Replies

1. 
   SgianDubh | Oct 26, 2011 06:21pm | #1

   Yellow to green would be relatively difficult: but blue to green, or blue to yellow would be straightforward. You could achieve this probably most easily by spraying the second colour, even using one of the cheap plastic hand pumped plant sprayer bottles.

   Start by mixing some green dye and apply this to the whole body of the object. Next put some yellow dye in the plant sprayer and apply this locally where you want it to change the colour to blue, and feather the colour in at the intersection to get the graduation. You can reverse the colours green and yellow so that you apply a bsae colour of yellow followed by green to get blue in parts.

   Personally for this kind of graduated colour change I prefer to use spirit or solvent diluted dyes as you can gradually build up the depth and colour as you want with fast drying colourants. Slainte.

1. 
   Westchester | Oct 26, 2011 06:52pm | #3

   Coloring

   Give the wood a chance to dry out after turning.  Spraying is best - an air brush is an alternative method. You can seal first with clear since dyes will color through the sealer. Sealing first will help the colors from mixing unexpectedly - you're in more control this way-

   SA

2. 
   bilyo | Oct 26, 2011 06:27pm | #2

   Use of Dye - Color Blending

   Steve,

   I got 3 small chunks from some live oak branches my neighbor cut.  All three pieces have been turned and I don't have any scraps. I've never done anything with live oak before.  It doesn't seem to be nearly as porous as white or red oak.  I'll just have to get the best advice I can and go for it or not try it at all.  This particular piece is vase shaped and was turned with the long axis parallel to the pith.  It leaves a very interesting grain.  I turned it when it was pretty green and it has contorted somewhat as it dried.  If I ruin it, it won't be the end of the world.  I can always paint it (grin).

3. 
   hammer1 | Oct 26, 2011 07:57pm | #4

   Try this.

   https://www.finewoodworking.com/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=30182

1. 
   bilyo | Oct 27, 2011 03:29pm | #5

   Color Blending

   Winchester,  What sealer do you use, shellac?

   Hammer1, Thanks for the link.  That helps a lot.

   Thanks to all for advice and comments.

1. 
   Westchester | Oct 28, 2011 06:16pm | #6

   Sealer

   you can use shellac - thin it 50 % and apply a light coat to seal. 

   Regards,

   SA

2. 
   sapwood | Oct 29, 2011 11:31am | #7

   Practice

   Before you start on this, first take a scrap of wood, any wood will do, and practice using the dye. You will teach yourself more in five minutes than you can ever hope to learn by reading other's opinions. Using scrap wood will allow much more freedom to experiment than evan a project that you can afford to mess up.