Thread: Figured maple 'quilt top' finish help please?

Ya just gotta love that quilted maple for it's beautiful figuring, eh....

Looks like either water-based food dye or most likely alcohol or water based analine dye in an aqua colour or similar. Probably finished with nitrocellulose or some other lacquer.

We have the water based food dyes but you would have trouble getting that colour without an almost dead white background and some really great colour matching. Ctrl + a few times on the above page will give you a close up look at how the dye looks on figured timber in particular the fiddle-back yellow dyed bowl.

Might do better with some Dylon Cold Water Dye available from Spotlight etc. The Woodwork Book and Tool Co has water and alcohol solvent Analine Dyes and the Sumiacryl Blue N3GL looks like it could go close to what you want.

Hope this is of some help.

Cheers - Neil

LMI sell dye, both water and analine based.

Neil, how do you think the Hard Shellac would look on this guitar over the dye?

Hi there.

Just for clarification on what MBP stated - Analine is the "type" of dye; you can obtain it in water or alcohol soluble versions.

Either Aniline or Metal Acid Complex dyes will give you the results you are after when used properly.

Water based is suggested for use on bare timber for best light-fastness and grain enhancing ability; even though it will/can raise the grain. Application techniques will solve this latter issue.

It also depends on how you plan to go about the finish process. Dyeing the timber directly will give the best 3d effect - enhancing the grain with a deep rich colour, which you then clear coat with your choice of finish. Here in Australia two products come to mind for that - Mirotone Pre-Cat Lacquer (available in most if not all states) or Durabond Guitar Lacquer if you are in NSW. Google them. Durabond can be sent to other states too but is very costly being a hazardous product.

The other option is to tint the clear finish itself with an alcohol soluble dye and apply it this way. This won't give the same effect though - more like looking at the figure below through a piece of coloured cellophane.

There are also liquid dyes that can be used in either water or alcohol if you wish to hedge your bets. As MBP pointed out, LMI is a good source for all of the above dyes.

Good luck.

Jeremy.

Sure looks to me as though they dyed it first with a darker color to soak into the soft grain; sanded; and then hit it with the aqua shade befor finishing.

Originally Posted by ckngumbo

Sure looks to me as though they dyed it first with a darker color to soak into the soft grain; sanded; and then hit it with the aqua shade befor finishing.

Indeed they did. Black, one coat then very lightly sanded back. Thanks for the tips peoples.