Best Product and Method of Dying Blanks

[Woody]

From my experience water based dyes (acrylic) don't penetrate deep into the wood spirit dyes will soak a lot deeper but the only other way I can see a pen blank getting soaked right to the core without a pressure pot is if it is drilled out first and submerged in the dye and allowed to soak right in but that no guarantee looks like an expensive project to me

 

[edlea]

From my experience water based dyes (acrylic) don't penetrate deep into the wood spirit dyes will soak a lot deeper but the only other way I can see a pen blank getting soaked right to the core without a pressure pot is if it is drilled out first and submerged in the dye and allowed to soak right in but that no guarantee looks like an expensive project to me

I agree , with spirit stain it would be very expensive.

 

[Grump]

Certainly an interesting experiment and one I might think about taking on at some time.
I agree that water based stains are less likely to penetrate as the wood content already contains water which would need dispelling first.
My thinking is to drill a series of holes along the blank and fill them with stain to see how far it does actually leech into the wood.
The only way to get full penetration is through the end grain.
I have experimented in the past with some of this drawing stain into wood through capillary action with some success but gave up as I didn't find it interesting enough to want to continue.
May have another go though as I still have a quantity of stains in shed.

 

[Woody]

The timber trade have been doing this with wood preservatives tantalising wood for exterior use and it is done under pressure and it soaks right to the core and takes an age to dry out again the american market have been doing it for years with coloured resins and it gives a solid colour right through but as Brian said it does depend on wood type and again they do it under pressure

 

[rowdyyates115]

This pen was done using water based dye See Hee!!

I doubt very much that food dye would soak all the way through the wood, unless it is the very punky stuff, thou i could be wrong!!

Cheers for that Jim, I may give that a bash soon....

 

[sbwertz]

I use food coloring diluted in denatured alcohol so it doesn't raise the grain. I turn the blank to finish size and sand. Then I wipe on the dilute dye with the lathe running, adding coats until I have the desired color. Then micro mesh and CA/BLO finish. Here is a green one. It is Box Elder Burr

 

[yorkshireman]

That looks good Sharon but personally I wouldn't dye a lovely piece like that. On a boring piece of oak perhaps but not a burr.

keith

 

[Terry]

Beautiful looking finished article Sharon !!!!!!

 

[bluntchisel]

Nice work, Sharon - like it very much!

Bob.

 

[Doug]

Lovely pen & finish Sharon,

I`ve been asked for a green pen so will be trying something like that.

 

[turnaround360]

For the best and fastest results I would think vacuum or pressure is the answer.

 

[Woody]

For the best and fastest results I would think vacuum or pressure is the answer.

Thank you that's what I have been saying all along see I'm not just a silly ol fart well said that man

 

[Neil]

Welcome to the forum, if you want to colour your pens, turn them and stain them (use chestnut stains). if you want dyed blanks you need to get Alex to shoot them!

 

[Grump]

I think we have wandered from what the question is.
This person wants to segment with his dyed wood so is looking for penetration through the wood.
We all know that vacuum or pressure would be the way to go but he probably does not want to go that route for his own reasons.
I gather he is doing small one off jobs and just wants coloured pieces to cut and use.
I would therefore suggest porous dry woods for the coloured pieces, as previously suggest soaked in a dye to allow it to leach in through end grain.
When dried after you may well get the desired effect or drill a hole in the middle of the piece and pour the dye in the hole plugging it when finished may give a good effect to the piece.

 

[sbwertz]

That looks good Sharon but personally I wouldn't dye a lovely piece like that. On a boring piece of oak perhaps but not a burr.

keith

That's what the customer wanted, that's what the customer got!

Sharon

 

[Woody]

Good on yer Sharon the customer is always right well some times