Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Aug 08, 2007 05:51am | #1

   I'm pretty sure you can find bright red wood dye.  It's often marketed as color for toys and the like.  For example the Trans Fast line of dye has both a Cardinal Red and a Scarlet Red as accent colors.   See http://www.homesteadfinishing.com .  The W.D. Lockwood dyes (sold under the J.E. Moser label at http://www.woodworker.com ) has a Brilliant Crimson and a Brilliant Scarlet.  The company's site is http://www.wdlockwood.com/.  They are shown under the "Concentrated" sub head under water soluable dyes.  (The company needs a better web designer since the searching for W.D Lockwood dye only pulls up the corporate web site as the very last item.)  Highland Hardware http://www.highlandwoodworking.com also as a pretty bright red in among the Asti dyes that they carry. 

   
   

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   Edited 8/7/2007 10:57 pm ET by SteveSchoene

1. 
   RichardZ | Aug 08, 2007 01:28pm | #2

   Hello Steve,

   Thank you for the comprehensive reply! I went to WD Lockwood as you suggested, they also have a Poppy colorant under "fiber reactive". Not sure what that means but Thanks to your help I am the right path.

   Richard

   Edited 8/8/2007 9:26 am ET by RichardZ

2. 
   peter28 | Aug 09, 2007 03:46am | #3

   Richard,

   Just an alternate thought to what Steve told you;

   If you use a dye first to set your ground color you can then seal it and do a couple of layers of a red glaze. This will add a great deal of depth to your base color and probably help you get to the red you are looking for.

   I know you said you don't want to paint but If you are looking for an opaque red, one where you don't see the grain of the poplar, you'll need to use a paint as the ground color.

   You can increase the depth of the painted ground by adding a few coats of varnish lightly tinted with your red.

   A basic recipe would be to seal the wood first with some shellac followed by a red japan paint such as vermilion or liberty red. These are oil based and dry very quickly. You could also use acrylics if you wanted a water based system.

   Put on at least two coats, let it dry well and then sand it flat with 400 or 600 grit paper as needed. Then rub it down with 0000 steel wool ( Liberon is the best) or a white scotch pad.

   If you were to spray a lacquer on this you would need to seal it with blonde shellac first. (Zinseer Seal Coat )

   Another option is to use a gloss varnish that is lightly tinted with your red. The operative word here is lightly tinted. Be sure it's well incorporated and apply a couple of coats at least.

   Again, let it dry well, rub it down and polish it and you'll have a decent imitation of a lacquered box.

   Obviously it's more work than just a dye, but on a small piece you'd be surprised at how quickly it goes and the results will speak for themselves.

   Have fun.

   Peter

    

1. 
   RichardZ | Aug 09, 2007 12:03pm | #4

   Wow, the depth of resources this forum provides it's members is nothing short of amazing. Of course, it is based on the generous support of experienced people like you. Thanks again.

   Hopefully, I will reciprocate in my own way, one of the days. Once, I know more, that is.

   Pete, I did a brief google and could not find japan oil paints. Where might I look or are they called something else?

   The lacquer box look is what I am striving for,

   Thanks to both of you again,

   Richard

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Aug 09, 2007 12:59pm | #5

   Try searching on Japan colors.  The most widely available are by Ronan whose web page is http://www.ronanpaints.com  You will find them sold at lots of places on the web, and even at some good local paint and craft stores.  Peter's suggestion will look quite rich and more like the traditional lacquer box than simply using the dye  I would think. 

   Edited 8/9/2007 6:04 am ET by SteveSchoene

2. 
   peter28 | Aug 10, 2007 03:30am | #6

   Richard,

   Japans can be found at the Ronan website Steve gave you as well as Wood Workers Supply and I'm sure Jeff sells them at Homestead Finishing Products.

   You could use any oil paint for this but the beauty of the Japans is in how quick they dry.

   Also they are sold in 12 pint cans that are ideal for these types of projects.

   Have fun.

   Peter

    

1. 
   RichardZ | Aug 10, 2007 12:21pm | #7

   Hi,

   I called Ronan's HQ and they told me any good art supply store carries Japans. Ronan's suggested DickBlick.com as one online source for Ronans paints. DickBlick, has retail stores in the Chicagoland area.

   BTW, the guy I spoke to at Ronans gave me a brief overview of the process and told me to use nitrocellulose (sp?) lacquers. I scurried to FWW online did a search and it seems anything called lacquer, more than likely uses nitrocellulose.

   As SteveSchoene's  suggested, I went to WD Lockwood and they offer a Sampler packet. However, they insist you provide your credit card info on an unsecured email account. I wrote the Sales Dept and told them that including this info online via email is hazardous to their customers. They have not responded to my email.

   A few weeks ago, I complained to Woodjoy Tools, whose spokeshaves were highlighted in FWW magazine article about their website not having a secure https sales order page. In a couple of days they provided their customers with a secure ordering site. That is an involved company who cares about the clients.

   Sorry, I didn't mean to go off subject. But, ID theft is big thing with me. One last ping: I wrote FWW about writing an article featuring secure online ordering but they said it would not be of interest to their readers. I do not agree. I rely on the www for a good part of my supplies and tools.

   Richard

   Edited 8/10/2007 5:22 am by RichardZ

   Edited 8/10/2007 5:24 am by RichardZ

   Edited 8/10/2007 5:39 am by RichardZ