Aniline dyes color the wood as well as a stain, and they also preserve the appearance of the wood grain. Stains have pigments, solid particles that partially obscure the grain -- they are only semi-transparent. Successive coats will give the surface an increasingly muddy look. Dyes are liquid chemicals that penetrate the wood and color it from the inside out. You can still see and enjoy the grain figure. Here’s a quick primer on how to use aniline dyes. If you'd like to purchase the plans for th

Over the years I've been asked a lot about my dye process, specifically how I keep dye lines sharp, so here's a window in that process on the stacked heel of a current build! I use aniline dye powders from Keda Dye, and I dissolve them in hot water and add 70% isopropyl alcohol. By the end of it, I have about 60% alcohol, 40% water in my dyes. Step 1: I use 1/4" automotive masking tape to mask off the maple veneer on the heel. I'm going to be dyeing the body black first, so I need to make sure I