Colored Stain, need some help

[bprid]

I am working on a project and I need to use colored stain, not wood colors but colors like purple, yellow, red ect, and I want the wood grain to still show. Now I found mixing solutions from woodcraft and rockler where you get small bottles of color and you mix them with alcohol solvent but each bottle runs like $20 bucks. I also went to home depot and they have exactly what I need in every color that I would need but they only come in quart sizes and I dont need anything close to that much. When I was at Home Depot I told a sales associate what I needed at that I did not need quart sizes and she had an interesting suggestion. They have a clear glaze called faux glaze that is used mixed with paint to give see through paint finish but it will totally cover the grain when mixed to suggested proportions. She suggested to use the faux glaze and mix alot less paint than it calles for, just enough to give the glaze color but not enough to cover the wood grain. This way I could buy the glaze and just go get small bottles of paint in the color I need and would not end up with much more than I needed and would be much less expensive. She said also that an acrilic polyurethane might work in the same way as well. I thought this sounded like a good idea but wanted to see if anyone else thinks it could work or has tried this or something similar before I spent the money to only test it out. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated or if anyone knows another technique or stain I could use that I could get in small amounts and is relatively cheap. Thanks

[lucky788scroller]

I had good results using Artisan Dyes - Woodturners Catalog - Woodworking tools and supplies specializing in woodturning. one little bottle goes a long ways, it is worth the cost in my opinion.

[wood-n-things]

Try Rit Dye...or food coloring...Don't scoff ..they work...

[gfleenor]

Ihave had good results with food coloring. Just mix with water, paint on and top coat with waterbased poly.

Gary

[Kepy]

You can also thin acrylic craft paint with water. It will not give you the brilliant color but will stain the wood and let the grain show.

[KtownScroller]

I would give the acrylic paint a try. You can buy small bottles of paint (Folk Art brand) at Michaels or Wal-Mart for $0.99 to $2.50. Squeeze a small amount of paint out on a plate and dilute it with water until the paint is very thin. Take a piece of wood and test your paint wash. Depending on how thin you made the paint you might want to add a little paint or a little water. I usually make the paint real thin and paint it on the wood and then let dry. Another method would be to apply the paint full strength and wipe it off like you would with a stain. I would give these two methods a try. It will only cost you a few bucks and you might be happy with the results.

[Sandy Oaks]

In another magazine, Sheila Landry reccomends using SamaN Stains. I have not used them.

[Forester21]

I have a whole craft room full of acrylic paints and their additives. I haven't used the faux glaze from the hardware store, but I've used the craft store faux glaze which is probably the same thing in a smaller bottle. It works great for what you are talking about. Just experiment on a piece of scrap wood first to see how much paint to glaze you will want.
The faux glaze gives the acrylic paint a little more "working" room before it dries, and will also give a little bit shinier look to the acrylic. I've used a water "wash" with acrylics, and I like the way the glaze looks better.
T

[431pd]

I've been using Fiebing's Leather Dye from Tandy Leather and finishing up with Minwax wipe-on poly. Since it is not water based, it does not raise the grain. The dye can also be thinned for less intense color, or even mixed for custom color.

[minowevie]

I also love leather dyes, they will fade under sunlight. but , mine hasn't yet. also you can use inks. none alcohole inks. sweat stuff. your friend Evie