Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin Dye?
By:Bill Hamm
Date: 4/4/2008, 10:19 am
In Response To: Skin-on-Frame: Skin Dye? (Brent)

: What's the best way to die polyester (Dacron) skin? I read that acid dye is
: commonly used for nylon fabric, but it specifically says that it does not
: work on polyester.

: Has anyone tried using oil-based gel wood stain on the fabric? I'm trying to
: achieve that animal-skin brown, and cherry wood stain seems to fit the
: color bill. I've tried some of the gel stain on a scrap of cloth, and the
: color looks nice and even. I'm just worried about adhesion of the finish.
: I figure if use oil based spar varnish with the oil based gel stain
: everything should work out...

What's normally done is to not stain the fabric itself, rather to tint the finish (varnish) so that gradually darkens the color as you waterproof the fabric. Normally done (from what I've gathered) with artists oil based paints disolved into the varnish (poly). Big chemistry experiment :)

Bill H.

Messages In This Thread

Skin-on-Frame: Skin Dye?
Brent -- 4/4/2008, 8:31 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin Dye?
Mike Bielski -- 4/4/2008, 10:45 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin Dye?
Aaron H -- 4/4/2008, 11:19 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin Dye?
Brent -- 4/4/2008, 11:16 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin Dye? *LINK*
Mike Bielski -- 4/4/2008, 12:44 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin Dye?
Mike Savage -- 4/4/2008, 10:24 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin Dye?
Brent -- 4/4/2008, 10:34 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin Dye?
Bill Hamm -- 4/4/2008, 10:19 am