doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Help with Behlens Blood red

Hi All,

As recommended on this site I picked up a bottle of the blood red dye and used linseed oil as the carrier. This mixture did not homoginize at all. Is there another ingredient or a different carrier
All help appreciated,
Jeff G.

Try using a wood scrap with the dye first and after it dries use your linseed oil. If I am not mistaken the Behlens is water based and the oil is well, Oil based.
Hope this helps.

Regards, Gordon

Gordon is correct, they don't mix and must be used independent. I suggest 24 hours after the Behlens before applying your oil. I don't know if you are just set on Linseed or not, but you might consider Pro Cuistom Oil. I believe it to be easier to use and provides a harder finish.

Jim

Jeff,
If the Behlens needs dilution, try alcohol - it mixes with aqueous solutions and will evaporate quicker than water.

Jeff, where did you get the Behlens blood red? Is it a liquid?
I have used a few Minwax red stains and those with red in it but they fade out quickly.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the info. It is so red I don't feel comfortable putting on undeluted. I will try the alcohol.

Builder as originally posted by Yeti Behlens Solar-Lux Blood Red

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=7234

Builder if you need it come down the Parkway a couple of exits and try it.

Jeff G.

I got some Bhelens at a Woodcraft store and they said it would only mix with a propriatary Bhelen thinner. Have no idea if it is true or not-Bhelens may just be trying to peddle more product. DOesn't matter to me anymore, as the Blood Red is pretty gaudy when applied to gunstocks and I won't use it.

I mix my own red oil now, but if I were looking to buy some I would try the Bhelens Mahogany stain. I have seen some stokcs fiunished with it and that particular stain gives the proper color. It is much different than the gaudy Blood Red.

Thanks for the site and thanks for the offer. Still go to Clinton to shoot?

This looks like an alcohol based stain. Thinning with alcohol and using the retarder sounds like a good idea.

Builder,

We still shoot at Clinton every once in a while you are welcome to join us, we will go in 2 or 3 weeks.

What will the retarder do?

Jeff

I think the Behlens thinner is mostly Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) which they sell at the Home Despot. It really evaporates fast.

The retarder gives you more time to spread it out without drying and leaving streaks. That is about all I know. I have never tried it.

Isn't MEK supposed to be really bad for you?

Let me know when you go if you don't mind. I would enjoy meeting you (and shooting with you). Clinton is pretty empty this time of the year which is good.

MEK bad for you? Pretty bad if you huff it, lethal if you drink it, but less toxic than gasoline.
Are we comparing the health effects to smoking a large cigar or drinking bottle of seltzer?

Builder,

If you did not order it yet don't I have enough to stain 150 stocks already mixed you can have whatever you need. It did work well with alcohol as a carrier/dilution (thanks Yeti). I think I would like the color a little browner but it did work well.

Jeff G.

I use the solarlux american walnut, red, but not "too" red.
Steve

Thanks Jeff. I will hold off ordering and I will take you up on your offer. I have some powdered stain you mix with alcohol that furniture finishers use. I got it from Constantines Woodworking on their recommendation for gun stocks. I don't recall the exact name but it has brown and red in it and may be just what you are looking for. I have not tried it yet. I need plain red when I don't want to darken the stock.

Hopefully we will meet up in Clinton and shoot and make the exchange.

Sounds good lets try weekend of July 30th if you are around

Jeff

Do you mean the July 28th and 29th weekend?

yes

There are various woodworking catalogs where you can order annaline dye that is sold as a powder and you mix it with water or alcohol. Much better penetration that Min Wax. Another good stain is Watco, a danish oil stain, good penetration and you use 400-600 wet-dry sandpaper to slurry it in and fill the pores. When you are done sanding and do a final wipe down you won't believe how smooth the finish is. Then add your favorite top coat or leave as it.
With the annoline dye using water to mix, naturally it will raise the grain and it doesn't fill the pores.
With the Watco some home stores only carry a few colors, so you milght have to search for a brown mahogany or a red. The medium walnut and black walnut are great for early American sxs's.

yes