Coffee and Tea

[TEEJAY]

I started this in "I know it's only" and it was put to me that the colour I am after may well be a blend.

Now I have experimented on some scrap with two dyes "coffee" and "tea" - SWMBO has told me the colour we are after is very similar to the colour from the coffee dye - but it has a hint of gold typical of the tea dye.

Do I mix the two dyes in experimental proportions and see the result or do i apply two coats of coffee then one coat of tea?

Is it best to apply the dyes with spray unit - will this give more even colour? The timber is pine.

Dyes are water based - home made in accordance with polisher handbook. Mordant is caustic soda.

Just at experimental stage.

Have spent way too much time on the book case don't want to stuff it now. Nothing special to look at but have had to contend with assistance of 2.5yo son and SWMBO leaving me to babysit whilst trying to woodwork - think I have done almost everything twice - it looks like a porcupine with dominos in all the wrong places

[watson]

G'day TEEJAY,
have you tried both dyes hot?? Totally different results I've found.
And I don't know if anyone has more info,
but I sanded pine to 400, then applied diluted shellac(1/5) as a sanding sealer.
Then did a quick 1200 to get rid of the furry bits,
Back and did a 600..........at this stage I wiped the project with warm water.......waited till it dried and continued to 800.
Then I applied very hot Tea stain, and the pine went a very warm golden colour.
Using the same procedure and applying coffee stain, the pine goes very dark.
Does that all make sense??

[TEEJAY]

Hi Noel,

Small samples I have done hot and soaked - haven't tried spraying yet.

Think i will have to experiment some and see how a blend works or alternatively applying separately in different coats.

The tea is a rich gold, the coffee is a lot closer to the colour of existing unit we wish to copy but would like a hint of the gold in it.

[Big Shed]

TJ, if you want some gold in there, perhaps a mixture of coffee and tea is worth a try.

After all, you don't have to drink it

[echnidna]

Try a coat of orange shellac over the coffee stain

[TEEJAY]

Try a coat of orange shellac over the coffee stain

From what Justin said in other thread "If you haven't got a gun, maybe try using a weak mix of shellac as a sanding sealer first up, to even out the absorbtion of the stain after that ? Never tried it myself that way though........"

Is there merit in a shellac first to get even colour or just spray it with coffee then orange shellac after?

Have to get some orange shellac I think. I will test this some.

[TEEJAY]

TJ, if you want some gold in there, perhaps a mixture of coffee and tea is worth a try.

After all, you don't have to drink it

You are right this is at least worth a try - nothing to lose.

[la Huerta]

for those like me (living under a rock) what's the mix for the coffee stain, is it just a cup of nes caffe'

??

[watson]

G'day la Huerta,
Its just a note from the Polishers Handbook, and Teejay and others have been having fun with it.........cheap.... and tastefully colourful is the result.
I've been using ground coffee mixed with water and the nominal teaspoon of caustic soda, and simmered on the shed stove.
I suppose we will eventually get to the point where people will say...
"have you seen the results of my 50% Brazillian ......with both Mexican and italian overtones???"
Dunno?
It stains wood a pleasant colour.....and you can make a heap from a packet of ground coffee. And its fun.

[la Huerta]

what if i pour milk over the piece too, will i get that cuppacino color i'v been longing for


yeh i thought it was in 'the book' ,what page, i have it here , remember reading about the coffee brew it but can't seem to find the page...

[watson]

Its a really brief mention after the Tea stain mention......my copy is up in the shed........raining here again.......sorry 'bout that....tomorrow I'll send page info.
Wimp aren't I

[la Huerta]

tiss ok, found it! page 75



so how are you finding it compared to any other stain, like lifting the grain etc (being water based)


love to here the details

[watson]

Ok!
Its great....not being a guru...... I use the following system.
Sand to 320 grit...from wherever you had to start.
Wipe the stock with hot water......allow to dry.
With the grain.........1000grit......quick wipe.......gets rid of the water stand -up thingo.
Proceed with 400 grit up to the grit you need to go to.
Apply coffee stain.........there should be no water raised grain.
Sometimes, before the 320 grit.....I've been wiping on diluted shellac as a sanding sealer, taking the "hairs" off with 1000grit wet and dry, and then proceeding up the grits until I get to the "hot water" stage.
Now.....
I'm no expert......I'm an experimenter.......I'd do that amount of sanding anyway.....so, why not use a pleasing stain that costs bugger all.
Its not toxic (???) brushes wash out in water.
There's my slant on it