

[@KarlBunker]

Dang, what an interesting discovery that oiled-and-waxed wood would be so much more affected by the fuming. And that's about the nicest color I've ever seen white oak taken too.

[@mangoman1616]

The finish recipe would be great!

[@billwhite6743]

Joshua, I would REALLY like to see a vid about your wax/oil mixture.I am using B'wax, blo, and a splash of olive oil.Eagerly awaiting.Keep up the good work.Bill

[@ronmack1767]

Good day Joshua, I realm enjoy and appreciate your videos. I would like to see you do a segment on your bees wax, lindseed oil and terpintine finish please. Question on the Moravian foot stool. How much weight will that style construction support. Thanks again and have a blessed day. Ron

[@EditRoom2012]

Recipe please!

[@joshmann2525]

yes, please more about the beeswax and oil recipe.

[@wmwalkerco]

Great video! I might have to try ammonia fuming. I'd love to see your recipe on your oil and beeswax mixture. Are you using raw linseed or boiled linseed oil?

[@JorgeJimenez2020]

Please do make a video on making your wax, turpentine and linseed oil finish

[@bowyer10]

hi, nice stuff! did you ever make that video on your wax/oil/turp finish? I would like to watch that. Thank you!

[@luketein7965]

would love a see a video on that bees wax mix

[@dstev008]

Tell us about the finish!

[@kurtj312]

recipe please

[@07Horn]

Please share your beeswax recipe. That piece was beautiful. Does the wood retain the ammonia smell? Should you let it air out before bringing inside?

[@tonyennis3008]

Can you try to strip the dark finish from one of the test pieces? In other words, have you dyed the finish and not the wood? Since the ammonia reacts with tannins in the oak, I would not expect the color to be strippable. the idea that putting a barrier between the wood and the ammonia somehow helps the reaction occur is counter-intuitive. Finish a piece of pine the same way and see if it reacts. It should not, of course. If it does, it's the finish.

[@evannutt5796]

My cat litter box had stronger ammonia fumes than the weak .03 % kitchen grade ammonia, so I put the litter in the fuming box. Surprisingly, I Got great results. Finding ammonia with the Corona Virus panic is impossible, so this proved a disgusting but workable cheap alternative.

[@WoodAndShop]

Great idea!

[@jeffreyusher3548]

Definitely would appreciate the beeswax recipe!

[@Cezaam69]

beeswax mixtures is always interesting, everyone seems to do it different :)

[@gregorymosher5008]

Hi Joshua, Is it possible to use the ammonia method on any wood or just oaks?

[@WoodAndShop]

Great question Gregory. Woods with tannic acid will react with the ammonia, so these woods are known to darken with Ammonia: Oak (White Oak fumes better than Red Oak), Walnut, Cherry, Maple, Butternut, and maybe some others. None of the woods mentioned fume nearly as much as White Oak. However, you can apply tannic acid to woods before fuming, which will allow the fuming to get darker.

[@africancichlids3011]

the stool looks great i thought it was red oak for sure , looks pretty close to red oak with mineral oil finish . i have a red oak cutting board for veggies that's how i see a resemblance

[@michaelbradley8508]

I would like the formula for your wax. Michael

[@jeanniegrassi1453]

Please share your beeswax recipe. Thanks.

[@brandonkramer4894]

Is there a video of you building the stool?

[@WoodAndShop]

No, sorry. I didn't film the construction. It was a project that I wanted to just make uninterrupted!

[@juskojj]

i'm assuming your container doesn't have to be air tight like a cooler right? just something with a closing lid? also did your cooler smell afterward?

[@WoodAndShop]

As air tight as possible is good to keep the ammonia from escaping. But I've seen others drape a plastic sheet over the top of the furniture, which isn't air tight, but keeps the ammonia in for the most part. Just make sure the plastic doesn't touch the furniture. No, the cooler doesn't smell afterward. Ammonia is used for cleaning, so it won't hurt your cooler.

[@juskojj]

Wood and Shop thanks! I know ammonia is used for cleaning just wasn't sure with the reaction to the tannins if there would be any advesre reaction

[@WoodAndShop]

Nope, I've never seen any problems or had any lingering smells in the cooler's plastic.

[@juskojj]

Wood and Shop what safety precautions did you have a respiratory or if you do it outside would that be enough ventilation?

[@WoodAndShop]

A respirator would be a good idea. I made sure to not expose myself for very long at all, so I just hold my breath when I open & close the cooler outside. Outside is very important.

[@commonconservative7551]

why not just brush the ammonia on to see the effect ,then sand off the raised grain?

[@ramonjimenezcardenas1584]

Beeswax! please :)

[@francisrotondo6485]

Please add me to the list of those that want the recipe? After applying the second coat the stool came alive. Gotta have that recipe!

[@WoodAndShop]

Here you go: woodandshop.com/make-a-historic-beeswax-oil-turpentine-furniture-polish-finish/

[@Dvdaddario]

In addition to showing us the beeswax mixture, can you also show some other finishes as well. Sometimes that's the hardest part of a project.

[@dougcopson3676]

spit it out man

[@Padraigcoelfir]

So, if you have a cat...

[@MrBonners]

All those asking 'recipe?' GOOGLE IT. You need everything handed you?

[@zarethd]

Finally something thats not about gun stocks!

[@90notch16]

I'd love to learn about the recipe for your wax mixture

[@garryreich4043]

Recipe please!

[@supersope]

Recipe please!