Alcohol and oil-soluble dye stain

Overview

Alcohol dyes dissolve in denatured alcohol (basic dyes); solvent dyes dissolve in oil-type solvents. Wood Magazine says alcohol dye builds colour gradually, does not raise the grain and suits spraying and tinting Shellac. Oil dyes dry slowly and are used to tint oil finishes. Neither type has a binder, so a topcoat in the same solvent will lift the colour.

Pros

• Does not raise grain, so no wetting and sanding step (Wood Magazine).
• Builds colour gradually, which helps control.
• Mixes into shellac and lacquer for toners (Toners and shading lacquer).
• Dyes in the same solvent can be mixed.

Cons

• Fine Woodworking's lightfastness test put alcohol and oil powders at roughly 2 to 3 on its 1-8 scale; metallized dyes ran 4 to 7. Some stains look unrealistically bright at first and fade.
• Same-solvent topcoats lift the dye, so spray a seal.
• Fast evaporation makes lap marks easy.
• Flammable solvent.

Suitability

Good on dense or blotch-prone woods such as Hard maple and Black cherry, where it colours without raising grain. Liberon's Spirit Wood Dye is aimed at dense hardwoods and antique restoration.

Coats and application

1. No water-raising needed. Naphtha previews the colour (Wood Magazine).
2. Liberon: one liberal coat, wipe off the excess; a second coat may lift the first.
3. Spraying: seal with a light coat of a different-solvent finish.
4. Fine Woodworking: an oil-based sealer over alcohol dye avoids lifting.
5. Let it dry, then topcoat.

Oil-soluble solvent dyes

Wood Magazine says oil dyes dry slowly and are used to tint oil finishes. Fine Woodworking recommends an oil-based sealer over alcohol dye precisely to avoid lifting, so match this logic: do not topcoat a dye with a finish carried in the dye's own solvent without sealing first.

Compatibility

Liberon says its spirit dye is not compatible with French polish or shellac sealers and should not be mixed with water dyes. Use an oil-based seal over alcohol dye (Fine Woodworking). Does not mix with water dyes.

Care and repair

Touch up by re-dyeing bare wood in small amounts and resealing.

Safety and environment

Wood Magazine advises eye protection, a respirator and nitrile gloves. Denatured alcohol and naphtha are flammable; keep away from ignition sources. Store dye airtight and dark.

Related

• Water-soluble dye stain
• Toners and shading lacquer
• Pigment vs dye stain explained
• Shellac