Staining on Quartersawn White Oak
Not sure if there is a specific Reddit for woodworking problems, so please forgive if this is not the right forum for this question. Just point me in the right direction.
I’m making a computer desk out of quartersawn white oak in an Arts and Craft style. Before final assembly, I’ll be finishing most of the assembled components. Since I was hoping to replicate the fumed look of Stickley, I asked Google’s AI how to achieve that color.
I was instructed to first raise the grain by using distilled water. Tap water has too many iron molecules apparently and the iron will react with the tannin in the oak to stain the oak black.
Long story short, the distilled water reacted with the tannins and left a black speckled surface and AI is now saying yeah this happens often because of the iron in planing and surfacing the boards leaves tiny particles behind as the tool edge breaks down. I now have to wash all of the surfaces with oxalic acid and then neutralise that with baking soda afterwards, before washing with a damp sponge with clear distilled water before even beginning the process of finishing. I’m now concerned I’m being led astray and I will not get the finished I was hoping for.
The plan was to scuff the hand planed and scrapped surfaces with 180 grit sandpaper, raise the grain with distilled water, re-sand with 180 grit, apply a water-soluble dye mixed to certain formula, apply a sealer of amber shellac in a 1lb. cut, lightly sand with a used piece of 180 grit paper, fill the pores with an antique walnut gel stain, light sand again and then finish with 3 coats of blonde shellac in a 3 lb. cut with a final buff with paste wax and 0000 steel wool.
Is this a viable route to take to get what I want? For those of you who have tried to mimic that finish without using ammonia, what was your approach and how did it work out?
Edited for Additional info: This technique was what Google AI recommended. Wondering how correct this is and if there is another proven way to get that fumed oak look without using ammonia.