Replies

1. 
   Ardito | Aug 05, 2004 12:47am | #1

   BG,

   Just curios to see if you ran into any problems with the mixing of TT in the BLO.  I was thinking about doing this also a couple of days ago and saw your post here.  Did you make any further progress?  Any issues?  I would assume this would be not a problem.  TT can be mixed with water or oil.

   Cheers!
   Dark Magneto

1. 
   BG | Aug 05, 2004 01:07am | #2

   Dark,

   I did do it....came out nice.  Usually you mix it with water or alcohol..but I strongly suspect people thought I was pulling their leg asking if BLO and TT was okay.  In many recipies they throw in some mineral sprits too, I think and you could put in some varnish and make it a complete solution...again, I think.

   I was shooting for a dark mahogany color....started with a red water stain...then the blo with TT, a couple coats of shellac (1lb cut) and finally 3-5 coats of Waterlox (decided lacquer might not be strong enough for a student desk)for good protection.  The blo allowed me to hit it with another application a bit darker if necessary....

   Edited 8/4/2004 6:09 pm ET by BG

1. 
   Ardito | Aug 05, 2004 04:47pm | #5

   BG,

   Can I ask you your finishing process for this BLO + TT solution.  For example, did you start with the BLO to "pop" your grain features?  Did you thin the BLO with mineral spirits?  I have heard some people thin the BLO with 1:1 mineral spirits. 

   Do you recall how much TT you added to what qty of BLO?  A few drops?

   What did you top coat with?

   Just curious.  I love to read/listen to others successful stories.

   Thanks!Dark Magneto

1. 
   BG | Aug 05, 2004 08:07pm | #6

   Dark Magento,

   Be happy to outline my experiment with BLO and TT.  I was kinda following the techniques of two: Rob Millard and Jeff Hewitt....of course I mixed them all up to protect the innocent...lol. 

   My piece was a shaker style desk for my daughter made with some mahogany...and after sanding the mahogany looked quite dark (not light pink)and brown in color.  I washed down the piece with mineral spirits and applied, with a windex bottle, some water with reddish brown trans tint (pink in color)...apply - wipe off immediately.

   Next came the BLO with Trans Tint.  I had an old jelly jar and after a few experiments came up with 8 drops of TT redish brown to 2 cap fulls of blo....shake don't stir....lol..very scientific.  One coat gave me the grain and the red that I wanted.  Then I applied a coat of shellac (orange) to bring a bit of warmth into the piece and to seal it from the varnish.

   Waterlox orginal, three coats all over...and 2 more coats on the outside and top with very light sanding with 400 grit.  Then a gentle 600 grit sanding and one more coat on the top.  I'm letting it dry a couple of weeks now..and will then decide if further rub out is necessary.  I am going for a mission look and do not want glass smooth.

   Probably neither Rob or Jeff would recognize this routine....Rob had used some Bartley's Gel stain...I just did not feel like spending the money. 

1. 
   Ardito | Aug 05, 2004 08:26pm | #7

   BG,

   Sounds great!  I like the Windex bottle idea.  I'll have to start saving old bottles at the house.  I pretty much save every jelly/mayo/salsa/etc jar that is used in our house.  I find it a GREAT measure for a project.  Usually a Mayo jar full will give me 2 projects worth of material.  Again...very scientific!  lol

   Thanks for the BLO and TT tips.

   Cheers!Dark Magneto

2. 
   stancalow | Aug 05, 2004 02:48am | #3

   BG

   I've done exactly the same thing, including shellac and it worked fine.  Haven't seen any long-term consequences (1+ yr).   I've also used the alcohol soluble dye mixed in shellac, which was OK too. 

1. 
   BG | Aug 05, 2004 03:39am | #4

   Stantheman,

   I only tried the Trans Tint in shellac once on some birch.  My sense was I could create a kinda wood grain with the solution (in other words, the stain stayed suspended in the shellac and could be moved).  Was your experience the same?

   Edited 8/5/2004 6:04 am ET by BG