I've built an oak rocker for my daughter and I want to age it by fuming it with ammonia. Can't find any around here. I live near Chattanooga,TN. Anyone have any ideas?
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In my old age I look back and realize how lucky I was to live in a time when common sense was common.
Dennis
Sweet Willy
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I don't know the answer but let me be the first to welcome you to the forum.
Hopefully someone will chime in.
oh, here's some google results for "where to buy fuming ammonia"
Using ammonia fuming to darken oak furniture. ... I buy mine in a hardware store, as strong domestic cleaning ammonia. This is about 20% - 25% and perfectly ...
he ammonium hydroxide used for fuming contains around 28% ammonia compared ... Last we checked, you can purchase it online at www.hvchemical.com for just ...
There was a good article in Fine Woodworking, issue #126, Oct 1997 on fuming. It pointed out that suitable ammonia is available at large office or printing supply stores (for blueprint copiers).
Yup, any place that does blueprints. Even in little Washington I found a place, and they were will to sell it to me. I haven't taken them up on it yet.
Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
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It's not quite as easy to find at printers anymore. Most have gone to other techs using laser and injet. Blueprints haven't been done for many years, there are still some places that might have supplies for the blueline and blackline machines.
I've been hanging onto a broken blueline machine for a while. The fan for the ammonia is slated for a dust filter, and the paper drive might be turned into a feed for a shopmade wide belt sander.ErikComment
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Check for chemical supply businesses in your area. I found mine through one in Austin.Don, aka Pappy,
Wise men talk because they have something to say,
Fools because they have to say something.
PlatoComment
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You might try farm fertilizer dealers. Aqua ammonia is a common fertilizer 20-26% solution.Donate to my Tour de Cure
marK in WA and Ryobi Fanatic Association State President ©
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It appears to be almost impossible to buy because it is used in "meth labs." What I want to know now is, if they can get it why can't I? Crazy.In my old age I look back and realize how lucky I was to live in a time when common sense was common.
Dennis
Sweet Willy
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Donate to my Tour de Cure
marK in WA and Ryobi Fanatic Association State President ©
Head servant of the forum
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My wife brought some ammonia home tody from of all places - Walmart. I doesn't say what the percentage is ammonia but I built a fumming frame and I put the rocker in it and I'm letting it cook. Here's a before picture of the rocker and I'll post an after picture if I have any results.Attached FilesIn my old age I look back and realize how lucky I was to live in a time when common sense was common.
Dennis
Sweet Willy
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I also get it from Walmart but haven't done any fuming with it. I can tell you it's not as strong as the ammonia I used to load into my Dad's blueprint machine. That would knock you over. You might try an industrial cleaning supply place for stronger stuff or a blueprint shop- though as mentioned those are getting few and far between.
DPComment
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Bad news... Just checked out the fumming tent and I see no difference at all. The ammonia must not be strong enough. I've checked all the places that have been suggested but here in the Chattanooga area, which happens to be a big meth lab locale, it's apparently really hard to come by. But, I'll keep looking.
Here's Sweet Willy guarding the fumming tent.Attached FilesIn my old age I look back and realize how lucky I was to live in a time when common sense was common.
Dennis
Sweet Willy
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To heck with the fuming. That's one pretty dog!Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.Comment
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Thanks. That's my buddy.In my old age I look back and realize how lucky I was to live in a time when common sense was common.
Dennis
Sweet Willy
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FWIW, I recently tried fuming some brass hardware to age it slightly. Nothing much happened after 30 minutes.
Then I put the coffee can holding the ammonia in a bucket of hot water to warm the solution and the brass darkened Immediately!You might think I haven't contributed much to the world, but a large number
of the warning labels on tools can be traced back to things I've done...Comment
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Do you have a local creamery? Ammonia is (or was) used as the refrigerant in commercial freezers used by small creameries (my grandparents business).
Every time I smell ammonia, I think of my grandparents and ice cream
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Electrical Engineer by day, Woodworker by nightComment
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Reminds me of the chemistry rule of thumb- an increase in temperature of 10 degrees Celsius doubles the reaction rate. It's my favorite way to clean barbecue grills: put in a black plastic bag with 1/4 cup ammonia, and let sit in the sun for a few hours- all the gunk drops off.FWIW, I recently tried fuming some brass hardware to age it slightly. Nothing much happened after 30 minutes.
Then I put the coffee can holding the ammonia in a bucket of hot water to warm the solution and the brass darkened Immediately!
Maybe you can try fuming using household ammonia with a black plastic tent in the sun.Comment
LCHIEN
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