Dyed Box Elder Burl

[Toby Bouder]

Hi everyone. I have been lurking here for a year or so and I think it's time that I post something. I have been turning for about 2 years now but recently fell off a ladder and broke some ribs. I have been unable to do much of anything for about 4 weeks. This is my first finished piece since my fall. It is Box Elder burl that I thought I would spice up with some dye. I started with a strong mix of red transtint and water to cover the few flame areas with a fine brush. Then I added more water to the mix and used a soldering acid brush to stipple over all the burl eyes and a few of the streaky areas on the rim. Then I added some more water and a few drops of blue transtint to the mix and washed over the whole piece with the now light purple mixture. I noticed that certain areas picked up more of the blue color from the purple so I dumped out about 2/3 of the mix and added more blue to create a darker purple. I used this to enhance the areas that were picking up the blue. Several coats of wipe on poly and Beall buffed. 11" x 2 3/4". Comments and criticisms please.

 

[Gary Chapman]

Toby,
This is one beautiful piece. What made you decide to dye it? I don't think I would have the guts to try that. It really worked, took the dye slightly and enhanced the color of the burl. Great job. Gary

 

[Toby Bouder]

Toby,
This is one beautiful piece. What made you decide to dye it? I don't think I would have the guts to try that. It really worked, took the dye slightly and enhanced the color of the burl. Great job. Gary

Thanks Gary. I have a good supply of this wood and have already dyed a few pieces with just one color. I thought I would try 2 colors and see how it would turn out.

 

[Shawn Pachlhofer]

that is some kinda ugly!

and would look GREAT on my display shelf

😀

 

[Odie]

I'd like to see some of your box elder burl wood with a natural finish. I'll bet the dyeing was fun to do, but I doubt it adds much over the natural beauty of the burl itself.

Regardless......It's a beautiful piece.😀

ooc

 

[Toby Bouder]

I'd like to see some of your box elder burl wood with a natural finish. I'll bet the dyeing was fun to do, but I doubt it adds much over the natural beauty of the burl itself.

Regardless......It's a beautiful piece.😀

ooc

Hi Odie. I've read quite a few of your posts during my time lurking. Here are a few from the same tree, without dye.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Hi Odie. I've read quite a few of your posts during my time lurking. Here are a few from the same tree, without dye.

There is beautiful feathering in #3. Also, #3 and #4 have some wonderful chatoyance. I like that you kept the moss on the bark in #4.

BTW, is the background fabric blue or is it gray (or something in between)? I would like to sync the colors that I see with the true color and knowing the background color would help me.

I have been turning some box elder recently and I have been wondering about using dye to help "preserve" the original color of the red streaks.

 

[Charlie Knighton]

all are nice, i expect #3 even if it loses the red will still be outstanding

 

[Toby Bouder]

There is beautiful feathering in #3. Also, #3 and #4 have some wonderful chatoyance. I like that you kept the moss on the bark in #4.

BTW, is the background fabric blue or is it gray (or something in between)? I would like to sync the colors that I see with the true color and knowing the background color would help me.

I have been turning some box elder recently and I have been wondering about using dye to help "preserve" the original color of the red streaks.

Thanks Bill, the background color is close to gray, definitely not blue. Except on no.3 that is close to black, it was taken outside and may have some blue from the sky.
On nos. 2,4,5 I did use red transtint dye on the flame. No. 3 was finished before I started playing with dye.

 

[Odie]

Hi Odie. I've read quite a few of your posts during my time lurking. Here are a few from the same tree, without dye.

Man, Toby.....that is just some outstanding wood, and outstanding turning!

If you haven't already, why not set up a member gallery here? I would be very much interested in seeing where you go from here!

ooc

 

[Bill Boehme]

... If you haven't already, why not set up a member gallery here?

I believe that the member gallery is still out of order, but at least a solution to upgrade it is in the works.

 

[Eric Gourieux]

Toby,

The dyes really add to this piece. The others that you posted without the dye are also very nice. I like them with and without. Can't go wrong with burls.