Dd

Doug

19/04/2007 3:21 PM

dye vs pigment stains

I'd like to add an accent piece to a piece of furniture I'm building
and want to ebonize a piece of Maple (though I suppose it doesn't have
to be Maple, I just want it to be black). I've read that dye stains
will be better for doing this. I picked up a can of Minwax "Wood
Finish" oil based stain, but can't seem to determine if it is dye or
pigment stain. Does anyone know how I can tell. Any other comments
on the process would also be appreciated.
Thanks


This topic has 14 replies

nn

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

19/04/2007 3:57 PM

On Apr 19, 5:30 pm, "Stoutman" <.@.> wrote:
>
> It is most likely a pigment.

I agree. I don't think Minwax make a dye product.

For Black, I have had better luck with Behlen's Solar Lux which is
alcohol base. It seems to penetrate better, and is about $11 - $12
buck a bottle.

When I use the Behlens for finish, I thin it quite a bit. But for
black as possible, use it straight.

Almost all woodturners yearn to ebonize some kind of wood for finials,
knobs, caps, and decorations of all manner. Right now, I think the
preferred method is real India Ink from the art or office supply
store. This is really a prevalent method since almost no one can find
the good ebony at a fair price, and the Macassar (sp?) has a tendency
to have brown streaks in it. So wood is saturatated in the ink,
sanded after grain raising, then saturated again. A piece of wood
done this way actually looks like ebony.

For me... I cheat. On something of size I would hit the accent piece
with black laquer so I could get it dead black, and if my final finsh
is gloss, I am on my way. If it is satin, out comes the steel wool to
knock off the shine.

Robert

Robert

JJ

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

19/04/2007 6:45 PM

Thu, Apr 19, 2007, 3:21pm (EDT-3) [email protected] (Doug) doth come in
and mumble:
<snip> want to ebonize a piece of Maple <snip>. I picked up a can of
Minwax "Wood Finish" oil based stain, but can't seem to determine if it
is dye or pigment stain. Does anyone know how I can tell. <snip>

Sounds likea waste of good maple to me, but it's your wood.

Yes, someone knows. The manufacturer. That's the reason they put
the 1-800 number on the can, so you can get answers about their
products. Or did they leave it off yours?



JOAT
I have anal glaucoma. I can't see my ass going to work today.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

19/04/2007 6:20 PM


"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>>
>
> General Finishes makes a Paint /Stain in black in their Kountry Colors
> collection.. You can paint it on and leave it or wipe off to you
> preference of darkness.

Apparently they are not Milk Paints

http://www.generalfinishes.com/finishes/water-base-finishes/waterbase_finishes.htm#GF%20Milk%20Paints

S@

"Stoutman" <.@.>

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

19/04/2007 6:30 PM



"Doug" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'd like to add an accent piece to a piece of furniture I'm building
> and want to ebonize a piece of Maple (though I suppose it doesn't have
> to be Maple, I just want it to be black). I've read that dye stains
> will be better for doing this. I picked up a can of Minwax "Wood
> Finish" oil based stain, but can't seem to determine if it is dye or
> pigment stain. Does anyone know how I can tell. Any other comments
> on the process would also be appreciated.
> Thanks
>

It is most likely a pigment. Get it from Woodcraft. Transtint is what I
use.

--
Stoutman
www.garagewoodworks.com

S@

"Stoutman" <.@.>

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

19/04/2007 11:04 PM

> Most of the common "yellow can" Minwax finishes do contain some pigment,
> often contain dye as well, and a few contain only dye. If you want to
> check
> a can you've already purchased, just open it and stir up from the bottom
> with a small stick. If it contains pigment some will stick to the stick
> and you will be able to see it.

Which Minwax finishes contain only dye?



--
Stoutman
www.garagewoodworks.com

Gg

"George"

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

20/04/2007 11:14 AM


"Doug" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'd like to add an accent piece to a piece of furniture I'm building
> and want to ebonize a piece of Maple (though I suppose it doesn't have
> to be Maple, I just want it to be black). I've read that dye stains
> will be better for doing this. I picked up a can of Minwax "Wood
> Finish" oil based stain, but can't seem to determine if it is dye or
> pigment stain. Does anyone know how I can tell. Any other comments
> on the process would also be appreciated.
> Thanks

Look for something you don't have to stir, and it'll be a dye. Pigment is
added as particulates, and has a tendency to settle in the can and seek the
pores in the wood. Easy to tell which is which by what they leave behind on
a piece of white paper.

