Process for coloring maple wood and maple veneer

摘要

A chemical mixture containing 40% by weight of sugar in water, approximately 0.4% by weight of a shading agent such as strontium nitrate and approximately 0.06% by weight of a stabilizing agent such as potassium chromate is applied to the surface of hard rock maple or print grade maple veneer. When the surface of the wood is subjected to heat in the range of 100° F. to 900° F. and pressure in the range of 5 psi to 2000 psi the color of wood is charged substantially to approach the reddish color of cherry. The degree of color is varied by adjusting the temperature or amount of shading agent. When an embossing step is to be performed on the wood, the chemical coloring mixture is applied to the surface of the wood and the two steps (embossing and staining) are carried out simultaneously.