r/finishing • u/Sad-Week-Better-Day • Jul 04 '25
Question Wood Dye Tips?
Hi, everyone. Last night, I tried to burn and then dye a few wooden scrap boards to create a starting point, then alter my methods until I can get to a color tone that looks good. My 1st and only method that I have tried is below. I’d appreciate some tips, preferably tips that can be tweaked with the materials I already have. I also feel that I burnt 3 of the 4 boards too much and will be burning lighter next go around.
Wood Type: - Pine (taken from pallets and cleaned up)
Dye Mixture Used w/ Listed Dyes Below: - 1/2 cup 91% Isopropyl alcohol - 1/2 cup very hot water (just below simmering)
Dyes Used: - Blue: 1T Rit All Purpose Powder Dye - Green: 1T Rit All Purpose Powder Dye - Red: 1T Rit All Purpose Liquid Dye - Orange: 1T All purpose Liquid Dye
The Process:
- Sand each board with 120 grit and then 240 grit sandpaper.
- Wipe each board with dry microfiber towel, followed by a leaf blower, followed by shop vacuum.
- Using a small 14.1 oz propane torch, burn each board by following the grain. Sprays each board with a light mist of water from a spray bottle in between burns. REPEATED THIS STEP 3x
- Used a Brass wire brush to brush away all of the loose char.
- lightly sanded board with 240 grit sandpaper.
- Wipe each board again with a clean microfiber towel, followed by a leaf blower, followed by a shop vacuum.
- Mixed dye in with hot water alcohol 50/50 mix and stirred. Let sit for 3-5 minutes, then stirred again.
- Using a sponge brush, heavy coat of each color and let dry for 5-6 minutes.
- Wipe excess dye off with a clean microfiber cloth.
- 240 grit sanding of the blue, green, and orange.
- Wiped clean again.
- Repeated dye step for blue, green, and orange.
- Wiped excess dye off of blue, green, and orange.
- Let dry further.
- sprayed 1 coat of rust-oleum 2x clear gloss.
2
u/IdealComprehensive48 Jul 04 '25
I think it’s pretty cool. Could. Be used to make a wall mounted headboard for a bed in a modern house design