I did a search first but came up "aces and spaces". Does anyone get good results dyeing cork rings? What's the trick? I tried this ONE TIME and had miserable results. I used what I was "sure" would work - analine dye and the best I got was about 1/16" penetration of the cork -- and some really funky blue stains in the laundry tub that are permanent. When I shaped the glued up cork rings and turned them down to shape -- natural cork with blotches.

From what I have read both here and elsewhere, tradtional dyes do not seem to work with cork. I have read of a few ideas that "seem" to add some color but nothing that will put colors in the cork the way I believe you are looking to. If you are not talking about colors such as blue, green, red and such, then stains, and tea treatments do seem to add good color. I have wondered if the process used in tanning leather would work for cork, but have never researched it. Other than that, I have no idea of what else to even try that someone hasn't already.
Ray

Take your clear. Mix in a old rod bond large container. Thin. Add tint - any color from Tap Plastics - mix well. Add cork dust, make it to a thin syrup. I poor into a mold to the size I need. Or even mix in your mold. Let dry. Drill hole in it put it on the lath shape cut glue onto handle. Shape Wha-la Colored cork rings

Check out willierods on the photo page for pics

Aha! Gotcha similar to "chopped" or "burl" commercial rings. Thanks, Bill.

Been thinking about this --- while playing with marbelizing a rod blank... if you were to use high build finish you should also be able to marbelize the cork... you'd be left with a polishing job afterward (likely red jeweler's rouge) but it could be an interesting look. More experiments! Good thing I'm off work until January.

Great Idea, Ken! Be sure to let us know and post pix!!

just curious what type of dye's you tried ken?

The only dye I tried on my FAILED attempt to dye solid cork rings was RIT. I even tried heating the mixture --- which resulted in tossing out the pan --- read very unhappy result.

Ken:I was going to try the same thing with some cork rings, use hot RIT dye. I was going to put the cork in a quart mason jar, pour in the hot dye mixture and vacume seal the jar and let it set for a couple of days. My thinking that the vacume would let the dye penetrate the pores of the cork? Just a thought.
Mike

Ken,
If you can get your hands on some "Veniard" dye it may work. These are very high concentrated powder dyes used by alot of fly tying material companies. As far as I know there are a couple distibutors in the US, but most are from Canada. If you do try find some and try it be very careful, because it does not come out. Here is 1 US sight that stocks it, [www.huntersangling.com]

Shape the cork first, then dye and maybe seal it to keep the color from coming of

Turn first, sand smooth, then use permanent markers!!!! After this is dry, give it a good wipe with a clean rag wetted with alcohol to spread the colour somewhat "uniformly". Finish with whatever you please after that once dry.

I did that with the 3 pce's wood split grips, and it looks cool. Used a couple of light coats of CA, then a coat of outdoor polyurethane.

Ken, I have to go with Bill, shape and ream to increase surface area first. I have been wanting to try building a miniture presure vat, so as to force the dye into the cork. silimar to the way they treat Copper,Chrome and Arsenic treated timber using a steel pipe, some screw on ends and a tyre valve welded into the end of the one cape, you would have to use a solvent free dye as you wouldn't want to any solvent under presure without the right equipment. Treating like this longer you leave it better the results as with CCA treated timber.

Myles

Cork is a vary dense material and dose not except dyes readily. I have used hot Rite dye and let my rings set in the solution for about a 1/2 hour and buff them to a high petnia. They looked great, but all you get is a surface coating. So what ever color you achieve must be clear coated with some thing or your finish well ware off. You understand I am talking general dyeing and not using a commercial application. In wood working there is a process called fuming. This process can color wood any color you want. It is not like a stain or paint. The stuff is vary caustic and hazardous to work with.
Good Wraps Bob