Fade

[Mike Gibson]

I read that Box Elder red streaks fade with time, l was wondering if someone can give me the time frame.....months, years? and also is the time related to exposure to sunlight or any other factors.

Thanks Mike

 

[Steve Worcester]

It is definately affected by light, time frame is sooner with more direct light exposure, less with less light exposure.

 

[john lucas]

In direct sunlight it will fade almost overnight. Well not at night but in the day. With a finish on and in the house out of direct sun it will last for years.
Binh Pho uses a metallic dye to airbrush over the red with the same color and pattern so that it will last a lifetime. I'm still trying to learn to do that.

 

[Mark Mandell]

Mike,

The reds are the most fragile and will fade to brown in short order when exposed to direct sunlight or other UV source. Ergo, put your turnings in a dark bank vault and the red might be there for a long time.

Red's not the only stain we loose over time. The fungus/mineral staining in Ambrosia Maple will also be lost in time. I have some Ambrosia bowls that are 6 years old and I can see a definate change in the sides that were left to face the sunlight.

mm

 

[underdog]

Yeah? So put some sunscreen on them....

That's what a local turner here does for his polychromatic Christmas ornaments.

 

[dkulze]

Sunscreen = UV resistant spar varnish. Won't stop it but will slow it nicely and give you a color life of years if kept out of sunlight.

 

[waltben]

It's not just direct sunlight, strong indirect can do it too. As a general rule, one shouldn't put wood pieces in direct sunlight anyway, since the uneven heating effect can cause unwanted changes in form besides changing colors.