Where do you guys like to get yours? I've already got a collection of the StewMac Colortone liquids (might not be aniline though....), and I've found some at LMI, Reranch and Homestead.

Any other sources out there?

It MUST be aniline because I WANT it to fade, none of that color-fast stuff for me. :spit: And it has to be alcohol soluble because I'll be mixing it into pre-cat lacquer and shooting it.

I'm basically collecting a bunch of reds for a series of side-by-side UV fade tests on maple.

what about the TransTint dyes sold at Woodcraft? they are water or alcohol dilutable, can be mixed in lacquer, and they're pre-dissolved for easy mixing

all the best,

R

what about the TransTint dyes sold at Woodcraft? they are water or alcohol dilutable, can be mixed in lacquer, and they're pre-dissolved for easy mixing

all the best,

R

+1

I am rather partial to the "Honey Amber" TransTint color... diluted properly, it makes for a nice "violin amber" tone... :)

W.D. Lockwood dyes are great, available in alcohol, water & oil formulas. Check www.ToolsForWorkingWood.com

what about the TransTint dyes sold at Woodcraft? they are water or alcohol dilutable, can be mixed in lacquer, and they're pre-dissolved for easy mixing

all the best,

R


The Trans-Tint stuff is Colortone with a different sticker on it. It's color-fast. If you want to buy that stuff, save your money and buy it at Joewoodworker.com for $12 instead of Stewmac's $16.

You'll have to do some tests yourself to find the ones that fade. It's not a quality that's sought after so the brand name dyes are all pretty light fast.

In my experience, nothing fades faster than the dye used in marking pens. Red turns to orange, yellow almost disappears as does blue. Green gets pale and dirty. Sometimes in a matter of days. Maybe you can find a source for that stuff.

Maybe also try shoe dye which is predissolved in alcohol. A shoe repair place should have it. You might have to thin it some.

Where do you guys like to get yours? I've already got a collection of the StewMac Colortone liquids (might not be aniline though....), and I've found some at LMI, Reranch and Homestead.

Any other sources out there?

It MUST be aniline because I WANT it to fade, none of that color-fast stuff for me. :spit: And it has to be alcohol soluble because I'll be mixing it into pre-cat lacquer and shooting it.

I'm basically collecting a bunch of reds for a series of side-by-side UV fade tests on maple.

the dyes stewmac sells is actually transtint.

W.D. Lockwood dyes are great, available in alcohol, water & oil formulas. Check www.ToolsForWorkingWood.com

I've used the W. D. Lockwood dyes, also, but (as you mentioned) you must choose either alcohol aoluable or water soluable... they don't have one that is both. Also, they are powdered (at least mine were), which was kind-of a pain to make up.

On the other hand, their color selection was pretty large, and the dyes look really good.

This guitar was done with Lockwood dyes

http://www.sdbguitars.com/Reflections.jpg

First it was dyed with black (the one they stock that is a "reddish-black), sanded back, dyed again with red dye, then coated with Flecto Varithane waterbourne gloss poly (that Varithane is tough as nails, btw...). That was my first "from scratch" guitar, and it would have been *so* beautiful if I hadn't drilled the bridge post holes wrong. :(

But the dye and finish came out magnificently! :D

Thanks JmJ and Shawn for the tip on the Lockwood dyes....they are indeed aniline and that's what I'm after. The classic stuff used back in the day.

I'm 95% certain TransTint is NOT aniline, it is more fade-resistant.

I did not know that TransTint and Colortone were the same thing, good to know.

hey erik, can you expand a little bit on what you mean by 'you want it to fade' and why?

Thanks!

hey erik, can you expand a little bit on what you mean by 'you want it to fade' and why?

It has to do with <ahem>....guitars.

:ninja::hiding::ninja:

Well, whatever the reason for it, if you need a fading red, ask David Schwab. IIRC he did a multi-tone sunburst, which looked fine until years later he either started using it outdoors, or started leaving it out on a stand or something, and all the red faded out pretty quickly. If I remember correctly.

Actually there are a few Lockwood dyes that are both water & alcohol soluble.



I've used the W. D. Lockwood dyes, also, but (as you mentioned) you must choose either alcohol aoluable or water soluable... they don't have one that is both. Also, they are powdered (at least mine were), which was kind-of a pain to make up.

On the other hand, their color selection was pretty large, and the dyes look really good.

This guitar was done with Lockwood dyes

http://www.sdbguitars.com/Reflections.jpg

First it was dyed with black (the one they stock that is a "reddish-black), sanded back, dyed again with red dye, then coated with Flecto Varithane waterbourne gloss poly (that Varithane is tough as nails, btw...). That was my first "from scratch" guitar, and it would have been *so* beautiful if I hadn't drilled the bridge post holes wrong. :(

But the dye and finish came out magnificently! :D

I'm 95% certain TransTint is NOT aniline, it is more fade-resistant.

According to the Stew-Mac site, those are actually metal-complex dyes...

Mirriam-Webster defines aniline dye as follows: a dye made by the use of aniline or one chemically related to such a dye; broadly : a synthetic organic dye

So, I believe that your assumption is correct ;)