Mixing Dyes

[George Bokros]

Can you mix brands of dyes together provided they are both liquid or powder and can be mixed in the same solvent?

Can you mix liquid and powder dye together provided they can both be mixed in the same solvent?

Thanks

George

[Prashun Patel]

In general yes, but the answer is specific to the dyes you are using.

If you are talking about Transfast and Transtint, then you can blend them both into water.

However, blending dyes requires precision and repeatability to a degree that can just get a little dicey with the Transtint dropper.

If you are blending, I suggest you check out WD Lockwood powders. You can get a sampler set of 5 dyes. They have a million colors that will get you close to your target. You can make liquid concentrates of each, and then do your blending and diluting extremely accurately and cheaply in water.

[George Bokros]

The problem I have with powder dyes is you have to weigh them to get the right amount of dye powder for the amount of solvent (water) you want to mix. I do not have a scale that will weigh to the quarter ounce. Liquid I can measure with a syringe or measuring spoon.

George

[Prashun Patel]

Not true. You can either use small measuring spoons and measure by volume or (like me) you can arbitrarily make a concentrated solution in water and use that just like you use the transtint with yr droppers and whatnot.

[Rich Engelhardt]

George,
Harbor Freight has a cheap digital scale that's fine for something like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-gr...ale-60332.html

Just don't trust it for reloading ammunition - or anything similar where that level of precision is required.

[George Bokros]

Thanks for all the responses. I will visit my local HF and pick up a digital scale.

[Kent A Bathurst]

Not true. You can either use small measuring spoons and measure by volume.

Yep. I have a couple sets of cheap measuring spoons - couple dollars each. 1/8 tsp is a pretty doggone small amount, all things considered. I use them for both powder and liq dyes.

ROughly 100 drops to a tsp - or 12 to 1/8 tsp.

Fortunately, SWMBO has a nice digital scale in the kitchen - which I use for small batches of shellac.

"No Dear - it's fine. I put down wax paper first. Plus shellac is non-toxic. Yes, I'm certain."

[Scott Holmes]

Here's the best solution I've found...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Measuring-St...item4ad4980b1f

They are way less than an 1/8 of a teaspoon.
1/24 1/32 and 1/60 IFRC

[Alan Lightstone]

I use those too. And in particular, I love the names of the sizes like tad, dash, pinch, etc... They work well for this.

Here's the best solution I've found...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Measuring-St...item4ad4980b1f

They are way less than an 1/8 of a teaspoon.
1/24 1/32 and 1/60 IFRC