Box Elder Burl?

[Michigander]

Has anybody had any experience dying box elder burl?  Just curious how its done.

[Bonjour]

I haven't done any box elder burl, but just like most woods. I wood cut it into blanks and make them about 1/8 or so bigger than what you want to account for shrinkage. Coat the whole blank with anchor seal and sticker the blanks in a warm, dry place. Then forget about them for about a year.

[lightsoutcalls]

Try this link:

http://rrpwhite.com/wood-stabilizing/

I use these folks for stabilizing buckeye burl.  They do the dye and stabilizing process and you can see some of their results on the link.  I believe the moisture content has to be around 12% or less before they can do the dye/stabilizing. 

[Michigander]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

I didn't know if anybody knew a way of dying yourself. Not just staining the surface, I meen with depth. I didn't know if you could soak it in a solution, or if it had to be pressure treated.

[Bonjour]

I have heard of soaking in alcohol for a while and then letting it dry, but with a good burl, I wouldn't want to take any chances. Do some research in some of the woodworking forums and you might be able to find a good solution. If you do, let us know.

[Michigander]

I've got piles of Burl, so I'm not worried about that. But I'll see what I can find.

[Bonjour]

You could just send it to me and I will see if I can get it dry for you.

[Michigander]

Ha ha, what kind do you want, id trade for something.

[CallMaker]

I've done some dying myself but only on hard curly maple. To dye it grey (or nearly silverish) with black in it...Use 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1/2 cup of water and put a piece of steel wool in a jar. Leave it for a couple of days.  Wipe the wood with the steel wool.  Kind of ring it out some before you start. the more coats you use the darker it will be.  I put three coats on a cherry pot and turned it as black as ebony wood.  Different woods react differently with this process.  I would test it on a piece of scrap to see what it does.  I've seen some wood turn dark brown  and others turn silver grey and some turn black.   You may just play with it to see.

[Bonjour]

Wow, after reading CallMakers post, I just realized you said dying and not drying. DUH. 

[Michigander]

Ha ha, no worries.