Replies

1. 
   mbholden | Jan 30, 2009 10:55pm | #1

   wspahr -

   It depends on what you mix the dyes with. If you mix with water, and wish to apply a finish that is water-based,then a barrier coat of shellac would be needed.

   If you mix with a oil based solvent, and apply a solvent based finish then, again, a barrier coat of shellac

   Question is: Why havent you tried this on a sample board?

   One thing you should be aware of, the dye will look terrible until a finish coat is applied, and you will NOT be able to judge how much dye to apply to create the final look you desire.

   Dyes are easy to use, but they really require a sample board.

   Mike

1. 
   wspahr | Jan 30, 2009 11:50pm | #2

   MikeThanks for your response. This dye is water based, so I would assume that the shellac would be the proper barrier coat? Then I would top coat it with the water based material.

1. 
   HWG | Jan 31, 2009 12:19am | #3

   Go to http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/ and ask Jeff Jewitt this question.  He owns the company that makes and sells Transtint and usually is the one that answers the questions himself.  I've always found him to be very quick to answer and accurate.  He has written several books on the subject.Woody

1. 
   bones | Jan 31, 2009 04:42pm | #7

   I buy my dyes from him and bought a hvlp gun.  He was very helpful and spent time asking my my application prior to reccomending.  I highly reccomend his book on finishing that taunton published.  I hated (still do) the finishing aspect but his book breaks down all the types and issues and things to avoid.  I still dust it off and refresh the memory prior to putting that finishing touch on.  I'm sure you can get it directly from here or many places.

    

   http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?ProductID=145528&FamilyID=5053Government'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.

2. 
   wspahr | Feb 02, 2009 01:54am | #10

   Thanks for the suggestion. I sent an email to Jeff and in less than 2 hours i had an answer back. His take is that the shellac barrier coat is a good thing and you should spray rather than brush. Same for the top coat Brushing either the barrier coat or the top coat has a tendency to lift the dye. That is why I had posed the question. Sprayed it this afternoon and it worked great. Thanks for everyones help.

1. 
   HWG | Feb 02, 2009 05:09pm | #11

   Great!  Glad it worked out for you, and Jeff is usually quick to help.  Great guy, great company!Woody

2. 
   mbholden | Jan 31, 2009 05:31pm | #8

   Wspahr,

   That is correct. The shellac keeps the water from the finish coat from lifting the dye particles up.

   Mike

2. 
   SteveSchoene | Jan 31, 2009 05:16am | #5

   It doesn't matter what you mixed the dye with originally, it will remain soluble in the same things that it was originally before you chose one to use.  If you spray top coats, especially with fast drying finishes, and relatively dry first coats, then the prospects of dye bleeding noticeably into the finish is fairly small.   You run more risks of lifting the dye if you use a brushed on finish, be it shellac, or lacquer or waterborne acyrlic. 

1. 
   mbholden | Jan 31, 2009 05:32pm | #9

   Steve,

   Yup, that is exactly what I said - but in different words.

   Mike

2. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 31, 2009 12:45am | #4

   I have been using the transtint dyes alot lately, and I always spray a water based topcoat, Crystalac.  My solution has been to mix the transtint in alcohol instead of water.  It has been an excellent option that has worked very well for me.  I have no bleeding of the dye into the finish.

   Jeff

3. 
   forestgirl | Jan 31, 2009 06:32am | #6

   There are two pages at Homestead Finishing that are important to peruse when using TransTint:

   FAQs: http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/faqs.htm

   More details:  http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/pdf/TransTintTDS%206-2006.pdf

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)