How do I "tint" shellac?

[Tom Baugues]

While working on my current street organ I'm trying to think ahead. All of the pipes, bellows and air reservoir in the organ are built from Baltic birch plywood. I need to use shellac on the inside of everything to seal the wood and make it all airtight. I used some clear shellac I had on hand for that already. However, I also want to coat the outside of the pipes. I've bought shellac in both "clear" and "amber" colors. The clear doesn't "enhance" the color of Baltic birch plywood and the amber color is too "orange" for me. I'm wanting a nice deep yellow color. Has anyone here tinted shellac and if so, what product do you use to tint it with? I'm sure I would have to add a little at a time and test it until I find the shade I'm looking for. Any advice?

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

I've not done it but I'm betting TransTint liquid dye would work like a charm.

 

[Don Baer]

I would use transtint dye. It should easily mix with the shellac.

 

[Tom Baugues]

I've not done it but I'm betting TransTint liquid dye would work like a charm.

I had to look that up to see what that was....I had no idea there was such a product. That looks like that would work though. Thank you.

 

[Dan Noren]

You can always mix your own shellac.

 

[Jim DeLaney]

I've not done it but I'm betting TransTint liquid dye would work like a charm.

I have done it, and it works beautifully. Just remember: "A little dab (drop) will do ya."

 

[Ed Thomas]

Lee Valley has a yellow aniline dye powder

 

[glenn bradley]

I've not done it but I'm betting TransTint liquid dye would work like a charm.

I have done it with TransTint and that does work like a charm. Start with a very mild tint. It can darken up quite quickly. I do something like put an ounce of shellac in a cup and add one drop, then another if I want more color. Once I know the drops per ounce I just multiply to get enough finish for the job.

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

I had to look that up to see what that was....I had no idea there was such a product. That looks like that would work though. Thank you.

TransTint is my go-to wood dye. I've used it on a number of turned pieces. It mixes easily with alcohol or distilled water, and it's also great for tinting clear finishes. I used several colors on this piece, and all of them were mixed with a waterbased lacquer. It was a pretty non-descript piece of ash wood. I knew from prior experience that dyes would bleed through a light-colored porous wood like ash, so I tinted the finish instead of dying the wood directly. As others have mentioned, just a few drops will do ya.

 

[Tom Baugues]

Could "stain" be added to shellac as a colorant? If not, then I'll have to go out and find someone that sells TransTint.

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

Could "stain" be added to shellac as a colorant? If not, then I'll have to go out and find someone that sells TransTint.

I'd think it would need to be an alcohol-based stain, and I'm not sure if such a product exists. Rockler and Woodcraft sell TransTint, and it's also available on Amazon (at the lowest price I've seen if you have Amazon Prime). It's not cheap, but a little goes a long way.

 

[Ed Thomas]

As I mentioned above

Intense Aniline Mixing Colors - Lee Valley Tools

Discover the Intense Aniline Mixing Colors. Buy this product now on our Lee Valley online store.

www.leevalley.com

They can be mixed with alcohol but better with water. I had a commercial photographer client who required 2'x4' sheets of BB stained for backdrops. All sorts of intense colors.

 

[glenn bradley]

I'd think it would need to be an alcohol-based stain, and I'm not sure if such a product exists. Rockler and Woodcraft sell TransTint, and it's also available on Amazon (at the lowest price I've seen if you have Amazon Prime). It's not cheap, but a little goes a long way.

Agree. As to the cost; I have never emptied a small bottle of Transtint and I have been using it for 20 years. Its kind of like paste wax or marine grease; if you're a one man shop a little bit will last you along, long time. For example, I use shellac (Seal Coat) what I feel is "quite a bit" but a gallon will last me a couple of years.

 

[Mike Stafford]

Shellac is a solution of finely ground lac bug secretions in alcohol. Any alcohol based aniline dye will dissolve in it. I believe aniline dye powder can also be dissolved directly.

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

As I mentioned above

Intense Aniline Mixing Colors - Lee Valley Tools

Discover the Intense Aniline Mixing Colors. Buy this product now on our Lee Valley online store.

www.leevalley.com

They can be mixed with alcohol but better with water. I had a commercial photographer client who required 2'x4' sheets of BB stained for backdrops. All sorts of intense colors.

I've used the powders when using water as a carrier, but I didn't really like the way it mixed with alcohol. For shellac, I think the liquid dye that does mix well with alcohol would be an easier route.

 

[Dave Hawksford]

Most fine powder tints don't have chemicals and can be used universally. I have alot of aniline dye and trans

 

[Paul Douglass]

Decent price here. shipping may kill it.

Transtint Dyes and Stains: $19.80 Each

I've developed a great appreciation for Transtint dyes because they are so versatile. They can be mixed with a variety of solvents including water and alcohol.

www.veneersupplies.com

What is the shelf life of these dyes? At their price and the little required to do a job. It would need to have a forever shelf life.

 

[Ted Calver]

I'm still using the Transtints I purchased 15 years ago with no apparent problems.

 

[Jim DeLaney]

I'm still using the Transtints I purchased 15 years ago with no apparent problems.

Same here. It's a good thing it has such a long shelf life since it takes so little of it for most jobs. I've yet to empty a bottle of it.

 

[Dave Hawksford]

I'm still using the Transtints I purchased 15 years ago with no apparent problems.

I have some from the 90s