Author Topic: Lye reaction to wood  (Read 3386 times)

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Offline Morgan

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Lye reaction to wood
« on: November 04, 2018, 12:57:26 pm »
I made a lye solution that would just float an egg to put a hide in. I used a hackberry off split to stir with. The wood immediately turned a bright yellow color and darkened as it dried out. I imagine a stronger lye solution would make a more drastic change. Would it be safe to use this as a “stain” on a bow? I know the dangers of lye, but would the dangers be present once dry. Here is a pic of the stir stick.

Offline DC

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2018, 01:48:11 pm »
That's cool! Have you rinsed it off well? I can't see it being any more harm than fuming.

Offline Pat B

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #2 on: November 04, 2018, 02:36:53 pm »
I don't think it would hurt anything but be sure to neutralize the alkali with an acid like vinegar and water. Same with your hide. And be careful around your skin and eyes.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Morgan

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #3 on: November 04, 2018, 03:43:19 pm »
That's cool! Have you rinsed it off well? I can't see it being any more harm than fuming.
I haven’t rinsed it, using it to stir the hide in the bucket. I have a couple of nearly finished bows in the shop that I’ll try to play with. I’ve tried fuming hackberry and the results were so subtle that it wasn’t worth the trouble, with the lye though, the wood changed color the second it touched. It was a very vibrant almost neon yellow color at first.

Offline Morgan

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #4 on: November 04, 2018, 03:45:23 pm »
I don't think it would hurt anything but be sure to neutralize the alkali with an acid like vinegar and water. Same with your hide. And be careful around your skin and eyes.
Pat, you reckon the acid will wash the color? I’ll put the stick in the bucket of vinegar water when I put the hide in for an experiment.

Offline Pat B

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #5 on: November 04, 2018, 04:28:06 pm »
I don't know if it will or not. Your stir stick is a good test piece.  :OK
 
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #6 on: November 04, 2018, 08:58:40 pm »
 Looks like you turned it into osage
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline Morgan

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #7 on: November 05, 2018, 04:42:51 am »
Looks like you turned it into osage

I thought the same thing.

Offline bjrogg

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #8 on: November 05, 2018, 05:30:25 am »
Interesting  (-P
Bjrogg
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Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #9 on: November 05, 2018, 06:26:15 am »
Lye will make osage dark like old wood, it will make cherry almost black.

Offline DC

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #10 on: November 05, 2018, 09:57:03 am »
It must react with the tannins, same as fuming but way faster. Can you take a slice off your stick to see how deep the colour goes?

Offline Morgan

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #11 on: November 05, 2018, 12:18:11 pm »
It must react with the tannins, same as fuming but way faster. Can you take a slice off your stick to see how deep the colour goes?

I will

Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #12 on: November 06, 2018, 06:35:44 am »
I have aged osage with it, the darkened wood is just on the surface just like naturally aged wood.

Offline Morgan

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #13 on: November 09, 2018, 01:35:08 pm »
Well, vinegar removed the coloration.

Offline sleek

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Re: Lye reaction to wood
« Reply #14 on: November 10, 2018, 11:53:56 am »
Well, vinegar removed the coloration.

Neat. Now use lye and vinegar with a paint brush to decorate the bow.
Tread softly and carry a bent stick.

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