I've been reading post over on F/B about "baking" poplar wood to change(?) the color. How do you do this and how much will it change? Some of the things I've cut out lately look a little plain so I've had to paint them to jazz them up a little.

Is doing this worth the effort for what you get?

 

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Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

i saw someone do it with blue pine.  At a glance I thought it was walnut it was so dark. I suppose the longer you "bake" it the darker it will get.  tempted to try.  Wonder also if its just on the outside or changes inside too

Poplar has a bunch of hidden color and grain patterns. Sometimes you don't know it until you put that first coat of finish on it and pop! Some cool streaks appear. Harry, go for it! What effort are we talking about, unless your on propane and your concerned about the cost running your oven, I'd at least give it a try, turn the knob and throw a board in! I'd like to see your results. You can be our official "Poplar in the oven" tester here on The Patriot Woodworker! If you do this, please take some photos.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

I haven't done this but heard that you can stream walnut and it will change the sap wood color to match the walnut. Kind of like it bleeds the color into the lighter wood.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Go for it Harry and let us know how it turns out.  We'll let you be the official TPW guinea pig.

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Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

Sounds like an interesting experiment, Harry.

Isn't there a wood product out there that has been treated with high heat? IIRC it does change the color. But, I can't remember what wood they started with or where (online) I saw it for sale.

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

They say it will be snowing by this afternoon, this may be a good day to try it. If not today by the weekend. I'll let you know.

Have to go and get the studded tires put on first!!

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Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

I remember that too Gene. I think it had limited uses but I cannot remember where I saw it.

Gene Howe said:

Sounds like an interesting experiment, Harry.

Isn't there a wood product out there that has been treated with high heat? IIRC it does change the color. But, I can't remember what wood they started with or where (online) I saw it for sale.

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

Look what I found.

heat treated wood #1

heat treated wood #2 

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

Steaming walnut  is done mostly with veneers to get the most use out of the sapwood by lightening the color of the darker wood.

 

Used alot on plywood veneers.

There it is!!!

Gene Howe said:

Look what I found.

heat treated wood #1

heat treated wood #2 

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

While we were heating up dinner tonight I put a 1/4" piece of poplar in the oven along with dinner.

Oven was set at 400. I left the board in for about 25 min.

I'm not sure if I needed a higher temp or longer time.

The wavy grain did darken up a little. I don't know if a higher temp, longer time or ??? would help make more of a difference.

Pictures really don't show too much. First is before and second is after "baking".

Just because, I'll try again sometime when the ovens going and I can talk my wife into it, baking the wood, that is!

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Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

Talked to a couple people that do this some. They said 450 for 20 minutes or so. And once it starts to change it can happen fast. Not tested yet tho.