Don Stephan
Posts: 825
Joined: 2003-07-18
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
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Finally decided to try dying holly veneer after seeing a blog video. He showed a small vacuum chamber made using schedule 40 pvc. Claimed the veneer was completed dyed after 5 min in 25 psi vacuum.
My experience was the middle was still white after 4 hours in 25 psi vacuum. Almost gave up, but decided to leave another piece under vacuum for about 30 hours. It seems to be uniformly dyed throughout. Tried another piece under vacuum for 24 hours, and it also seems to be dyed throughout. At least both pieces are dyed throughout 1/4" in from an edge.
To be able to dye larger pieces, I used 6" schedule 40 pvc. Solvent glued a cap on the bottom. Drilled another cap and tapped for a brass nipple, used 1/4" white foam gasket material from a hobby shop between the top cap and the pipe. Happened to find at the grocery store a large plastic tub of cottage cheese that just fit inside the pipe. Ate as much of the c.c. as a could over a few days, cleaned the tub and works well. Plus the plastic lid makes a tight seal to avoid the dye solution evaporating. I am using Transfast water soluble in distilled water. Did put four blue masking tape "handles" around the tub to be able to lift it out of the chamber.
Just FYI.
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