Dyeing Wood

[Patty]

Hey, thanks Steve. No I had not solved my problem, I was kinda waiting for some advice, and of course waiting for UPS to deliver some more dye.     So you are saying the ugly blotchy look is ok, huh? Just need to put on a second or thrid coat? Well good!    You see, testing the dye on a scrap piece would've been sensible....far be it from me to be sensible in any way!    I should get more dye in today, and will try a second coat. Sure beats starting all over....

You wouldn't happen to have a black bookcase all built and ready to go incase I screw up some more. Heck, I can have the boy pick it up on his way back to Maryland! 

[Larry]

I didn’t post any advice because I know very little about dyes and what I do know is probably dangerous.  Guess my advice can’t be any worse than what you gotten already.

The reason the dye blotched is because the wood absorbed it unevenly.  Deeply in some areas and very little in other areas.  Some woods naturally blotch while others don’t.  To prevent blotching a seal coat of something like 2 lb cut shellac or maybe lacquer is applied first.

No idea on how to even the blotching out at this point...maybe sand the dark areas a little and apply some more dye?

And my disclaimer...this advice is worth what ya paid for it. 

[Patty]

I don't understand, Larry. Wouldn't shellac seal up the wood and prevent the dye from soaking in at all?

[beenthere]

Patty
Possibly 'not soaking in' everywhere is better than soaking in some places and not others, for a more even look without the blotch'ys.

Nice looking lathe....too

[Larry]

Your right Patty...any finish that completely fills the pores and makes a film on top will block the dye.

In this case the shellac is a very thin one or two pound cut.  After drying you hit it fast with fine sandpaper or steel wool.  This leaves a little shellac in the deep pores and prevents the dye from penetrating so deeply. This gives a much more even color to the wood.  Best way to learn would be to practice on a piece of scrap.

Trust your eye and do what looks pleasing to you.  I believe results are to inconsistent to give a pat answer.  Even how the wood is sanded will make a difference.