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Thread: Dyed maple end tables.

  1. #1

    Dyed maple end tables.

    Since I'm new around here I wanted to let you all get to know me through some of my work.
    Here's a pair of end tables I made recently.IMG_0281.jpgIMG_0278.jpg
    I call them my "On Pointe" end tables because of the feet. They remind me of a ballerina's foot on pointe. They're made from some nice highly figured maple I had picked up at an estate auction. I used an aniline dye to get the color.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Sinking Spring, PA
    Posts
    881
    Welcome, nice work!! My favorite wood too!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    6,390
    Nice tables.

    Can you share the details on the dye? Particularly, the color? Any sealer used?

    I'm staring down a small maple table, and I don't have any past experience with dye on maple.........tricks & tips appreciated.

    thanks
    When I started woodworking, I didn't know squat. I have progressed in 30 years - now I do know squat.

  4. #4
    I mixed the color using red and walnut Transtint (I think that's the brand name) dye. Start with distilled water and a little bit of the main color. In my case, red. keep adding and testing on scrap until you reach a good density of color and then add a few drops of the tinting color. Walnut, in my case. Once I'm happy with the color I apply the mix on my piece with a soft wiping rag. I don't use any fillers or anything on maple. It's a nice tight grain.
    I sand very lightly with 320 after the surface dries to knock off any fuzzy fibers raised by the water in the dye mix. Then, on these tables I oiled liberally with tung oil and after that polymerized I topped them off with 5 coats of spar urethane and then polished the surface with very fine rubbing compound.
    That's how I did it anyhow.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    6,390
    Mark - thanks. Very familiar with the Transtint and his powdered cousin, Transfast.

    You answered my question......density of base color - red - first, then tint - walnut - for final color/tone.
    When I started woodworking, I didn't know squat. I have progressed in 30 years - now I do know squat.

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