the MRH Forum

Weathering Wood (or Ties) using Dye and Alcohol Scenery and structures
Reply
New member 2 posts rollie715 New member 2 posts
rollie715

After searching across various sites about how to color or dye wood for a weathered look, I decided to do my own testing and post the results here complete with exact proportion details in case it would be helpful to others like me who were trying to do similar things.

For this test I used a full 32 oz bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol mixed with 1 teaspoon of Fiebing's Black Leather Dye, in a cut open 1-gallon milk jug.

img_7759.jpg 

My wooden blocks were pieces of beechwood about 2.4" long each. I dumped all the blocks into the mixture at the same time and then pulled out a couple at timed intervals as shown below.

img_7760.jpg 

For my own use, I wanted a color somewhere between the 10 minute and 1 hour soaking time.img_7780.jpg 

Being happy with the test results, I prepared 200 blocks in a mesh bag and immersed the entire bag in the solution after adding an additional 32 oz of alcohol and another teaspoon of black dye so I would have enough solution to cover the entire bag.

img_7785.jpg After soaking for 45 minutes, I removed the bag and emptied the contents into a shallow cardboard box lined with paper towels. The result had a dark brown look to it while the wood was still wet, but changed to a nice gray look after they dried. I am very pleased with my results and look forward to assembling the blocks into their final structures.

img_7788.jpg mg_7789b.jpg img_7791.jpg 
Reply 0
jeffshultz MRH Staff 7,982 posts
jeffshultz

Nice...

Did the 2hr blocks retain their dark appearance? That one looks like a freshly creosoted tie, ready for installation on the mainline. 

For handlayers it appears to be a good way to get a variety of appearances on their ties without having to go through afterwards and weather the individual ties. 

orange70.jpg
Jeff Shultz - MRH Technical Assistant
DCC Features Matrix/My blog index
Modeling a fictional GWI shortline combining three separate areas into one freelance-ish railroad.
Reply 0
David Husman dave1905 MRH Author 9,853 posts
David Husman dave1905

Dye

I have been using Fiebing's leather dye for my ties for the last decade or so, Really like how it gives a nice silvery grey appearance to the wood.  I also mix the dye with alcohol.  I have a quart sized plastic jar and can fit about 2000 HO ties in there.  I put a piece of blue foam cut to the diameter of the jar opening into the jar so it pushes the ties down into the dye.

Dave Husman

Visit my website :  https://wnbranch.com/

Blog index:  Dave Husman Blog Index
Reply 0
rollie715 New member 2 posts
rollie715

2 hour Soaked Creosoted Ties

Jeff,

After 2 days of drying, I didn't notice any lightening on any of the blocks including the 2 hour soaking.

As shown below:

img_7802.jpg 

I did notice on my 45 minute run of 200 blocks that after I started assembling them together in my project that the end grains were noticeably darker then the sides. It wasn't as bad on the darker runs, but the the lighter runs, it might be an issue. Here's a picture of part of my project. It's a 1:20 scale housemoving project I'm building.

img_7806.jpg 
Reply 0
jeffshultz MRH Staff 7,982 posts
jeffshultz

Nice.

I'm going to have to find some of that stuff. Amazon if I can't find it locally. 

orange70.jpg
Jeff Shultz - MRH Technical Assistant
DCC Features Matrix/My blog index
Modeling a fictional GWI shortline combining three separate areas into one freelance-ish railroad.
Reply 0
David Husman dave1905 MRH Author 9,853 posts
David Husman dave1905

Shoe repair stores

I have bought my dye at shoe repair stores.

Dave Husman

Visit my website :  https://wnbranch.com/

Blog index:  Dave Husman Blog Index
Reply 0
Reply