Love that black finished Crack. Woodworking has been my main hobby for years and I have had good luck at ebonizing oak and ash with a simple process. Obtain some black dye from a woodworker’s store, a water or alcohol base dye works equally well, but may have to re-sand if the water base raises the grain. Apply 2-4 coats of dye, let it set for at least a day then apply a standard black stain (like Minwax ebony). As a finish coat rub in some Tried & True varnish oil, the more coats you add the glossier it gets. Adding the standard black stain helps pop the grain and give it an ebony like appearance.
Jim G.
Jim G.