Just attempted some colouring on some boxelder wood tonight. Used food colouring dye in rubbing alcohol. Wasn't very strong so applied a few places more than once. Now working at building up coats of spray clear coat. Anyone else ever use food dyes? Will this be short lasting and fade?
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Colouring
- Thread starter Sheldon Gerber
- Start date
It will most likely fade. Colored pencils and metalized dyes like TransTint work best for me
I like the way it looks, hope it doesn't fade on you.
I never tried food dye based on research that said they are not very light fast. Post a follow up I’m interested to see how it does - ‘course it will be a few years of no fade for it to be successful.
I’ve always use metallized dyes, mainly transtint, and have not had any fade, but don’t have anything where it gets much direct sun each day.
I’ve always use metallized dyes, mainly transtint, and have not had any fade, but don’t have anything where it gets much direct sun each day.
I have also noticed that dyes don’t always fade from light. I have seen dyes fade on test pieces kept covered to shield them from ambient light. Wood isn’t an inert material and can react with the chemical components of the dyes.
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
food eyes fade rapidly when subjected to direct sunlight. The do hold up for a few years kept out of the sun.. much better to use metallic dyes like Trans tint with a known record of light fastness.