Question – I was filling the time by watching an episode of “WoodWorks” on DIY, specifically an episode that featured an “Asian-Inspired” bookcase without a back. The bookcase portion was cherry and finished in tung oil, but the stand was made of maple and ebonized.
The host noted that he could’ve ebonized the base with aniline dye, but because of light-fast issues, preferred a metal-acid dye. At first I thought he was referring to the old steel-wool in vinegar treatment, but he proceeded to note that these dyes were commercially available and came in a range of colors including reds, blues and yellows.
Does anyone know what he’s referring to as “metal-acid dye” and have a specific brand name?
(I don’t, by the way, like the show that much. The weird juxtaposition of heavy-metal studio background music, the rather odd “sales pitch” for the piece featured in each episode, and the host’s propensity for wearing button-down business shirts in the woodshop turns me off. That said, I’ll watch anything on TV with woodworking in it!)
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I did a quick google search and interesting the first two 'hits' for manufacturers of the metal acid dyes are based in India, so I guess it's used heavily in the texile industry?... The third url is based in Canada
http://www.kolorjetchemicals.com/acid-dyes.html
http://www.cosmodyes.com/acid-dyes.html
http://www.gsdye.com/Canada/acid_dyes.html
Ps. I don't mind watching Dave Marks, but his taste in furniture and mine will never meet.
Unfortunately, The producers had a problem with a tattoo. Thus the long sleave shirts. So don't hold it against David.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Unfortunately, The producers had a problem with a tattoo. Thus the long sleave shirts.
Amazing in this day and age that there would be a problem with a tattoo. I've seen more butterflies and scroll work on teenage girls a$$es than I care to count. Along with more hardware than the Ball & Ball catalog has installed on guys and girls faces (eyelids, chins, cheeks, lips, noses, etc). Oh, and don't forget those tribal, National Geographic, plate/disc things that enlarge the earlobe big enough to put a Coke can in.
Ok, I'm off my soapbox.
Lee
Check out TransFast and TransTint on http://www.homesteadfinishing.com
There are also dyes with that chemistry from the more industrial oriented makers of finishing supplies, I believe.
http://www.homesteadfinishingproducts.com
David has a web site http://www.djmarks.com that has a lot of info oyn the projects and on some of the techniques and products he uses. He has a bit of info on the metal-acid dyes here: http://www.djmarks.com/stories/faq/Where_can_I_get_metalized_acid_dyes_88957.asp
We all have our likes and dislikes, but I for one like David's show. He creates a wide variety of furniture and shows many interesting ways to get great results. He is a serious believer in using templates to produce parts, probably because he may produce the same piece multiple times, and uses many different joinery methods. He uses power tools where they are most efficient and uses hand tools as well. I have seen hand cut dovetails explained and also the usage of the Leigh dovetail jig. I have even recorded each episode shown on Direct TV on DVD's so that I may look at them again in the future. I can't afford David's choice of woods many times, but I can learn from his methods and take inspiration from the projects.
I hope the info on the dyes helps. There are many questions answered in the FAQ's about his tools and materials.
Bruce
Thanks, I'll look through it. Perhaps my reservations about David's show have more to do with my prejudices built up after 15 years of watching The Woodwright's Shop and The New Yankee Workshop. I haven't watched a lot of them, but I did notice that he had a really odd method of making a curved cove cut on the top and bottom of a curved, wall-hanging display cabinet.
He suggested buying two different types of ball-shaped grinder tips, then proceeded to follow those steps with a rasp and then two or three grits of sandpaper. A #8 30mm carving gouge and a mallet, and he'd have been done in 1/5th of the time. Odd how some of these hosts (Norm comes to mind) seem to have a real allergy to hand tools.
He has used the carbide ball mills on several projects. Maybe he got a deal on them originally and just continues to use them. They would be too expensive for me to purchase.
I'm sure you know that there are many ways to skin a cat. We each have our thoughts on how to do something. Most of the time the end result is the same, a job well done, but we all have our own preferences. Maybe this is just David's way that he likes to do the small coves.
Have fun!
Bruce"A man's got to know his limitations." Dirty Harry Calahan
I guess it's used heavily in the texile industry?... The third url is based in india
http://www.qualitron.net/
http://www.qualitron.net/phthalocyanine-pigments-blue-green-manufacturer
Just use India ink. I think speedball is a good quality one.
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