Ebonizing

Don't know that alcohol based ink is not gonna raise the grain. I use 2# shellac to raise the grain intentionally and seal the wood in projects. Don't use poplar much, so your mileage may differ with that.
 
ebony stain

Let the steel wool soak for 10 to 15 days after spraying it with salt water. Long enough to let a rust formation set up. Then pour the apple cider vinegar in the mixture. Stir and strain if you choose, I skipped that part. I had pretty good success with this procedure on the last project that I made. But I only used it on walnut. Not sure what it will do on other woods. It turned it a real dark black with a purple haze.After it dried I wiped it down with a thin coat of ebony stain. This turned it to a even coat of dull black. It basically evened out the color. I then put one coat of an oil finish. After it dried then put two coats fo paste wax. Hope this helps. I will try to post a picture of the 18th century gun chest that I made using this process.
 
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