I needed some blue veneer so decided to make my own

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  • smorris
    Senior Member
    • Apr 2003
    • 695
    • Tampa, Florida, USA.

    #1

    I needed some blue veneer so decided to make my own

    This didn't turn out how I wanted it to with the text between the pictures, but maybe it'll make sense. The pictures are in order of the narrative though so that;s something i guess.


    I needed some blue veneer for a project. So I had some Transfast blue dye and white birdseye maple veneer and thought I'd take a shot at it. I thought I'd share my process and someone may point out if I did something that I'll regret later...

    Step one is to mix the dye, I decided to use water based. I put a 1/2 a teaspoon into the warm water an stirred until it was all dissolved. I used a glass baking dish but feel free to use that nice white baking dish your wife has, just let us know where to send the flowers for the service when she finds out.

    When you drop the veneer into the dye, it will curl up very nicely into a scroll. It's a little disconcerting at first but roll it in the dye and it flattens out in a minute or two.

    Once it flattens back out I stuck it into the oven that was preheated to 180 degrees. I put a cookie sheet under it to keep it protected from the direct heat from the element.
    I'd come out and give it a stir and separate the sheets every 15 minutes or so. After about an hour and a half both had sunk to the bottom and I only stirred and separated the sheets every 45 minutes.I left it in there over night but turned off the oven after about 4 hours.

    Next day I removed the veneer. I setup a solid base plate of some scrap, put down cardboard and white butcher paper. The flitch goes onto the paper and that is folded over it and another piece of cardboard placed over it.
    Add a piece of cheap birch plywood and then repeat with the cardboard, paper, flitch, paper, cardboard sandwich.

    Put another solid piece of scrap over it and weigh it down, in this case with some plate weights.

    I'll see in a few days how it all turns out. I'll start changing the paper tomorrow daily until it is dried out. then leave it stored in a pressed sandwich until I'm ready for it.
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    Last edited by smorris; 04-18-2010, 04:05 PM.
    --
    Any sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from malice
  • cabinetman
    Gone but not Forgotten RIP
    • Jun 2006
    • 15216
    • So. Florida
    • Delta

    #2
    You really got a blue veneer. Why did you need to soak the veneer? You can dye veneers in colors without soaking, using Rit dyes in either liquid colors, or powder forms. They will mix in either water or alcohol, and you can regulate the strength.

    They work in a topical application, like a stain would.
    .

    Comment

    • smorris
      Senior Member
      • Apr 2003
      • 695
      • Tampa, Florida, USA.

      #3
      Originally posted by cabinetman
      You really got a blue veneer. Why did you need to soak the veneer? You can dye veneers in colors without soaking, using Rit dyes in either liquid colors, or powder forms. They will mix in either water or alcohol, and you can regulate the strength.

      They work in a topical application, like a stain would.
      .
      I was after consistency and full penetration of the dye. Seemed like the way to do it at the time. Besides, I rather enjoyed the process, it was that or watch some show about extreme cake making with LOML.
      --
      Any sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from malice

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      • cgallery
        Veteran Member
        • Sep 2004
        • 4503
        • Milwaukee, WI
        • BT3K

        #4
        Originally posted by smorris
        Besides, I rather enjoyed the process, it was that or watch some show about extreme cake making with LOML.
        You got something against cake?

        Looks interesting so far, can't wait to see what you're using it for.

        Comment

        • pelligrini
          Veteran Member
          • Apr 2007
          • 4217
          • Fort Worth, TX
          • Craftsman 21829

          #5
          Interesting, looking forward into seeing what calls for blue veneer.

          You are lucky though. If my wife saw me in a kitchen with wood countertops and a panfull of blue dye I'd probably have to drink it.
          Erik

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