Dyeing & stabalizing

[Paul Downes]

I am about to dive into stabalization. I appreciate the opinions from the other concurrent post on stabalization. I was going to get some nelsonaite but have decided to forgo that and use acetone/plex. The comments on xylene being a carcinogenic gave me some pause. Besides, I've already been using acetone so I've already been exposed. My question concerns combining dyes with the stabalization mix. Has any of youse persons tried this? I suppose the double dyeing process is a trade secret. I have been wondering if it is simply changing the vacuum pressure to get different penetration related to wood density. I would think you would dye the lighter color first. What dyes are concidered the best for wood? I have some aniline dyes I was going to try. I have a limitless supply of spaulted maple, and figured to experiment with that wood and perhaps boxelder to see what works. Any comments/ideas?

 

[MesquiteMan]

Paul,

Yes you can indeed combine dye with plexi-tone. I added blue Transtint dye to a batch and have done a number of blanks with it. Here is a pen I made with one of the blanks. The wood is 90 degree cross cut spalted hackberry. Works pretty well.