When I was 17 I took off for college with the intention of becoming a marine biologist and by 19 I was spending my days sitting in poetry, Shakespeare and art history classes—why? Chemistry. Chem 101 was a big old uffda for me, so it's odd that I've started a chemistry project this weekend.

Blackened Oak, a phrase frequently used to describe a room in Beowulf as well as old Norse and Celtic poems—oak was used frequently in housing with the blackened part being a result of fireplaces. There is also black oak or bog oak in which a piece of oak is dyed black as a result of the tannins from the peat.

Oak (for me) represents history and honesty—there is just something solid and comforting you get from an oak tree. It's also great to work with and you can really bring out the grain to get some distinctive texture.

I've been trying to look into some alternative finishing processes (instead of a pint of Minwax) and I've come across a process called "ebonizing" that works well with oak. So I've started my chemistry experiment. I'm making an iron solution with a steel wool pad and some vinegar. After a week the solution should be ready and when I brush it on the oak it will react and dye the fiber black.

 … Although, I got a big old uffda in Chem 101 so I may not get it right on my first attempt!