Where'd you get the Ferric Nitrate???Bud
[url]
http://www.sciencecompany.com/patinas/patinachems.htm[/url]
Would it be compatible with other stains do you think? That stock is gorgeous, but I like a touch of red in mine and was wondering if following with something like LMF's Cherry would work?
Yes any of the reagents (AF, vinegaroon, etc are technically reagents - they "stain" by the acid/iron solution reacting with the tannins/sugars in the wood) are generally compatible with other types of dyes..
FWIW - here's a comparison of four differently produced reagents:
the lower piece:
1) on the left is vinegaroon - vinegar (acetic acid) and iron
2) in the middle is Ferric Nitrate (aka nitrate of iron) crystals mixed up 3 to 1 with distilled water and then muriatic acid (aka hydrochloric) added
3) On the far right is my control - an old batch of Wahkon Bay Aqua Fortis (a commercial nitrate of iron mix made with nitric, hydrochloric acid, distilled water, and iron - the formula was given by the original owner of WB on another forum some time back)- a note: any of the nitric acid based reagents when mixed with muriatic acid are technically/traditionally Aqua Regia, although they are commonly known today as Aqua Fortis
Finally: The top piece was made up using TANSTAAFL's suggestion as a quick and easily available source of nitric acid:
It is Aqua Fortis/Regia made up using Birchwood Casey's Plum Brown for the nitric acid (10%) source, muriatic acid, and degreased steel wool (steel wool is not necessrily the "best" source of iron, but I used it in this experiment as it is easily and widely available - I degrease by soaking in acetone and then burning it off).
All of the reagents except for the vinegaroon (which does not need it) were blushed with a heat gun at 375F (a necessary step wih the Nitric Acid based reagents) and then neutralized with a water/lye (Red Devil in this case) solution which in my expereince helps "kick" the color to the red side as does the addition of muriatic to the mix.
All pieces were burnished and then "finished" lightly with a homemade period style linseed oil based varnish in order to bring out the grain.......
Any questions ask away...
CAUTION: there are some major health/safety concerns when handling nitric/muriatic acid and degreasing steel wool such as proper ventilation and not burning down one's house...... :nono: