“Fuming” is a method of coloring wood by exposing it to ammonia
fumes. In short, the wood and ammonia are sealed into a fuming
chamber where the concentrated fumes react with the tannin in
the wood and cause it to turn anywhere from a rich brown to
almost black, depending on the length of exposure. The method
became popular around the turn of the century, especially with
Arts and Crafts furniture makers, who liked it because it evenly
colored the quarter sawn white oak they favored. The process
lives on, and is still considered the method of choice for
Mission style furniture. And it’s not all that difficult,
although there a few important safety considerations. Below,
Michael Dresdner explains the process – including how to protect
yourself – in answer to a Woodworkers Journal eZine reader’s
question. Q. “Fuming wood. It’s a finishing technique used in
Mission style furniture. What strength ammonia is required and
where to obtain it? Does it require heat and how much heat? How
long does the process take, and