Default in Dyed Stabalized Blank?

[Fotoman]

I am new to turning stabilized wood so I am not sure if what I am experiencing is normal , a defect, or something I am doing. After turning the blank down to size I find these marks or portions without dye. I have tried four different blanks from two different suppliers with the same results. Can anyone help identify the problem?

 

[Kenny Durrant]

That looks good to me. I'm assuming it's Maple. If so it's all blue. The different shade are probably the differences in the hardness of the wood. I don't know the difference between quilted and curly maple but it looks like one of those.

 

[egnald]

Are you referring to these marks (circled in Red)

or to these marks?

or both?

Dave

 

[its_virgil]

Curly maple gives the light and dark dyed "stripes". The marks that David circled are normal and not the fault of the tuner or turning.

 

[1080Wayne]

The dark blue and light blue bands in the curly maple will alternate as you tilt the blank under a light . The different cell structures within the wood cause the variations in colour that you see .

 

[ed4copies]

Dying wood blanks will fill any voids in the wood with a color. Some parts of the wood are dense and will not allow dye to penetrate under normal dying vacuum or pressure.

It is possible to use extreme pressure which is advertised to completely color the wood. I have never seen an example of this in real life, but it might be true!!

 

[jcm71]

That is normal.

 

[Fotoman]

Are you referring to these marks (circled in Red)
View attachment 368606

or to these marks?
View attachment 368607

or both?

Dave

Yes, the top photo.

 

[Mortalis]

I have encountered that from time to time and was told it is an unforeseen fault in the dying process. I purchased some water color kids markers and was able to color match it so it wasn't noticeable.
Mine happened in the same material and color as yours did.
I bought THESE at Walmart/Target.

 

[MRDucks2]

Not sure if it is correct, but I refer to them as "flecks". I actually like the concentration and size of them in some woods.

 

[jttheclockman]

Not sure if it is correct, but I refer to them as "flecks". I actually like the concentration and size of them in some woods.

Dead on. That is what they are called and that is what you are seeing. Because they are hard Non pervious specks they will not take dye. You see this in many woods.

 

[Woodchipper]

Good question for dyeing wood. I'm getting ready to make a run of several pens and a couple will be dyed hard maple. Might try a scrap first to see how it takes the dye.

 

[egnald]

Good question for dyeing wood. I'm getting ready to make a run of several pens and a couple will be dyed hard maple. Might try a scrap first to see how it takes the dye.

I made some dyed Maple pens a couple of years ago. I think they dyed pretty good as far as coverage and flecks are concerned. Of course there were softer and harder areas that absorbed more or less dye as would be expected. I used a water soluble dye after turning but before applying a CA finish but I can't remember the brand of the dye. - Dave

 

[Woodchipper]

Thanks, egnald. I just checked; dye is TransTint from Woodcraft. It goes a long way... a couple of drops in or alcohol water makes a lot of dye.
FWIW, I bought a set of five Sharpies. Light wood takes the "ink" quite well. Something different.

 

[Fotoman]

Thanks everyone for the information. I don't mind the colour variation in the example egnald showed, but I am not a fan of the very defined places without dye on the ones I am getting. I have tried a water based stain, but it didn't add any colour to the light areas. I will give a sharpie a try. Thanks again