Transtint dye/stain on swamp ash

[rockskate4x]

Has anyone ever used the transtint dye/stains that you can buy from woodcraft.com? I would like to use it on my swamp ash body but I am not sure what the best/easiest method would be since I am a very amateur woodworker. While we're at it, I'd also like to know the best/easiest way to clean/prep the wood in this situation, because I test built the guitar already and handled the raw wood alot with my hands.

Thanks everybody...

 

[jackthehack]

I experimented with them a bit on some test boards, but didn't care for how the colors tended to come out. The Mixol dyes also available from Woodcraft.com are more vibrant in color when applied diluted with lacquer thinner. The dyes are all real cheap and woodcraft.com has test boards of various species available as well; try some experiments before actually getting on that body.

 

[rockskate4x]

would woodcrafts ash test pieces be close enough to my swamp ash for the finish to be accurately tested?

 

[jackthehack]

Are you close enough to one of their stores to go pick out the sample board? Even if not, with swamp ash it should be relatively close; closer than mahogany or other woods that have more variation in coloration....

 

[rockskate4x]

I hadn't considered going to one of their stores, but I will see how close I am. If it's not worth the drive then I'll order a piece. Thank you. 

 

[shanejw]

I'm going to be testing out some transtint dyes on some flamed maple shortly.  I'll post pics of the results.

 

[m4rk0]

I have a bottle too, that I will use to experiment on some flame maple soon..
let me know how it works out for you Shane!

 

[Patrick]

before Tonar does his dye finishes he wipes the body down with (i forgot the name for it he uses) lighter fluid to get rid of any dirt and oil on the body. just make sure you dont have any candles lit or it could be bad buisness

 

[Mor Paul]

naptha?

 

[Patrick]

yeah thats it im pretty sure

 

[Flynman]

I wipe it down with Naptha....Then mineral spirits...then distilled water with a drop or 2 of ammonia...then VERY lightly sand back any grain that might have been raised with the water. I also use a different clean rag for each solution and I wear rubber gloves so oils from my hands don't get on the wood.

 

[rockskate4x]

thank you everybody, the swamp ash piece in question has had dye applied and is now part of a fully functional guitar.

 

[arjepsen]

I wipe it down with Naptha....Then mineral spirits...then distilled water with a drop or 2 of ammonia...then VERY lightly sand back any grain that might have been raised with the water. I also use a different clean rag for each solution and I wear rubber gloves so oils from my hands don't get on the wood.

Uhm...
Why naphta then mineral spirits?
Aren't those two quite similar?

 

[bagman67]

Naptha then spirits seems like a belt-and-suspenders approach - there may be oils that dissolve in one but not the other, so it's probably overkill but nevertheless eliminates possible problems.

And you didn't ask me, so I'll quit speculating now and see with the real answer is...

peace
bagman

 

[RU36]

I experimented with them a bit on some test boards, but didn't care for how the colors tended to come out. The Mixol dyes also available from Woodcraft.com are more vibrant in color when applied diluted with lacquer thinner. The dyes are all real cheap and woodcraft.com has test boards of various species available as well; try some experiments before actually getting on that body.

Perfect
This isnt even my post but I was looking for a place to get test boards and dye for my next build.