Alumilite colors and Cactus Juice?

[hanau]

Any recommendation on how much color to add to cactus juice when stabilizing?


say i want to make a quart of red how much red Alumilite dye would be a good starting point to to make a quart?

 

[MesquiteMan]

Add it until it looks almost black. Then add a few drops of yellow if you want a good red. If you don't add the yellow, it will be on the blue side of red in the color spectrum which will end up being more of a deep pink.

You will have to do some experimenting because even if someone was able to give you a formula they used on one species, it will be different on a different species.

 

[crabcreekind]

Add it until it looks almost black. Then add a few drops of yellow if you want a good red. If you don't add the yellow, it will be on the blue side of red in the color spectrum which will end up being more of a deep pink.

You will have to do some experimenting because even if someone was able to give you a formula they used on one species, it will be different on a different species.

Thank you, I was wondering how much I needed to add. Very useful info to us stabilizers.

 

[hanau]

going to practice with red
100 drops red
20 drops yellow
32 oz cactus juice.

2 1" thick pieces of Spalted Hackberry

2 1" thick pieces of Spalted HACKBERRY

 

[hanau]

Also where would be a good local place to find vacuum pump oil at?

Is there a prefer oil brand to use?

 

[Tom T]

Any air conditioning supply store will have what you want.

 

[mikespenturningz]

I used to add until I thought I had enough then doubled it. It takes a lot of dye to get the job done. It is worth it though. Dying with Cactus juice is so cool and you can get some real cool effects too.

 

[Tom T]

The sauce looks good. Let us see what happens

 

[hanau]

Been under vacuum for 1 hr still a few bubbles going to let it sit for 1-30 mins then apply a vacuum again.
Oven is heating up about 200 degrees on thermometer.

 

[hanau]

wood before


after removing it from the tank


started where my finger is pointing.
used about 12 oz of cactus juice.

 

[hanau]

Fresh out of the oven.

It does look pink.
More red next time



cleaned up

 

[hanau]

I finally got back out to the shop today.
Sorry for the big pictures didn't want to resize so that everything can been seen.

The pictures before I split them and after.

Block A


Block B


Outsides of both blocks after splitting.


Inside of both blocks
If you look on the ones on the right "B' there is some natural wood color that the stabilizing didn't penetrate to.



And the tank after cleaning it up. Could not get all the dye out of the seams.
Used warm soapy water to clean it with.


Glove there showing son and nephew it expanding when you place a vacuum on the chamber.

 

[hanau]

Quick run thru a buffing wheel. Only polished half of the block.
Tripoli and White Diamond.

 

[hanau]

Finished set of grips from the above wood.

 

[MesquiteMan]

Looks good, John! If you want it to be more red next time, add a LOT more dye.

 

[crabcreekind]

WOw! Those grips turned out awesome!! Very useful for learning how to dye the CJ!