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Author Topic: Staining white woods  (Read 2746 times)

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Offline wizardgoat

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Staining white woods
« on: February 20, 2014, 05:43:10 pm »
I made a vine maple bow I was really proud of. My plan was to stain it all black, and snake skin back it. The stain turned out horrible, I tried to sand it down, but it's still blotchy and muddy. I don't want to sand to deep into it, is there some way I can fix it? I've heard leather dye works better, I just don't want to mess it up any more than I have! Thanks
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Staining white woods
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2014, 05:46:44 pm »
Leather dye should work good but you can make your own with black Rit dye and alcohol. I think the alcohol carrier helps it penetrate the wood better.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline wizardgoat

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Re: Staining white woods
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2014, 07:51:45 pm »
Thanks!
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Staining white woods
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2014, 08:41:58 pm »
Do a test first!  ;D
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Gordon

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Re: Staining white woods
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2014, 10:23:10 pm »
Alcohol based dyes work best with vine maple.
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Gordon

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Staining white woods
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2014, 10:29:05 pm »
A cabinet maker friend told me most woodworkers try to sand the wood too fine before applying stain.  He recommends no more than 180 grit if you are trying to get a darker stain into white woods. 

You can also use aniline dye for leatherworking.  And in that way you are not limited to earth tones, you can get pinks, purples, electric yellow, whatever you want!
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Offline osage outlaw

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Re: Staining white woods
« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2014, 10:30:07 pm »
I've used RIT mixed with alcohol on hickory and HHB with great results.
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Offline Mohawk13

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Re: Staining white woods
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2014, 01:43:54 am »
For a darker color...Melt some 0000 steel wool in a jar of vinegar..heat it with a hair dryer or light heat gun after application...cover with poly or spar varnish...makes a nice dark color...
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Offline Bryce

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Re: Staining white woods
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2014, 02:18:55 am »
Quote from: Gordon on February 20, 2014, 10:23:10 pm
Alcohol based dyes work best with vine maple.


BINGO!
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Clatskanie, Oregon

Offline dwardo

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Re: Staining white woods
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2014, 12:05:59 pm »
I tried a few of the expensive wood dyes that were marked spcifically for staining wood, they were all rubbish and not cheap either!
Leather dye has worked every time with far far better results.
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Offline aaron

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Re: Staining white woods
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2014, 12:18:11 pm »
+1 on the vinegar idea. do a search on here and you'll find a more detiailed description. I use it on VM
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"Good wood makes great bows, but bad wood makes great bowyers"

Offline Bryce

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Re: Staining white woods
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2014, 01:26:14 pm »
example: fieblings black leather dye



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Clatskanie, Oregon
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