Tinting Blanks

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Marc

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Jul 31, 2009
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3355 Lookout Pl Reno NV 89503
I purchased some of the pre-tinted pen blanks from woodcraft and really liked how the pens turned out. Before this experience, I was only interested in getting distinctive pens from the natural finishes, but now I would like to try tinting some of these blanks myself.

I bought a block of box elder burl and have cut it into 4 blanks and am ready to try tinting. I have some acetone and some tints and have read a couple of articles.

I will practice on some pine before trying on a blank that will become a pen.

I heard that woodcraft uses some sort of vacuum equipment to really infuse the wood with the dye.

So there is my question, what kind of equipment does a hobbyist use to get the deep, even penetration?

Marc in Reno
 
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beck3906

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Aug 13, 2005
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I believe it's called

Wood Stabilizing Specialist, Inc, in Iowa.

Most of their stuff is professionally stabilized putting it out of mostm folks reach.

There are some threads that talk about using pressure pots and such to get dye penetration, but you'll probably won't get the look as WSSI would give.
 

Fred

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Preturn your blanks to nearly finished size and then apply your tint.

Believe it or not shoe polish does an amazing job and just look at all the colors available. A little goes a loooong way and you can reapply to make the color deeper.

You should TEST different finishes for compatibility as there are things that just don't go well with shoe polishes. Heating the wood a little will make the polish soak in deeply. I like to add the polish just as I am finishing with my last grade of sandpaper and the wood has a little rise in temperature from the papers friction ... not much though!
 

Marc

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3355 Lookout Pl Reno NV 89503
1_Three_pens_and_an_experiment.jpg


http://www.penturners.org/photos/index.php?n=10408 Here are three pens and the results of my tinting on the scrap piece of pine.

Some work to do to get better, but now I have a basic idea of how to do it.
 

heinedan

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Jun 21, 2006
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Oak Lawn, IL, USA.
Hello,

I hada dozen spalted maple blan ks recently that needed stabilization. I mixed Minwax wood hardener with a few drops od wood dye, and the blanks stabilized and dyed quite nicely.

Dan
 

Marc

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3355 Lookout Pl Reno NV 89503
That's an interesting approach. I do have some paste/wax that I paint my green wood with while it is waiting for it's turn on the lathe. I wonder if it mixing it would also be effective?

While my test turned out ok, it is not anything like the dyed wood I bought from the local woodcraft store.

I suspect the equipment investment of the Wood Stabilizing Specialist mentioned by beck3906 and a few thousand feet of experience make a marked difference. Lol.
 

jyreene

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Feb 17, 2009
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You such a show off Dad! There are a lot of guys on here that have great advice. Mequiteman is a good source for stabilizing techniques as well as PR Princess. Now get good at it so I can "borrow" some of your better blanks!
 
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