aqua fortis

[old ugly]

I did a test pc of birch with ferric nitrate and then varnished it. i didn't spend much time making the wood smooth as it was just a test. it seemed to work ok. have you done this and/or was it used on woodworking other than gunstock? what colours would come out of different woods? your thoughts.
thanks
OU
tom

 

[olskool]

i like the color,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[rich pierce]

Typically ferric nitrate crystals and iron-saturated nitric acid (aquafortis) have similar but not identical results. Ferric nitrate is no longer acidic whereas homemade or purchased iron saturated nitric acid is still acidic.
Red maple usually gives yellow to brown tones but can go to almost black.
Sugar maple usually stains warmer tones trending reddish.
White pine gives a lovely warm brown color.
Cherry turns black.
Ash turns brown.
Hickory turns brown to reddish brown, depending on the AQF formulation.
Thanks for showing us birch. I’d not tried it before.