segmented turning using wood dye

[wheelie]

hi,

i want to have a go at segmented turning, but to practice i want to use cheap pine and then dye it different colors to produce the shapes,

has anyone got any info on this,at the moment im using food dye watered down and then with bits of pine 30cm long by 4cm wide, and only about 5mm thick, but i dont think it will penetrate, im leaving it over night to see,

and although this is for practice, colored wood might look good anyway,

so anyone got any advice, is there a special dye that penetrates deep?

[hughie]

and although this is for practice, colored wood might look good anyway,

so anyone got any advice, is there a special dye that penetrates deep?
[/QUOTE]

Wheelie,

You could try the process under pressure by using small compressor [ or hand pump] and a pressure cooker. Even at two atmospheres penetration would be greatly enhanced.From memory they have a blow off safety valve set at around 80psi.You could mount at pressure gauge at the counter weight pressure control point with a tee fitting this would then give you a access point to apply pressure and monitor it at the same time

Failing that look into aniline dies. This type of die is very strong and will penetrate deeply, i believe there may be some safety issues involved. But nothing that cannot be over come.

best of luck

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I haven't tried it with dyes, but the reverse may be possible as well.

ie. Putting the segments into a bell jar containing dye, sucking it down to about 1/4 atmos and leaving until the timber sinks to the bottom. This works for me with PolyU when I'm stabilising timbers, dyes are much runnier so should work just as well, if not better. In theory, anyway... :wink:

[wheelie]

guys are you both talking about the same, just that skew is talking about sucking than blowing.

well, ive got a very nice hand pump that goes up to about 200 psi, so i guess im going to have to make an air tight container that i can unscrew to put the pieces in, and then simply glue a valve to it,

then i'll insert the dye and wood and then pump it up to 80 psi, is that what your talking about,

what ratio of air to dye would i need,

and skew what could i use for sucking the air out?

thanks guys

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

guys are you both talking about the same, just that skew is talking about sucking than blowing.

More or less. :) Water doesn't compress very well, so I'm not sure how well pressurising it will work. But under a vacuum, I know that significant air is sucked out of the timber, to be replaced with the fluid it's floating in.


and skew what could i use for sucking the air out?

Some people use the vacuum type hand-pumps, but I'm too lazy for that. :rolleyes:

I've gone and salvaged an old 'frig compressor to make my vac pump. It's not the most efficient beast in the world, but can take it's time sucking things down. :) There are a couple of refinements I'll get around to one day, like adding an oiler... but for now I just drop some air-tool lube into the line before I start it.

[powderpost]

Wheelie,
Welcome to the world of laminating. Some time back I tried the wood colouring process and found that the turning cut away a lot of the colour and left a very patchy, unevenly tinted surface. I didn't use any of the pressure/vacuum processes, only soaked the wood overnight. The penetration was quite marginal and irregular. Even tried colouring the segments after cutting and found that much of the colour was last during turning. What I did find was that after turning off more than I had planned, the segments were lighter in colour in the centre and quite dark around the edges. That looked interesting, but the overall colouring was still very patchy. The summary was to use naturally coloured timber. After all that, don't give up hope, keep experimenting, and keep in touch and let us know what happens. That way we all learn.
Jim

[wheelie]

dont worry powerpost, i'll keep at it,

i guess i'll have to go very thin to get good results,

skewdamit,

what container did you use?
have you got any photos?
how do you put the wood in it, and remove it, (air tight lid)?
does it have a valve on it?
how thick was your wood?
what underwear are you wearing?

oh and hughie, I cant seem to find any aniline dies in Uk, know anywhere?
thanks

[hughie]

oh and hughie, I cant seem to find any aniline dies in Uk, know anywhere?
thanks
[/QUOTE]

I used to get mine off a printing company, apparently they use them allot.

As to a simple vac set up try a venturi valve. We used use them here. The clip on to your water tap and as the water runs through in creates a vacuum. Venturis will work with any moving fluid so water air etc will do

http://www.2linc.com/venturi_vacuum.htm they are so simple you could make your own

http://www.vaccon.com/

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/archive/index.php/t-16568.html

aniline dye

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Successfully_staining_birch.html
http://www.chemfinder.co.uk/supplier_ms6540.html
http://www.chemindustry.com/apps/browse?id=646&go_filter=1&alpha=F..G
http://www.kompass.co.uk/directory/products/item/0/uk/Pigments,_synthetic,_aniline/3233004.htm

Generally used in the dying of leather goods