Dying wood

[musky]

What do you all dye your wood with? I need to make a pink and an orange pens and was going to dye some. Which pen color would look best with these colors, gold, chrome, silver, ect?? Thanks

 

[randyrls]

What do you all dye your wood with? I need to make a pink and an orange pens and was going to dye some. Which pen color would look best with these colors, gold, chrome, silver, ect?? Thanks

Musky; I use Trans-tint right out of the bottle. I sometimes apply dye to dyed pens that aren't "vivid" enough for me. WEAR GLOVES!!!!!

I also sometimes dye a pen a specific color for a customer. Be sure to seal the dye to keep it from coming off on the hands..........

For pink and orange, I would say gold fittings.

 

[scroller99]

I use aniline dye to color my pens and of coarse a light colored wood helps, and I always liked chrome with light colored dye and the darker dye jobs with brass. aniline powder is hazardous to your health so be careful in use good luck Howard

 

[NewLondon88]

I also use TransTint, but I mix it with denatured alcohol and load it
onto the blank. Easier to use less by doing it that way. I can always
add more, and since I have a 600 watt photo light over my shoulder,
the blank dries as I watch. Then I move the 600 watt light because
it burns the spot on my head where my hair used to be..

As for colors, I have to admit that I have NO IDEA how things
'go together' .. I'm one of those people who would have no problem
wearing plaids and stripes. But I've been told I should stick to plain
colors just to be safe. (my lime green leisure suit works just fine)
Some people have an eye for those things. I'm not one of them.

 

[nava1uni]

I use light colored wood like maple holly, or ash. I use food coloring, as it comes in many colors and can be mixed easily to get a wide range of colors. I also use Dr.pH Martin's liquid Radiance watercolors. None of these are toxic or dangerous to use. I finish the pen so that it is all ready and sanded with MM to 12000 or I burnish it with a brown paper bag and then it is ready to dye. I use the liquid watercolors or food coloring without diluting it. I apply multiple coats allowing each to dry between until I obtain the color I want the pen. If necessary I burnish it again. Then I apply either a light CA finish or wipe on poly after making sure the pen is completely dry. With bright colors I often use silver, chrome or nickel finishes. If you have further questions feel free to PM. I do lots of dying of wood.

 

[ldb2000]

Like Cindy , I also use just plain Food Coloring , McCormick's brand that come in the little drop shaped bottles . It dries fast and can be recoated as many times as you want to make the colors more vivid . They also make it in bigger bottles and lots of colors including pink and orange , those colors are used to color Icing for cakes . Larger Supermarkets will have most of them .
To keep the colors bright and lasting you should use a good finish , CA , Lacquer or poly work fine , friction polishes will wear quickly and allow moisture to enter and fade the colors very quickly .
As for kit platings , for the orange I would use gold and for the pink Chrome or silver , or Black Ti will work with both colors.