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How to Dye a Maple Burl

Maple burl wood has apparent twisted grain that is accentuated when dyed. Some maple trees produce hard wood and some create soft wood. Sugar and black maples are hard woods. Hard maple is a dramatic reddish-brown wood with white sap surrounding the heartwood. This maple is not a porous wood, so colored dyes appear lighter than on other woods. Water-based aniline dyes have a longer work time. This creates less chance of streaking.

Things You'll Need

Aniline dye powder
Quart glass jar
Coffee filter
220-grit sandpaper
Old cotton tee shirts

Instructions

- 1
  Put a half ounce of powdered dye into a quart glass jar.
- 2
  Add one-quart of hot water, stirring as you incorporate it. Regulate the intensity of the color by using less water.
- 3
  Allow the dye solution to sit and become a homogeneous solution.
- 4
  Use a coffee filter to strain the solution and remove any residue that may remain in the bottom of the mixing jar.
- 5
  Sand the burl with 220-grit sandpaper. Any finer grits may burnish the wood's surface.
- 6
  Wipe wood with a damp cloth to minimize any raising of the grain when the dye is applied.
- 7
  Dry the wood and sand with 220-grit sandpaper to remove any raised grain. Always sand with the grain to eliminate any cross-sanding marks appearing with the dye application.
- 8
  Use an old cotton tee shirt to apply dye.
- 9
  Wipe dye onto the burl surface, stroking with the grain direction.
- 10
  Adjust the color by wiping on more dye or add more powdered dye to the solution.
- 11
  Remove unwanted dye with a moist rag. You can not get the maple back to its original color, but you can lighten the color in this way.
- 12
  Dry overnight before applying any finish.

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