Aged Pine

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How does one achieve the look of aged pine. I have never had any success using conventional dyes or stains. My best effort was using dissolved instant coffee followed by BLO and sun exposure but even that was too muddy. Any advice from those of you that have had to repair furniture and match the aged pine?
 
Premodern,

One method I have used is to lightly "toast" the wood using a propane torch followed by amber aniline dye, a wash coat of shellac (button-lac) and BLO. Experiment with the dye concentration to get the desired tone. Just don't burn down your workshop! Good luck.

Mickey

PS - Nitric acid is nasty stuff but it does work.
 
Thanks for the suggestion, Mickey.

As soon as I read it, I did some experimenting with the torch and try as I must, I always ended up with the resinous growth turning very dark. I attempted to keep the torch moving quickly so as to achieve an even light toasting, but it seemed to go from no darkening to the darkened resin "lines" very abruptly.

Jeff
 
Premodern, aging pine is something I have spent many hours trying to do with out great success. I have tried nitric, hydrochloric, phosphoric and tannic acid. I've tried potassium dichromate, oven cleaner, lye and every other thing I have ever heard of. I sure hope that some one who has better luck chimes in.
 
An antique dealer put me on to potassium permanganate.  Just a small amount mixed with water and you get something that looks like grape juice, but when brushed on to pine, it almost instantly oxidizes it.  You just have to dilute to suit!
 
Bingo we have a winner. The night Jeff posted potassium permanganate I ordered a pound through Amazon, it came today. It works far and away, better than any thing I have ever tried. Thank you Jeff.
 
You're welcome Tom.  That's exactly what this forum's all about- sharing what we know with each other.  I get more than my yearly membership dues back in information off of this forum every year. 

By the way, anyone out there who is nearing their renewal date- DON'T FORGET TO RE-UP!
 
Dennis, you mentioned this is sold at HD in the plumbing section. Do you have a product name? What is it's marketed use?
 
One day I was walking thru the plumbing section and saw it.  I don't know how it is used in the plumbing world.  The bottle was just labeled, "Potasium Permanganate".

I miss the spell check!

Dennis Bork
 
It's sold as a water treatment and water filter re-generator. It's also used for aquariums. Here's a link.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=potassium+permanganate&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=12499640066946586971&ei=UDZkTfX7F4L98Aa-zY33Cw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CEEQ8wIwAg#
 
Potassium prmanganate will darken wood, but beware that the results are pretty fugitive and will fade away. I have a piece I darkened about 25 yrs ago and after 10-15 yrs it had faded back almost to where I started-Al
 
Al,

I had the opposite happen. In 1973 I made a curly maple flintlock rifle and dyed it with PM.  It has not faded.  Perhaps it is because of the wood.

Dennis Bork
 
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