Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Jan 05, 2009 08:52am | #1

   Pigment dyes?  Water soluble powdered dyes do not contain pigment.  Pigment consists of much coarser particles, which are used by suspending them in a vehicle that generally serves as a binder, like varnish and/or drying oil, thinned for workability.  I assume you are thinking about water soluble powdered dye. 

   I don't know for sure, though I have seen no problems using water soluble dye mixes well over a year old, but I couldn't say whether there had been any color change over that time.  If so, it was relatively subtle.  These were stored in glass.  I would be less optimistic about plastic containers which are more chemically active, whether in the chemistry of the dyes or not is not within my ken. 

   
   

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   Edited 1/5/2009 12:57 am ET by SteveSchoene

1. 
   wiskytango | Jan 05, 2009 07:07pm | #4

   Yeah the dye stains are what I was talking about, Thanks for the impute

2. 
   joinerswork | Jan 05, 2009 04:05pm | #2

   wisky,

   Like Steve said, I'm guessing you are talking about powdered dyes, that you mix up like Kool Aid.  I have some in the shop that are several years old.  I've not had any problems with colors changing, etc as of yet.   I  mostly store in glass jars, and the cabinet the stains are in usually is closed. Make sure the underside of the metal lids are coated, as the mixture will corrode uncoated metal lids over time.

   Ray

3. 
   bones | Jan 05, 2009 04:47pm | #3

   I don't mix the whole thing.  Go to wally world and get a small digital scale that reads in grams or oz.  Take the ratio given (I forget) so many oz to a quart of water and divide down to get a smaller amount.  I use transtint powdered dyes and do this all the time.  I use grams and do the conversion.  I put a small piece of wax paper on the scale and zero out.  I add a small amount of powder till I get to the grams I need to the volume of water and mix.  I will mix up a babyfood jar (I forget how many oz that is off the top of my head) at a time and that's generally more than enough to do small stuff.  I'll mix more (pint jar) if I want to spray. If you use weight to volume of water like I've mentioned it will be consistent.  I also keep a little notebook that I record the number of grams of dye (per color) to amount of water for future reference. Store the powder and mix as you need.  What I don't use, I pour out.  Like I said, I've done this numerous times with consistent results.  The most important part is I use a scrap piece to test before using on final product. 

   Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
   If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
   And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
   

   
   

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   Edited 1/5/2009 8:50 am by bones

4. 
   hammer1 | Jan 06, 2009 04:12pm | #5

   I have some mixed dyes in canning jars that are over 30 yrs. old. Back in those days I used Lockhard's dyes on many pieces. I stopped using dyes for a lot of reasons but my old jars are still good.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match