How to dye holly string inlay?

[Jake Goodson]

Apologies if this has been asked before, I didn't find anything with a forum search.

i would like to dye some holly stringing that I have, but have never dyed wood before. Is there a dye that I can use that will penetrate the holly completely, allow me to cut it to final width/thickness after dyeing? The Holly is currently ripped to ~1/16" thick strips. I would like to dye it black.

thanks in advance for any help!

[Max Neu]

It's a pretty involved process to dye wood all the way through, in my opinion, your better off just buying it.I just buy dyed black veneer if I am working with regular veneer, but if I am working with thicker material, I will just use wenge, it pretty much turns black when I seal it.

[Charles R Johnson]

I agree with Max. Holly is quite expensive and is used for it's pure white color.

[Tony Joyce]

I've not dyed Holly veneer black, but I have dyed "jequitiba"(S.American mahogany) veneer black with very good results. I would think you could use black water based aniline dye in hot water and soak for several days. Then dry and use black alcohol based aniline as a final soak. Since it's thin you should get acceptable results.

You might be able to use black "Rite" dye in a boil or simmer, but you will have to set the dye.

A simpler method to make black veneer might be to soak some Peruvian Walnut in a vinegar/steel wool solution.

Tony

[Frank Drew]

I agree with the suggestion to use already-dyed black stringing, and save the holly for when you want very white inlay. Real Ebony and fairly dark Rosewood stringing used to be available from English specialist suppliers, but this was some time ago and I don't know if that's still the case. Several years ago I "sold" some to a friend, along with some genuine boxwood inlay; since he hasn't paid me yet maybe I should get it back and sell it here!

I don't care for the stuff that Constantine sells.

Jequitiba (Cariniana Legalis) might be considered a substitute for genuine Mahogany from South America, but it isn't the same wood, regardless of the fanciful trade name Royal Mahogany.