xrdh
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2009
Posts: 4
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Post by xrdh on Feb 13, 2011 14:14:18 GMT -5
I have a bucket of Washington state petrified wood, which I have read takes dye really well. I have some nice banded agate and drusey quartz that might look nice dyed, too. I have never dyed anything before, but I want to try it. The book, the Art of Dyeing Gems and Gem Material, by John Neavin, says to use aniline dye powder. A search shows that I could probably buy some dye at a leather store or a specialty wood store.
I would love to hear some first hand advice from someone who has dyed petrified wood and/or agate. What is the best dye to use? Where do you purchase it? What do you use in your saw in place of oil? If I use my mineral oil lubed saw to cut the material, and then soak the agate in Simple Green, and then tumble the stones, will that remove the oil from the pores well enough to take the dye?
Should I dye the material before or after I tumble it?
Any more advice before I start?
Thanks!
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Feb 13, 2011 21:02:14 GMT -5
I honestly don't think you should dye it at all. A browse around the internet and your local rock shop should prove to you that by dying your stones you will be competing with the folks who can import from people willing to work for $1 a day. I don't see a future in that. It's a double whammy. The whole "sense of wonder" that comes from being amazed by a stone is caused by a REAL stone that grew that crystal, that color, that structure in nature. Dyed stones are cheap, and they look it. My philosophy is that you should strive to work with the best material you can afford -- real material that awakens a person's sense of WOW. There's nothing amazing or astonishing about a dye. People have been dying stuff for thousands of years, it's pretty much a so what. My post may not seem helpful now, but if it saves you from wasting a lot of time trying to compete with a lot of other cheap dyed agate out there...it might be more helpful than it appears. Good luck whatever you decide.
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 13, 2011 21:29:17 GMT -5
I believe Daniel ( deb193redux ) has done this or something similar. Maybe he'll chime in here, otherwise send him a PM. Good luck with dying your stone. I bet it will be an ineresting project.
Nate
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 14, 2011 13:54:58 GMT -5
I too shrivel up my nose at garishly dyed agate. The pink and teal blue or purple wind chimes or tumbled stones in many tourist gift shops really turns me off. Having said that, I am much more tolerant of dying agate dark brown or black. Since I 1st saw tuxedo agate made and sold by thegemshop.com, I wanted to make some. ( thegemshop.com/osc/gal_cab_tux_05.php) I also like their dyed black druzy ( thegemshop.com/osc/gal_cab_blk_drz.php). My interest led me to the published work of George Fisher who gave a good writeup of this ancient Roman method, and also some interesting experiments he did to grow dendrites in stones. He describes colored dying too, but I didn't pay much attention to those section. His book is out of print, but the text is online: www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/index-gemstone-dyeingSome of my threads: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=sawingb&action=display&thread=38119You can see more of the material I treated here: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=sawingb&thread=38185&page=1there are some other threads, but this one is comprehensive. -------------- But, the key to dying is the porosity of the agate. IMHO most petwood I have seen is too dense. Like the white bands in the material I treated, it will not take they dye very well. Not sure where you read that pet wood takes dye well. Possibly some variety from somewhere, but I don't know. I do know it can take carbon impregnation because so much found in Oregon is dark in the center because it is carbonized. (Dealers try to bleach the stuff to make it more saleable.) I don't know the book you mention. I will try to scope it out. I did have some issues with penetration, and some of my stuff had to be recooked after I rough ground the dome. Good luck! |
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xrdh
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2009
Posts: 4
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Post by xrdh on Feb 15, 2011 14:50:37 GMT -5
Thank you, all, for the input and advice! I agree that most dyed stones are sophomoric and embarrassing, but our rock club has a fundraiser where we offer specimens on a "spin wheel" at 25 cents per spin. The kids absolutely love it and we use the wheel to promote rockhounding and club membership. We offer raw and tumbled specimens that are found in our area - pieces of calcite, Montana agate (tumbled), serpentine, magnesite, crystals, local blue/grey agate (tumbled), Washington state petrified wood (tumbled), etc. Many of our specimens are white, brown or grey, so we like to add some eye candy to attract the kids. The younger kids want "pretty" or "sparkly" specimens. The WA pet wood is very blah, even after it has been polished. Mostly white with grey or brown streaks. The kids are rarely excited to win a piece. If it will take a stain, like this little (32 pages) book says it will, then we have a readily available source of pretty rocks for the kids.
I have taken 3 photos of the book, The Art of Dyeing Gems and Gem Material, by John Neavin (copyright 1968) but cannot figure out how to insert them into this post. I guess I should have read the instructions before I started my reply. The pages that I have photographed include the cover and pages that explain how to dye the stones and which stones take dye the best. I'll email the photos to anyone who requests it.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Mar 6, 2011 16:50:14 GMT -5
Wow! I was out of town and could not follow this thread anymore until now. I have to say that I am very impressed by the stones/links posted by deb193redux. So impressed that I have changed my mind. It is obvious that he has actually improved the beauty of his stones with these techniques...I love the espresso banded stones.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Mar 6, 2011 16:50:33 GMT -5
Wow! I was out of town and could not follow this thread anymore until now. I have to say that I am very impressed by the stones/links posted by deb193redux. So impressed that I have changed my mind. It is obvious that he has actually improved the beauty of his stones with these techniques...I love the espresso banded stones.
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