Adding tint to water based dye?

[MikeMcCoy]

I just started using dye recently and really enjoy using it. I'm making a shadow box for a navy chief friends retirement and she picked a Yellow Brown Mahogany from a color chart. On the chart it had a definite yellow tint and the finish used on the chart was clear shellac. Of course after testing this out on the same lumber as the project, it has virtually no yellow tint. I followed all the way through with the finish schedule on the scrap (dye, light sanding, 3 coats of wipe on clear shellac followed by spray varnigh). I realize yellow is a primary color so is ordering yellow dye and adding this to the original dye the only way to achieve the desired affect (a light yellow tone with the brown predominant)? I'm using African Mahogany instead of South American so I don't know if that's a factor or not.

[atgcpaul]

You might want to try 2 things. First, make a dilute solution of just the
yellow dye, apply a thin amount, then apply the mahogany dye after the
yellow has dried. Then finish as you would normally. If there isn't enough
yellow, on your next test, wipe on a little more before the brown goes on.

Or you can mix the yellow and brown together but achieving the desired
effect will require a lot more trial and error.

Good luck,
Paul

[MikeMcCoy]

Thanks Paul - I just got on and ordered some yellow dye. I have some golden oak gel stain out in the shop and while I'm waiting on UPS, I'll try that over some of the dye and shellac and see what turns up.

[just4funsies]

Trial runs on similar materials is the only way to know for sure.