Ebonizing by dye would be fine with cherry, soft maple or birch, or if you
just need color over durability, basswood. Aniline dyes, RIT fabric dyes,
India ink are all pretty common ways of going about it.

rs

ray

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

20/04/2007 9:01 AM

On 19 Apr 2007 15:21:43 -0700, Doug <[email protected]> wrote:

>I'd like to add an accent piece to a piece of furniture I'm building
>and want to ebonize a piece of Maple (though I suppose it doesn't have
>to be Maple, I just want it to be black). I've read that dye stains
>will be better for doing this. I picked up a can of Minwax "Wood
>Finish" oil based stain, but can't seem to determine if it is dye or
>pigment stain. Does anyone know how I can tell. Any other comments
>on the process would also be appreciated.
>Thanks

Another solution is the inks used in inkjet printers. They are
available in either dye or pigment versions. Dye based products tend
to fade more than pigment.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

19/04/2007 6:16 PM


"Doug" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'd like to add an accent piece to a piece of furniture I'm building
> and want to ebonize a piece of Maple (though I suppose it doesn't have
> to be Maple, I just want it to be black). I've read that dye stains
> will be better for doing this. I picked up a can of Minwax "Wood
> Finish" oil based stain, but can't seem to determine if it is dye or
> pigment stain. Does anyone know how I can tell. Any other comments
> on the process would also be appreciated.
> Thanks
>

General Finishes makes a Paint /Stain in black in their Kountry Colors
collection.. You can paint it on and leave it or wipe off to you preference
of darkness.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

19/04/2007 6:31 PM


>
> Apparently they are not Milk Paints
>
> http://www.generalfinishes.com/finishes/water-base-finishes/waterbase_finishes.htm#GF%20Milk%20Paints


CRAP,,, They ARE milk paints. 3rd time is a charm.

lL

[email protected] (Larry W)

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

20/04/2007 2:43 AM

In article <[email protected]>,
Doug <[email protected]> wrote:
-----------
>I'd like to add an accent piece to a piece of furniture I'm building
>and want to ebonize a piece of Maple (though I suppose it doesn't have
>to be Maple, I just want it to be black). I've read that dye stains
>will be better for doing this. I picked up a can of Minwax "Wood
>Finish" oil based stain, but can't seem to determine if it is dye or
>pigment stain. Does anyone know how I can tell. Any other comments
>on the process would also be appreciated.
>Thanks
>


Most of the common "yellow can" Minwax finishes do contain some pigment,
often contain dye as well, and a few contain only dye. If you want to check
a can you've already purchased, just open it and stir up from the bottom
with a small stick. If it contains pigment some will stick to the stick
and you will be able to see it.
--
Make it as simple as possible, but no simpler.

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland - lwasserm(a)sdf. lonestar. org

lL

[email protected] (Larry W)

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

21/04/2007 11:48 AM

In article <[email protected]>, Stoutman <.@.> wrote:
>Which Minwax finishes contain only dye?
>
>--
>Stoutman
>www.garagewoodworks.com
>
>

One that I am sure of is "Golden Pecan"


--
When the game is over, the pawn and the king are returned to the same box.

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland - lwasserm(a)sdf. lonestar.org

HP

"Highland Pairos"

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

20/04/2007 2:05 AM

I have a whole oak family room suite to ebonize and I have done some testing
in preparation. I chose oak due to the pronounced grain structure so that
the texture would still come through the finish. I used water based black
aniline dye from woodcraft mixed at the recommended strength. I applied it
liberally and let it dry completely. I followed that with some water based
Minwax black stain that I had mixed at Home Depot. I got this plan from Bob
Flexner's book. My test have come out very well and more importantly to the
satisfaction of my customer.

SteveP.
"Doug" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'd like to add an accent piece to a piece of furniture I'm building
> and want to ebonize a piece of Maple (though I suppose it doesn't have
> to be Maple, I just want it to be black). I've read that dye stains
> will be better for doing this. I picked up a can of Minwax "Wood
> Finish" oil based stain, but can't seem to determine if it is dye or
> pigment stain. Does anyone know how I can tell. Any other comments
> on the process would also be appreciated.
> Thanks
>

JH

Jedd Haas

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

21/04/2007 11:26 AM

Aniline type dies:
http://www.gallerytungsten.com/archives/000134.php

--
Jedd Haas - Artist - New Orleans, LA
http://www.gallerytungsten.com
http://www.epsno.com

BA

B A R R Y

in reply to Doug on 19/04/2007 3:21 PM

20/04/2007 1:11 PM

Doug wrote:
> Any other comments
> on the process would also be appreciated.
> Thanks

India Ink.

I use it to ebonize Ash with fantastic results.


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