Logwood Blacking Iron .

[DuncNZ]

I have a couple of plastic containers of logwood chips . I have never used them but I believe these chips are boiled in water along with iron or steel to blacken the steel , Old Trappers used this method for darkening their new traps and chains before use , as well as other iron items to reduce shine . Has any one used logwood for any purpose . I was thinking of dyeing my hawk heads . and maybe a shiny lock

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Yes, logwood will darken iron and steel when boiled in a solution. I boiled and dyed many traps but it works best if the steel or iron is already finely rusted. The usual procedure for new traps was to wash them to remove any oil, let them rust for a few weeks, and then boil them in water with logwood. I used to melt paraffin wax on top of the water so when I pulled the traps out, they were coated thinly with wax. The darkening can be very black.

dave

 

[ZUG]

I think I saw a video where Logwood was used as a wood stain on walnut - I could be wrong as it was some time back many moons ago.

 

[DuncNZ]

Hi,
Yes, logwood will darken iron and steel when boiled in a solution. I boiled and dyed many traps but it works best if the steel or iron is already finely rusted. The usual procedure for new traps was to wash them to remove any oil, let them rust for a few weeks, and then boil them in water with logwood. I used to melt paraffin wax on top of the water so when I pulled the traps out, they were coated thinly with wax. The darkening can be very black.

dave

Thanks Dave , how tough is it , ie wear resistant . Would it be suitable as a firearm finish ?

 

[Secesh]

I have a couple of plastic containers of logwood chips . I have never used them but I believe these chips are boiled in water along with iron or steel to blacken the steel , Old Trappers used this method for darkening their new traps and chains before use , as well as other iron items to reduce shine . Has any one used logwood for any purpose . I was thinking of dyeing my hawk heads . and maybe a shiny lock

I always used the bark and heartwood of Red Oak or Black Jack Oak.

 

[dave_person]

Hi Cutfinger,
I don't really know how well it would work as a barrel finish. The black color really depends on the metal having a fine coat of rust before immersion. If the metal is clean and shiny the black color is usually uneven and very translucent. The rust protection for the traps really comes from the thin wax coating not the stain. The coloring is tough however and is not easily scratched off. I suspect the dye reacts with the rust at the temperature of boiling water to create ferric oxide much like boiling rust browning.

dave