<p>Methylene blue is a very effective water-soluble blue dye and you can buy it on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/25g-Methylene-blue-crystals-quality-Make-minerals-water/dp/B00B4ZRMNS" rel="noreferrer">amazon</a> quite cheaply (the pack at that link is probably enough to dye a table and chairs). That might do the trick. It's also used for treating fish in tanks, so is quite benign.  The question becomes one of whether the water raises the grain too much given that the dyed layer is likely to be quite thin. It's also soluble in alcohols (including isopropanol, so surgical spirit/rubbing alcohol) which wouldn't raise the grain. </p>

<p>I've done a quick test on a bit of scrap softwood using something like a 0.7 mmol/l aqueous solution (0.2 grams per litre of water).  It was brief enough to not raise the grain even where I left it on the longest:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/QH3Nj.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QH3Nj.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>I've adjusted the colours to look about right on my screen. The wood was quite old and yellowed.  It had just about dried when I took the picture.</p>

<p>The left for 1 minute test was meant to simulate dip-coating.  I didn't hold it very steadily, so the unevenness below the "p" in the annotation was casued by the solution running.</p>

<p>It could work nicely, but you would want to make sure the wood is very white to start with, and stays that way, to keep it really blue instead of turning greenish.  This is probably true for any blue dye. <a href="http://www.woodmagazine.com/materials-guide/finishes/get-the-color-out-with-wood-bleach" rel="noreferrer">This article on bleaching wood</a> implies that you can bleach the original wood with the right wood bleach, then neutralise and rinse and there shouldn't be any bleach left to react. <a href="http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?196995-Bleaching-Hard-Maple" rel="noreferrer">Here's some more discussion on bleaching and coating so it doesn't turn yellow</a>; in summary: use a water-based varnish over the top so the varnish also doesn't turn yellow, though pine will yellow slightly whatever you do.</p>

<p>Of course, test as much as you can on scrap (and the same type of wood) first, in particular if you decide to bleach then dye.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-24T20:16:00.230Z
Pretty toxic stuff.  from PubChem: Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]; Causes serious eye damage [Danger Serious eye damage/eye irritation]; Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects [Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard] [link](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Methylene-blue#section=GHS-Classification) It is strange that it is also medicine, but I imagine that is in smaller amounts.
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-24T20:28:27.430Z
@rebusB the warning for paracetamol (acetaminophen) would be scarier, as would the warnings for  most paint products and related solvents - look them up with "MSDS"
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-27T14:47:29.653Z
Acetominophen is the chemical compound and if you were staining wood with it instead of taking tiny doses those "scary" warnings would also be worth noting.
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-27T14:59:17.973Z
@rebusB I chose it because the maximum dose is up to 4g of the actual drug per day, for adults.  4g  of methylene blue would make a saturated solution in about 100ml of water, but a saturated solution is far too strong here.  My tests above were (recalling that  the concentration lying we were using at the the time was 1 mmol/litre) about 100 times less than that.  The question gives no idea of the size of the workpiece but you could stain an awful lot of wood with very little active ingredient.  Don't drink it or pour it in your eyes, like you wouldn't with paint.
Chris H
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-27T08:33:33.177Z
2017-07-27T08:33:33.177Z
Chris H
<p>I know there was discussion of indigo up in the comments, but that was based upon going through the entire process of growing the indigo, then fermenting it to use it as a dye.  Although there can be a lot pleasure in going through an entire process like that, there is no reason you would have to.  Indigo dye crystals (both natural and artificial) are inexpensive, readily available and easy to use (as opposed to many other natural dyes). </p>

<p>I have never used indigo on plywood, but it does a great job of dying basket reed, and is dark enough to make a blue color even though the reed is not white.  Here is a couple of pictures from an event I where I taught a basketry class.  You can see the color of the material, and a finished basket in the foreground.
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/6Ugtr.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6Ugtr.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>A couple of my students dipped their basket in the indigo dye pots (it was a weekend retreat--there were alot of crafty activities occurring).  Here is a picture of two baskets--the one in the foreground was only dipped once, the one that is darker blue was dipped multiple times. Ignore the yucky looking caked on stuff at the bottom--the basket maker was experimenting with the indigo foam. </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/SMLGX.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/SMLGX.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-28T05:49:38.947Z
Thanks for the good suggestion, those baskets look great!
HyperdriveMacGee
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-28T00:44:41.943Z
2017-07-28T00:44:41.943Z
magerber
<p>I know about the process of 'ebonizing' wood (using steel wool + vinegar to turn wood black), and I have seen excellent results using this process. </p>

<p>I was wondering if it is possible to use a similar method to stain wood blue instead. </p>

<p>My first thought was copper sulphate, then drying it off and maybe the crystals would form in the wood, making it look blue, but apparently it makes it green instead (understandable based on the green rust of copper).</p>

