Any forgers in the house?

[sunnybob]

I've had to put a new thin strip of beech into an 8 year old kitchen run of cabinets with beech faced board. The new fridge didnt fit into the old gap by 22mm. So I had to move the back and side boards and make this strip as an infill.

This strips visible area is only 22mm wide, but the full 90cm high.
Of course, the new stands out like a sore thumb in between the old units.
How can I darken this strip to make it blend more?
And when I say "darken" I really mean give it an older "glow" rather than actual dark. I just want to reduce the obvious mis match.
I've used danish oil, but after 2 coats its still glaring at me.

 

[ColeyS1]

Leave it in direct sunlight for a few weeks. That should knock the colour out a bit.

Coley

 

[sunnybob]

I want it darker, not bleached white.

 

[ColeyS1]

Put the rest of it in the sun sorry

Coley

 

[RobinBHM]

I would think sunlight would make it darker! -it works with humans

 

[ColeyS1]

I would think sunlight would make it darker! -it works with humans

I did think a picture would have helped in this instance

Coley

 

[AndyT]

You can get an age-darkened appearance on small pieces of wood by gentle heating in a warm oven. I've seen examples such as replacement wedges on moulding planes, made of beech.

Whether this can be translated into a solution for a bigger piece is another matter, but if you have any offcuts it might be worth experimenting with a hot air gun.

 

[sunnybob]

Andy, Thats a good thought, but I'm worried the heat might twist the wood as its only 22mm x 18mm, even if it is 900mm long.

I'm up to almost a dozen coats of danish oil now, and its starting to look a little bit deeper on the shine. several more applications tomorrow will tell whether I need to get more serious or not.

 

[MIGNAL]

Beech will darken on exposure to UV, as does Oak. The 'rule' seems to be light woods darken, dark woods go a little lighter. I use the technique often and have a cabinet that contain UV lights. It takes time but a few days in the cabinet (or in direct sunlight) and the effect is certainly noticeable. It also gives a rather 'natural' look, as opposed to stains that can look a little forced.

 

[sunnybob]

I'll try it outside for a few hours. Our sun is fierce, I think a day would be too long. i'll report back

 

[MattRoberts]

Falling that, it's vinegar and steel wool time!

 

[ED65]

Falling that, it's vinegar and steel wool time!

That'll turn the beech grey. Not sure if that's what Bob is aiming for

 

[sunnybob]

Nope, Darker and deeper is what I need. I want the new wood to look like the 8 year old wood.

 

[BenCviolin]

If the infill is in place and you covered it with Danish oil then UVA lights aren't gonna elp.
1. Does it REALLY matter ?
If so, then I'd strip the Danish oil off with alcohol or Rustin's you know what then stain the wood
with some very strong instant coffee or similar, you could try Van Dyke crystals and 101 other things.

2. If it doesn't REALLY matter then just leave it alone and tell the owner of the kitchen it's a David Hockney.

 

[MusicMan]

Tea.

 

[custard]

Any forgers in the house?

I first trained as a furniture maker in the early 80's, when there was still a healthy antique furniture market. Consequently most furniture making training included a large dose of antique restoration and re-finishing, as in those days that was still a viable business model. The key method we were taught for ageing timbers was by oxidising the surface with dilute nitric acid then neutralising it once the solution had dried. It works on all timbers but on some the effect is really dramatic, one application and Yew, Mahogany or Fruitwoods are suddenly two hundred years older.

For your Beech infill strip a few days in the sunshine will make a difference, if the Danish Oil has UV inhibitors you may need to strip it off, but it probably won't so I'd just leave it outside for a couple of days and then take a decision on next steps.

 

[sunnybob]

Its my wifes kitchen. I cant tell porkies and run away.
Its not permanently fixed yet.
I've got it outside sunning itself, but I'm not going to get into too much esoteric jiggery pokery.
I think I will just tell her its above my pay grade.

 

[Matt@]

mix up some washing soda crystals in water quite strong and wipe that on and let dry....

on an offcut first!

 

[MIGNAL]

Danish Oil won't stop it darkening under UV, it will just slow the process down considerably. I used to finish the soundboards of my Lutes in a few coats of Danish Oil and a few years later they were distinctly Yellow/tan. Nothing like the creamy white of fresh Spruce. I didn't even try to expose them to UV.

 

[sunnybob]

Well, the sunlight test failed miserablly.
After a day and a half of our sun I would certainly be darker, but the beech shows no change at all.
Its going to stay as is.