Transparent Grey/black dye on flamed maple VIP

[metalman22105]

hey guys, I'm ready to start finishing my new VIP body, (flamed maple on black korina) but I'm a bit stumped about dye colors, I was thinking I'd dye it black then sand back lightly to enhance the flame, then I wanted to dye the top a transparent Gray, but I can't find transparent waterbased dye anywhere, nor can I find white to mix with the black that I have! Any suggestions? I've tried Stewart Mcdonald, Guitar re-ranch etc. but no luck...

 

[metalman22105]

*correction: Transparent waterbased GRAY dye

 

[dmraco]

I would think you just use black but at a lower concentration....

 

[Tonar8352]

This is the way I would accomplish the finish you are describing.  I am not sure it will give you the exact result but try it on a test board and see if it works. 
1. Dye the wood black to enhance the grain and sand it back to your liking.
2. Shoot sealer coats and level sand before the gray wash coat.
3. Make your gray wash coat by mixing black-pigmented lacquer with white-pigmented lacquer and then let it down with clear lacquer so that it is transparent. Thin it with one part thinner and on part retarder.  Now shade the guitar the way you would with Mary Kaye White except yours will be see through gray.

Good luck.

 

[tfarny]

The way I would do it is like this:

1. Do whatever Tonar says.
2. Double-check to make sure you're doing (1).
3. Repeat.

Have you checked LMI? they have better prices and different products than stew mac.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I am not sure that he wants the Mary Kay on a cloudy day look.  If that is what you are after, then go to it, Tonar knows his finishing.  If you are looking for more of a zebra look with dye, then Dmraco has it.  You want to dilute the black dye so that it tints the lighter part of the flame but doesn't make it blacker than the blackest black.  Good luck
Patrick

 

[metalman22105]

Awesome! Thanks guys

 

[Mor Paul]

Do you have a picture of what you want?

 

[metalman22105]

I want a grey/blackburst similar to this PRS 24, but with a blackburst around the edges

http://www.guitar-wholesale.com/guitar-sale-online/images/prs_cu24gb.jpg

 

[metalman22105]

although if I can't figure out the grey, I might just dye black and do an amberburst like this tremonti

http://www.harmony-central.com/ProductImages/Large/000008791.jpg

 

[tfarny]

I have some finishing pictures here, if it's helpful. I'm not saying this is the best or only way, though. http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=3373.0

 

[metalman22105]

Sweet! Thanks man, that helps a lot

 

[Tonar8352]

From what I can see from the picture of the PRS I would say that guitar has just been dyed black and then sanded back. But I would try a test board like this.
1. Use full strength black dye and then sand it back.
2. On the second coat really thin the black so it washes out the strength of the black.
3. If that does not work you can add a small amount of titanium white to the black and restain it after you enhance the grain with the black.

 

[metalman22105]

Thanks Tonar!