Extract tannins to make ink

[Keato]

Hi all,

anyone had any luck or got a solution for extracting the tannins (colour) from sawdust or shavings to make ink (or for painting).

I know walnut shells are used by boiling in water then boiling off the water to leave the pigment

I’ve saved different coloured sawdusts (scroll saw so very fine) always just in case a hole needs filled with glue but then wondered if ink can be made from the colours

especially the woods like
African sandalwood
Ebony / African blackwood
Purpleheart
Greenheart

All I could find online was about adding gum or something to it to give it viscosity.

 

[AJB Temple]

Look up oak gall ink and iron gall ink. If you search you will find a number of ancient methods.