Use: to add colour to wood and enhance its appearance; both applied to the wood’s surface, either through brushing, spraying, or wiping, and can be used on a variety of wood species
What is wood dye?
Wood dye is also commonly known as wood tint and it comprises of microscopic dye particles that are small enough to penetrate deep into the wood. Dyes are generally derived from organic elements that consist of small particles on their own.
Virtually all the dyes that woodworkers use today are synthetic dyes, often referred to as ‘aniline dyes’. These are derived from petroleum. They are available in an infinite number of colours and are considerable more resistant to fading. Wood dyes come in in liquid concentrate and powder forms.
Dyes can be also be made naturally with most water soluble materials. Tea, coffee, nut husks (eg. walnut), tobacco, and herbs are all great options to create your own dye.
Think about wood dye like a tea bag. You add dried leaves to hot water and the colour of the leaves disperses throughout the water. Same applies when you add the dye (liquid or powder) to the solvent (water, alcohol or oil).
Advantages & disadvantages of wood dye
Advantages
- penetrates wood more deeply than wood stain
- colours wood more evenly
- produces deep, vibrant colors in the final result without obscuring the grain
- less chance of showing scratches or peeling the surface
Disadvantages
- can fade over time if the item is subjected to direct sunlight
- can be more challenging to apply
- can be more costly if high quality dyes are used
Simple explanation of wood stain
Wood stains are a collection of liquid or gel products designed to color and protect wood. They come in a wide variety of types, but all include some sort of coloring agent mixed, suspended or dissolved in a solvent or “carrier” substance. This carrier can be oil, water, alcohol or polyurethane.
They are several types of stains – water based, oil based, gel stain. Wood stain is a thicker liquid than dye that is designed to coat the surface of the wood, penetrating it to some degree.
So what are the main differences between them?
Wood dye:
- applied to the surface of the wood and penetrates deeply into the wood fibers
- As a result, wood dye produces a more even and uniform colour
Wood stain:
- sits on the surface of the wood and does not penetrate as deeply
- As a result, wood stain can result in a more blotchy appearance if not applied carefully.
Wood dye:
- produces a translucent and even color, allowing the natural grain of the wood to show through
Wood stain:
- can produce a more opaque color, covering up some of the natural grain pattern
Wood dye:
- made using dye pigments and a carrier, which can be either oil, water, or alcohol
Wood stain:
- made using stain pigments along with a carrier and a binder
Wood dye:
- does not provide any protective properties on its own
Wood stain:
- often formulated with protective additives that can help to protect the wood from moisture and wear
How to mix & apply liquid or powdered dyes
- Properly prepare the wood
- Cover your work surface, put on rubber gloves (or else you’ll have dyed fingertips!) and respirator
- Both powder and liquid dyes use the same dilution ratio of 1 ounce of dye (2 tablespoons) to 32 ounces (4 cups) of water or alcohol
- Apply the dye by using a brush, rag, foam brush, sponge or spray
If you apply a coat and find that it looks too light, once it’s dry, apply a second coat to darken the stain. If you find the colour too dark, simply wipe the surface with water (or alcohol) to lighten the stain. You can increase or decrease the intensity of the dye colour by adjusting the dilution ratio.
Less water or alcohol will result in a darker colour, and vice versa.
General Finishes has a Dye Stain. What does this mean?
GF water-based Dye Stains penetrate deep into the wood to beautifully magnify the grain. It’s a low VOC stain that provides your project with more depth and color vibrancy. This product is excellent for highly figured woods like mahogany, walnut or maple. Dye stains can also be used as a toner when mixed with Water Based Topcoats.
When to use it?
- When you have beautiful wood grain, pattern or burl and you want to show it off! GF Dye Stains are like ink and penetrate deep into the wood grain, revealing the figure of the wood with beautiful transparency.
- They are great way to layer and intensify color. GF often uses a yellow or amber dye stain under another type of darker stain, such as Yellow Dye Stain under Java Gel Stain. The combined colors create a lovely depth and glow.
The Colour Wheel (and why it’s important!)
from Mike Mascelli at Fine Woodworking Magazine
The three primary colours (red, yellow and blue) are the source of all other colours. For example, mixing red and yellow make orange.
As you establish this relationship, it stays constant. The same is true that red is the opposite of green. This means that if you have a piece that is really red, you can add green to buffer some of that red out and vice versa.
You can get to your ideal colour by knowing these colour relationships.
Things to remember!
References:
https://topwoodworkingadvice.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-wood-dye-vs-wood-stain/
https://canadianwoodworking.com/techniques_and_tips/dye-stains/
https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Dye-Wood-Using-Natural-Ingredients-in-5-Ste/
https://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8649659_advantages-disadvantages-wood-dye.html
https://www.wikihow.com/Dye-Wood
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/types-of-wood-stains-finishes/
I'd love to know what you think!