Question about blackening sharps

[pmc033 at earthlink.net]

The real question is, does it have PIGMENTS in it.  A pigment is opaque (light won't go through it), whereas a dye is translucent (you can see through it).  Paint has pigment in it so it will cover what's underneath.  
A dye will have no pigment in it.  A stain may contain dye and/or pigment to cover wood.  Some stains are already mixed, but some are powdered for mixing with water or alcohol.  For doing touchup, I use Mohawk products with their "Blendal Powders", which contain both dye and pigment.  Using different techniques, I can get the benefit of either the pigment (to cover) or dye (to tint).
If you want to cover the grain on the sharps, you can use paint.  Otherwise, you can darken the wood almost black using stain.  Of course stains aren't all alike, so you'll need to experiment with them.   Don't worry, it's rocket science.

Paul McCloud
San Diego
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Farrell 
To: Pianotech List
Sent: 09/02/2006 7:43:55 AM 
Subject: Re: Question about blackening sharps


Hmmmm, I don't think any confusion originates on this end (at least on this topic). To quote directly from the "TransTint Liquid Dye Concentrate Technical Data Sheet"

http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/pdf/TransTintTDS%206-2006.pdf

"The dye can be mixed with either water or alcohol as a bare stain on wood - or added directly to finishing materials like shellac and lacquer to make toners or stains." It goes on to state: "To use TransTints as a stain for bare wood, stir in the concentrate...."

Sooooo, it would seem to me that the product is both a die and a stain. I suspect it would be fair to call anything that permanently colors something else a stain - like Carbernet Sauvignon is a wine, but can also be a stain (DAMHIK).  :-)

Hope that clears the air!

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
Terry,
        You might be confusing someone here. The product is either die or stain to the best of my knowledge, not both. The Transtint you speak of is decidedly dye NOT stain. Shoe products are also dyer and NOT stain. I hope that might be some clarification for Jeff.

best,
Greg



At 07:40 AM 9/2/2006, you wrote:

Lots in the archives on this. Many ways to do it. If you must stain the beautiful natural ebony - use black die stain  -  #6023 Black http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/TransTint.htm

Or, go to your local shoe dude and get some black shoe stain.

Finish with a clear coat of your choice - I like a nice oil finish - just wipe in on.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 

Hi
First time posting here.

Does anyone know if there is a standard procedure for blackening sharps.

I have a set which had an ugly finish - shiny and wavy gravy.
I stripped them and the ebony is quite "blond" in color - sort of tiger striped.

I can't figure out how to get them to take stain. (wood being so extremely dense).
I have attempted to "paint" them with shellac mixed with iron oxide pigment (very nice black).
But I cant get a good surface  without sanding through at the corners.

This is all to say - I am clueless.
What do the factories do?
Any standard tricks for a standard look?

Thanks,

Jeff 


Greg Newell
Greg's Piano Forté
mailto:gnewell at ameritech.net
www.gregspianoforte.com 
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