Craftsman/Mission style wall clock #5: First time using dye

Very nice piece. That shellac really made a big difference.

-- Mike, American in Norway

Very nice! What stain did you use? That looks a bit like the dark ammonia fumed aniline dye I have. Also, what cut did you use and what color of shellac? I may be making a couple of clocks for wedding gifts.

-- You can't control the wind, but you can trim your sails

A great looking job. Very nice.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Nice work! Haven’t worked much with dyes, but my experience is similar – can’t really tell what it’s going to look like until you get a finish on it.

-- 4thumbs in MO

looks good tim

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

Thanks guys. CaptainSkully, I used TransTint dye – medium brown mixed with denatured alcohol, dries fast.

and Zinser seal coat, which is a two pound cut. It’s clear and can also can be tinted with the dye.

Never used Shellac before either and really like using it, low odor easy cleanup with denatured alcohol.

-- Tim: Remember, if it doesn't say Binford, someone else made it.

I use a ton of TransTint and am always getting isopropyl at Costco. I’ve been told that aniline dye in alcohol is not as color fast as in distilled water for some reason. I like it because it doesn’t raise the grain. If the piece isn’t going to be sitting in the sun or near a window, I’m not sure if it matters. My bedroom set is in a cave and it looks as good as the day I made it (over a year ago).

Did you have trouble with the shellac drying too fast on you so that you couldn’t keep a wet line going? I’m getting ready to use shellac for the first time on my Limbert table. I’ve been warned it’s kind of difficult to use.

-- You can't control the wind, but you can trim your sails

I have not experienced shellac drying so fast so that you couldn’t keep a wet line going. What I have read is do not try to go back over the same spot as you would with varnish or poly. The seal coat is thin so it takes multiple coats but dries fast so you can apply several coats in a short amount of time.

My plans are to apply several coats, sand smooth then apply a top coat of a wiping varnish.

Interesting note on the Isopropyl, is there any difference than using denatured alcohol? Cheaper?

-- Tim: Remember, if it doesn't say Binford, someone else made it.

That’s a good question and one I don’t know the answer to: denatured vs. isopropyl. Anyone?

BTW, I used the amber shellac and it came out pretty well.

-- You can't control the wind, but you can trim your sails