Hollow Form Color Experiment

[Steve Schlumpf]

Everyone knows that you have to step out of your comfort zone every once in a while and try new things in order to grow. I like what I am doing as far as forms but really want to play around with colored dyes and see if they work for me or are just a passing gimmick. I have seen a few folks out there that have done amazing things with dyes and thought I would give it a try. Please forgive the snapshots…

Started off with a really nice curly maple HF - that would have been just fine if left alone - but it had fairly bland color to it and was a great candidate for using dyes.
Experiment v1.JPG Experiment v2.JPG

Using Black RIT powdered clothing dye, I combined approximately 1 teaspoon with about ¼ cup of denatured alcohol (DNA) in one of those plastic margarine containers and mixed it up using a 1” foam brush. Applied the dye to the form – inside and out – until it was saturated. Using an old towel, I wiped all the excess off and set it out in the garage to dry for a few hours.
Experiment v3.JPG

Once the form was dry, using 220 grit sandpaper - sanded everything down. Didn’t try to remove all the dye – just even things out and prep the wood for the next dye.

Using Teal RIT powdered clothing dye, I again combined approximately 1 teaspoon with about ¼ cup of denatured alcohol (DNA) and mixed it up using a new 1” foam brush. Applied the dye to the form – just on the outside – until it was saturated. Using an old towel, I wiped all the excess off and took it back out to the garage to dry for a few hours.
Experiment v4.JPG

Once the form was dry (about 3 hours later) - used 280 grit sandpaper and sanded everything down. Once again, not trying to remove all the dye – just even things out and prep the wood for the next dye.

Using Yellow RIT powdered clothing dye, I followed the same application process and stuck the form back out in the garage to dry overnight.
Experiment v5.JPG

Tomorrow I will sand the form down with 320 grit and then start applying Wipe-On Gloss Poly. This will deepen the colors and should really make the curl stand out.

As stated – this is an experiment and it either works or it doesn’t. I have my fingers crossed that it will.

Will post photos – instead of snapshots – once the piece is finished.

As always – your opinions, critiques and comments are welcome!

Thanks for looking!

[Curt Fuller]

Of course you know by now that coloring wood is blasphemy in my mind, Steve. That said, I like watching what you're doing. Using the different colors, similar to washes in watercolor painting, gives the wood some interesting results. I'll be watching to see how this looks with the poly finish. If your interested, check out some of Chris Pytlik's work, http://www.chrispytlikwoodturning.com/ He's a local turner who's work I see at the art shows and he does some amazing things with color. But it's still blasphemy.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Well Steve that is different. I will be anxious to see what it looks like when the poly is applied. It will be interesting to see how it comes out.

[Alan Tolchinsky]

I see a lot of potential in what you're doing Steve. I'll bet if you can get a nice high gloss finish on those they will look very modern and bring a lot of life to the wood. I can't wait to see the end result.

[George Morris]

Steve I really like your coloring ideas. I have to give this a try. I also have to try piercing and airbrushing. So much to do so little time! Keep up the great work! G

[charlie knighton]

when you climb the learning curve,approaching the summit, its always nice to know there is another aspect where you can start at the bottom...

keep reaching.... enjoy....thanks for sharing

[alex carey]

that certainly makes the grain look wild, lot of potential there. looking forward to the outcome.

[Horst Hohoff]

Steve,

I always approve such efforts, specially after seeing it on a demo in England.
I really liked the result and tried it myself with the same dyes the guy on the
demo used. But so far I'm not happy with my results. But yours looks quite
promising. I'm looking forward to see the final result.

Horst

[Ron Bontz]

Anxiously awaiting results.

[Jeff Nicol]

Steve, I have been experimenting with dyes and color for a while and have not tried the RIT stuff yet. I have tons of color and like the idea fo blending and coming up with color combos and seeing how the wood reacts to different things. I kind of liked how the blue looked all alone so another thing to do! We are all waiting for the results!

Jeff

[Mike Minto]

steve, looking forward to seeing the final result. as an aside, regarding HF's, what is the dimension of this piece? how thin are the walls at the extreme outside? i know mine are always too thick, but without turning the opening into a bowl instead of a HF, i just can't get my tools (jamieson, hollowmaster, whatever) all the way over there. got something shopmade? thanks, mike

[Steve Schlumpf]

Mike - the HF is 7" in diameter x 3 1/2" high x 1/8" thick. The top of the form is actually less than 1/8", the shoulder area is closer to 3/16" but overall I'll claim 1/8".

The only hollowing tools I use are the Monster Systems (only reason I mention that is because someone is going to ask) and sometimes you have to be creative with tool combinations to reach into the far corners. In this photo - the goose neck combined with the swivel tool bit holder work well up until the time the goose neck starts rubbing on the opening lip. Then I change over to the straight bar with the 45* extension holding another straight bar with a swivel bit. This combination requires either a bigger opening or, in my case, I switch over to Randy's articulated system so I can get the tool into the opening. Also, lots of torque going on when you start adding weird angles to the mix but as long as you maintain a good burr and make sure the cutter is at the center line or slightly above - it works. To low and the bit either rubs without cutting or it grabs! When working with walls that are 3/16" thick - you can't tolerate to many catches - so you take really light cuts.
Hollowing Tools.JPG

Hope that helps answer your question.

[steven carter]

Steve,

It ended up an apporpriate color, as is resembles the color of my envy. I'm hoping to get into hfs at some point, but for now I just enjoy looking at your progress, and I can't but help thinking that it will help me when I do get to doing them. Thanks for all you do.

Steve

[Scott Hackler]

Well for me it doesnt work. I am more of a natural finish type of guy but I have seen you and others with a few colorized forms and they were nice, but this color doesnt do anything for me.

[Rob Cunningham]

Steve,
Nice shape on the HF. I'm not sure yet how I feel about the colors, I wait to see the finished product.
Since there is no binder in the dye, just dye and DNA, do you find any smearing, lifting or migrating of the color when you put on the first coat of Poly?