Hey folks, I need a little more help from some of the more experienced members.

I purchased some Lockwood's Wood Stain & Dye, and I am having some trouble with it. The instructions say to mix it with hot water until you get the color you want. It was suggested to me that I use denatured alcohol instead, since the water caused the lams to wrinkle.

I tried the denatured alcohol, but I am having a hard time getting it to mix. I keep ending up with grains at the bottom, which get transferred to the wood. Luckily I used some scrap, so no harm yet.

Unfortunately,the dye is still causing the lams to 'cup' as they dry. Will that be a problem, or will the pressure from the hose flatten it back out?

I'm also having a problem getting the color right, I am using walnut on a light colored wood. I either seem to get orange or black.

I am attempting to apply it with a foam brush, would I be better off with a rag?

Also, will tru-oil cause the cupping effect? If I can't nail down the dye, that is my backup plan.

Thanks!

--Chris

If it is a water soluable dye it won't mix with alcohol.  If you want to use alcohol you need to get the alcohol soluable dye.  

I use the water soluable dye and wipe it off as soon as possible and haven't had any problem with the lams cupping very much.

Dennis

OK, That may be my problem... I must have been letting it sit too long. Thanks, I'll give that a try and see what happens...

Maybe this will help!!!!


http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=073118;p=3

It does, thanks. I tried searching but didn't come up with anything. That's actually the limbs I'm trying to emulate ;D

Man, I just cannot seem to get my colors right. I think I may just go with a lighter walnut color. I am having a real hard time getting the figuring in the wood to go darker than the lighter wood around it.

Chris, those limbs got walnut and silver grey, or maybe the other way around!!

Do you need another pc of curly to test on?

Thanks Kenny, that's a really generous offer, but I think I got it now.

I hit it with a light coat of walnut, they looked great. I sandwiched them and left em to dry. When I took them out they were a little more purple than I'd hoped. But it's cool, I hit them with the silver/grey and they are drying now. It actually is looking like they'll work out ok. The silver grey looks like it will darken them up a bit, which is what I was looking for. I have both dyes pretty thin right now, so if it still isn't dark enough, I'll just hit it with another coat.