Dyeing Wood

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OldWrangler

OldWrangler

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Jan 29, 2008
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Location
Spring, Texas, USA.
Does anyone have a good method for dyeing wood without a pressure pot? I need to dye some Maple burl to match the Texas A & M maroon. What kind of dye and how will it penetrate the wood? Thanks for your help.

Also what is best for bleaching antler to eliminate the dark marrow? Is chlorox better than Hydrogen Peroxide or is there something better than these?
 
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i turn the pen and sand as usual. Then I apply dye to the pen and friction dry it with a soft cloth. I use two or three treatments as necessary. I then finish as usual. The dye I use is aliline dye. Other dyes may work. I've not tried to bleech antler.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

OldWrangler said:
Does anyone have a good method for dyeing wood without a pressure pot? I need to dye some Maple burl to match the Texas A & M maroon. What kind of dye and how will it penetrate the wood? Thanks for your help.

Also what is best for bleaching antler to eliminate the dark marrow? Is chlorox better than Hydrogen Peroxide or is there something better than these?
Click to expand...
 
Using Americolor dyes

Alton,
Thanks for the link to Sugarcraft.
Can you please explain how you use these? I also have some spalted maple I was hoping to dye.
Thanks!
Bruce in TN.
 
I sand to the finish I want, apply the food coloring with the lathe running, buff lightly with a clean paper towel and apply CA and finish.
 
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More on dyeing blanks

Rich and Alton,
Sounds straightforward. Have you every tried double-dying with different colors, either at the same application, or one after another?

Do you have any pictures of the results ?

Thanks!
Bruce in TN.
 
Problem with dyeing as suggested is that these pens are segmented with pieces of white Holly. The school colors are maroon and white. Dyeing while turning will dye the Holly as well as the Maple. I need to dye the Maple blanks before turning with enough penetration to hold the color through turning. See the attached pic to see what I am trying to explain.

This is an acrylic pen and I need to make something similar in wood. Bloodwood is close but I really want a real maroon.

Thanks for your suggestions. Looks like I may have to get a pressure pot.
 

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Bois de Rose for Maroon...?

OldWrangler,
Have you seen Bois de Rose wood blanks? They are nice, rich maroon color.

Check with Scribblesticks here - he may have more available.
 
Alton,
Thanks for sharing pics of two of your dyed pens! Yet another example of fine workmanship to emulate...you've got me thinking -

Bruce in TN.
 
OldWrangler said:
Problem with dyeing as suggested is that these pens are segmented with pieces of white Holly. The school colors are maroon and white. Dyeing while turning will dye the Holly as well as the Maple. I need to dye the Maple blanks before turning with enough penetration to hold the color through turning.
Click to expand...

A note on preventing maroon sanding dust from building up on the while holly: I have a similar problem currently and found that - if I get the blank close to the final size, then crank up the speed of the lathe to 3600+ and use a very very sharp chisel, it will be as smooth as 800 sandpaper or better. The problem with sandpaper is that it transfers sanding dust, but a very sharp square nosed chisel will cut it down to size cleanly without transferring sanding dust.

I have just finished my second pen this way, proving the first one was not a fluke.
 
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