Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on October 2, 2019 at 6:40am

Just to verify, that was only one application in the above pic?

Permalink Reply by T-Gripped on October 2, 2019 at 7:12am

I am gonna try this using coffee grounds. No sense 'wasting' good coffee...     worst that could happen is it doesn't work as well/I make a mess [nothing new there]/and I still get a cup 'o joe. Thanks for sharing Brian!

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on October 2, 2019 at 8:03am

Make sure they’re dry, I tried moist grounds & it just made a mess, the moisture impeded the penetration of the oil & didn’t extract hardly any color? However, I have used dried spent grounds & butcher’s block oil with success, just not as dark as unused grounds. I’m only really using a few teaspoons at a time,since it’s dark,  so not a gross waste of coffee? Hope to see your results :)

Permalink Reply by Wilda Connell on August 5, 2020 at 2:47pm

Me too!  or old, cold coffee - I am also a crafter in paper & cloth & those communities make a big deal of coffee or tea as a dyeing agent for those materials so it makes sense to me. Many pigments are plant or mineral-based. Or extra fine grind? We are mad scientists/experimenters now!

Permalink Reply by Mikala on October 2, 2019 at 3:54pm

So another thought... I’ve used (rubbing) alcohol with fabric dyes before on wood... high (90 odd%) alcohol... worked well in that it didn’t raise the grain... and on solid body wood (is, solid body electric, not thin soundboard... in one case, altered the color (more pinkish than intended red), but with coffee grounds, a couple applications? Then add protective finish...  Will experiment, report back.

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on October 3, 2019 at 5:48am

Yes, I have been down that road before Mikala, very disappointing when they come out looking like your child's wood blocks? I liked Minwax clear base & oil pigments better,more true to color? I applied coffee only once, but I may post an edit with 2-3 applications later? 

Permalink Reply by Mikala on October 3, 2019 at 7:09am

Hmmm, guess I’ll save that for a children’s instrument build. :^)