Black Veneers?

[Aka Nameless]

I want to start adding Black veneer inbetween my body core/top and neck/fretboard, but I can't seem to find any place that sells dyed black maple veneer. A shop in my area sells 4' x 8' maple veneer sheets for $50, that I could stain black. Is that my best bet? or am I missing something?

[Jazzdogg]

I find it easy to dye walnut veneer black; walnut starts dark, and has a naturally high tannic acid content, which makes it easy to achieve a dark color using mordant followed by dye. OTOH, maple tends to become very blotchy when colored artificially, and because it's so light, it can be more difficult to achieve a convincing black on maple.

If the veneer is going to comprise a thin accent stripe, achieving a jet-black color isn't hyper critical. But, when the black veneer will be more conspicuous, the coloration can be more critical, as some dyes appear to have a purple cast to them.

[mikeyswood]

Poplar is common to dye black as well. I usually make my own veneer when it needs to be Ebony.

Have you discovered Bohlke? I am lucky enough to have my shop literally just down the street from them.

[Dream Weaver]

Awesome link!

Veneer here at our local wood supplier is rather expensive, especially for died black veneer ($50 for 8sqft). That veneer store seems much more reasonable, and appears to have quite a selection. =)

I've heard good things about that mesh stuff from Lmii too. Nice that they offer several different thicknesses.

For dying, I used some oil based black leather dye on some oak and it was black as night. Penetrates well too. Stained my hand for about a week. =/

[Nomad98]

I have always bought from ebay seller "a2zveneer."

He has this in ebay now, 34 bucks shipped.
BLACK DYED ANIGRE VENEER - 10.25" x 100" - 1/30" THICK

[Tdog]

Originally Posted by Nomad98

I have always bought from ebay seller "a2zveneer."

He has this in ebay now, 34 bucks shipped.
BLACK DYED ANIGRE VENEER - 10.25" x 100" - 1/30" THICK

Good source...I've bought a lot of black veneer from him over the years. Always reliable.

[Dirk Diggler]

Wenge with most finishes turns nice and dark brown/black and won't change in color over time.
Just my 2 cents.
Dirk

[Son of Magni]

Google "ebonize wood". Iirc you put vinegar, nails, and steel wool in a jar and wait a few days. Then wipe it on the wood and it turns black. I did it with zebra wood and it looked pretty cool.

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by Son of Magni

Google "ebonize wood". Iirc you put vinegar, nails, and steel wool in a jar and wait a few days. Then wipe it on the wood and it turns black. I did it with zebra wood and it looked pretty cool.

The iron and acid in the vinegar combining to make something cool? Sounds interesting.

lowsound

[Son of Magni]

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

The iron and acid in the vinegar combining to make something cool? Sounds interesting.

lowsound

Well, it makes something that reacts with tannin in the wood to create a black color. The advantage is that you don't have to get black dye to sink into the wood which is very difficult. It's more like you're creating black dye inside the wood, so later when you sand or cut it you don't expose lighter wood.

[Beauchene Implements]

Had good luck with this stuff, just called 'fiber' from LMII. Makes a sharper pinstripe than an equal thickness of maple, in my experience. Easier to work with than wood veneer, too.

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdpro...+Veneer+Sheets