Staining experiment

[Neil Lawton]

I used the same method here, as I used on the coloured pens I posted recently. Only difference being no finish was applied.

Dark Olive before and after.





As you can see, all that has happened is the wood took on a general colour with no penetration.

The same occurred on a more figured piece of Olive.




Then I tried a piece of Silver Birch with some figuring in.




Despite the figure in the Olive, it is tight, and actually long grain.
The Birch however, is from near a burr. Most of the bits which take up the colour are actually end grain, to one degree or another.
I also tried, (but didn't picture) rubbing the stain into a long grain flat piece of Plane.
Guess what?
It just coloured the wood and didn't highlight the grain.
It does pick up in more open grained timbers as I've done it before using the stain neat, on Ash, and Elm bowls, but I think if you want a variation in depth of colour, it has to be burr. Cross grain might show some interesting results, also.

 

[Vic Perrin]

Very interesting Neil I am going to have to try staining at sometime.

Vic

 

[chas_41_uk]

Interesting results Neil

 

[Penpal]

Sure killed the Olive Neil like you said horses for courses thanks for the continuum, pictures they sure speak volumes mate.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

Very interesting Neil, I have some stains in the cupboard might have to give them a go.

 

[Nige52]

Was it a stain you used or a dye? I bought some ebony 'Dye' by mistake when I meant to buy stain. At the time I thought the two were the same but found out that Dye penetrates the wood quite deeply and several soakings will change the whole colour, whereas Stain stays on the surface, like gloss paint would, meaning it could be sanded off.......or so the makers say....

 

[paulm]

Thanks Neil, that is very interesting and informative. Do you think a less oily wood would take stain better than something like Olive... say Ash for instance? although in your experiment Olive has taken it better than I would expect.

 

[Neil Lawton]

I've used the stain neat on Ash and Wych Elm, to good effect, so I'm sure the diluted stain would pick up the grain.

 

[Bill Mooney]

Interesting results Neil.

 

[Neil Lawton]

Was it a stain you used or a dye? I bought some ebony 'Dye' by mistake when I meant to buy stain. At the time I thought the two were the same but found out that Dye penetrates the wood quite deeply and several soakings will change the whole colour, whereas Stain stays on the surface, like gloss paint would, meaning it could be sanded off.......or so the makers say....

They are stains Nige.
Chestnut Products - First for Finishes

I've had the trial pack for years and have only just had to buy some more black for a bigger project.

 

[Winemaker]

Sorry i think it was better before staining