Synopsis: When you see wood that has been stained or dyed, you know right away that it’s been stained or dyed. But fumed wood looks natural, as if it came from the tree with that dark, rich color. Chris Gochnour explains what you need to do to fume wood with ammonia and how to make a vaporproof tent to house the fuming process.

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Using ammonia fumes to alter and enrich wood’s natural color, a process called fuming, has been a staple of woodworkers for centuries. Its effect is quite distinct from other coloring techniques. When you see wood that has been stained or dyed, you know right away it’s been stained or dyed. But fumed wood looks natural, as if it came straight from the tree, but with a darker, richer color. I have been fuming furniture for more than 30 years and love the natural, honest, and woody…