Lockwood's Wood Stain & Dye -- Help!

[Shore08]

Hey folks, I need a little more help from some of the more experienced members.

I purchased some Lockwood's Wood Stain & Dye, and I am having some trouble with it. The instructions say to mix it with hot water until you get the color you want. It was suggested to me that I use denatured alcohol instead, since the water caused the lams to wrinkle.

I tried the denatured alcohol, but I am having a hard time getting it to mix. I keep ending up with grains at the bottom, which get transferred to the wood. Luckily I used some scrap, so no harm yet.

Unfortunately,the dye is still causing the lams to 'cup' as they dry. Will that be a problem, or will the pressure from the hose flatten it back out?

I'm also having a problem getting the color right, I am using walnut on a light colored wood. I either seem to get orange or black.

I am attempting to apply it with a foam brush, would I be better off with a rag?

Also, will tru-oil cause the cupping effect? If I can't nail down the dye, that is my backup plan.

Thanks!

--Chris

[Aeronut]

If it is a water soluable dye it won't mix with alcohol.  If you want to use alcohol you need to get the alcohol soluable dye.  

I use the water soluable dye and wipe it off as soon as possible and haven't had any problem with the lams cupping very much.

Dennis

[Shore08]

OK, That may be my problem... I must have been letting it sit too long. Thanks, I'll give that a try and see what happens...

[Big-un08]

Maybe this will help!!!!


 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=073118;p=3

[Shore08]

It does, thanks. I tried searching but didn't come up with anything. That's actually the limbs I'm trying to emulate ;D

[Shore08]

Man, I just cannot seem to get my colors right. I think I may just go with a lighter walnut color. I am having a real hard time getting the figuring in the wood to go darker than the lighter wood around it.

[kennym]

Chris, those limbs got walnut and silver grey, or maybe the other way around!!

Do you need another pc of curly to test on?

[Shore08]

Thanks Kenny, that's a really generous offer, but I think I got it now.

I hit it with a light coat of walnut, they looked great. I sandwiched them and left em to dry. When I took them out they were a little more purple than I'd hoped. But it's cool, I hit them with the silver/grey and they are drying now. It actually is looking like they'll work out ok. The silver grey looks like it will darken them up a bit, which is what I was looking for. I have both dyes pretty thin right now, so if it still isn't dark enough, I'll just hit it with another coat.