<p>So does anyone know of any chemicals that can be used to stain wood blue effectively? I would like to avoid using typical dyes or stains, as I find they can be very expensive and not always have good results, when ebonizing has worked wonders.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-25T20:37:47.703Z
I'm not sure if there's a solution either way but could you perhaps explain what sort of blue you're looking for?
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-25T20:49:46.047Z
Oooh, you might look into something calle "aizome" using indigo dye. Looks beautiful but I have no experience with it and can't find anything about how to do it.
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-25T22:08:35.777Z
https://www.curbed.com/2015/5/28/9956176/aziome-blue-dye-japan presents an article with amazing photos. It indicates that dyed wood is certainly possible. I'd post this as an answer, except I borrowed Catija's lead.
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-25T22:40:32.600Z
@fred_dot_u I found that article, too but it doesn't explain the process, so I don't know that it's enough for an answer. You're more than welcome to post an answer, though... if you can find some info about how it works.
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-25T23:21:58.593Z
https://readysetkimono.com/2014/11/22/aizome-%E8%97%8D%E6%9F%93-indigo-dyeing-part-one-2/ does a good job of explaining the process, although I read only part one, not parts two or three. The original question included "can be very expensive" and this process qualifies in that respect. One batch of raw material, the sukumo portion, can go bad and that's US$2700 down the tubes!  One year from planting the seeds to creating the dye means seriously careful planning.
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-26T09:09:45.737Z
Methylene blue is a very effective water-soluble blue dye and you can buy it on amazon quite cheaply.  That might do the trick.  The question becomes one of whether the water raises the grain too much given that the dyed layer is likely to be quite thin.  It's also soluble in alcohols (including isopropanol, so surgical spirit/rubbing alcohol) which wouldn't raise the grain.  What sort of wood do you have in mind?
Chris H
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-26T17:08:22.713Z
@Catija Thanks for the pointer to aizome, it looks fantastic but is far too expensive.
HyperdriveMacGee
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-26T17:09:47.207Z
@fred_dot_u I think you may have misread what I said, I said 'I would like to avoid typical dyes... as I find they can be very expensive', I was trying to avoid expensive processes. Thanks for the links.
HyperdriveMacGee
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-26T17:11:28.250Z
@ChrisH Thanks for the suggestion, it's a different sort of process than I was hoping for but it looks ok. Thanks.
HyperdriveMacGee
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-26T17:49:05.320Z
HyperdriveMacGee, I did indeed read the part about too expensive. Most of the discussion was mostly aimed to Catija. My reference in quotes was to acknowledge your desire to avoid prohibitively expensive methods such as aziome. I'm glad to see Chris H.'s comment, which would be useful in answer form.
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-27T08:33:53.093Z
@fred_dot_u and I did get the chance -- so I did answer.
Chris H
<wood><staining>
Staining wood blue with chemicals
HyperdriveMacGee
# Staining wood blue with chemicals

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-25)

I know about the process of 'ebonizing' wood (using steel wool + vinegar to turn wood black), and I have seen excellent results using this process.

I was wondering if it is possible to use a similar method to stain wood blue instead.

My first thought was copper sulphate, then drying it off and maybe the crystals would form in the wood, making it look blue, but apparently it makes it green instead (understandable based on the green rust of copper).

So does anyone know of any chemicals that can be used to stain wood blue effectively? I would like to avoid using typical dyes or stains, as I find they can be very expensive and not always have good results, when ebonizing has worked wonders.

**Tags:** wood, staining

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm not sure if there's a solution either way but could you perhaps explain what sort of blue you're looking for?  
> **username_1**: Oooh, you might look into something calle "aizome" using indigo dye. Looks beautiful but I have no experience with it and can't find anything about how to do it.  
> **username_2**: https://www.curbed.com/2015/5/28/9956176/aziome-blue-dye-japan presents an article with amazing photos. It indicates that dyed wood is certainly possible. I'd post this as an answer, except I borrowed username_1's lead.  
> **username_1**: @username_2 I found that article, too but it doesn't explain the process, so I don't know that it's enough for an answer. You're more than welcome to post an answer, though... if you can find some info about how it works.  
> **username_2**: https://readysetkimono.com/2014/11/22/aizome-%E8%97%8D%E6%9F%93-indigo-dyeing-part-one-2/ does a good job of explaining the process, although I read only part one, not parts two or three. The original question included "can be very expensive" and this process qualifies in that respect. One batch of raw material, the sukumo portion, can go bad and that's US$2700 down the tubes!  One year from planting the seeds to creating the dye means seriously careful planning.  
> **username_3**: Methylene blue is a very effective water-soluble blue dye and you can buy it on amazon quite cheaply.  That might do the trick.  The question becomes one of whether the water raises the grain too much given that the dyed layer is likely to be quite thin.  It's also soluble in alcohols (including isopropanol, so surgical spirit/rubbing alcohol) which wouldn't raise the grain.  What sort of wood do you have in mind?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Thanks for the pointer to aizome, it looks fantastic but is far too expensive.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 I think you may have misread what I said, I said 'I would like to avoid typical dyes... as I find they can be very expensive', I was trying to avoid expensive processes. Thanks for the links.  
> **username_0**: @ChrisH Thanks for the suggestion, it's a different sort of process than I was hoping for but it looks ok. Thanks.  
> **username_2**: username_0, I did indeed read the part about too expensive. Most of the discussion was mostly aimed to username_1. My reference in quotes was to acknowledge your desire to avoid prohibitively expensive methods such as aziome. I'm glad to see username_3.'s comment, which would be useful in answer form.  
> **username_3**: @username_2 and I did get the chance -- so I did answer.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-07-28. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

I know there was discussion of indigo up in the comments, but that was based upon going through the entire process of growing the indigo, then fermenting it to use it as a dye. Although there can be a lot pleasure in going through an entire process like that, there is no reason you would have to. Indigo dye crystals (both natural and artificial) are inexpensive, readily available and easy to use (as opposed to many other natural dyes).

I have never used indigo on plywood, but it does a great job of dying basket reed, and is dark enough to make a blue color even though the reed is not white. Here is a couple of pictures from an event I where I taught a basketry class. You can see the color of the material, and a finished basket in the foreground.
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/6Ugtr.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/6Ugtr.jpg)

A couple of my students dipped their basket in the indigo dye pots (it was a weekend retreat--there were alot of crafty activities occurring). Here is a picture of two baskets--the one in the foreground was only dipped once, the one that is darker blue was dipped multiple times. Ignore the yucky looking caked on stuff at the bottom--the basket maker was experimenting with the indigo foam.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/SMLGX.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/SMLGX.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the good suggestion, those baskets look great!  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-07-27. Score: 5

Methylene blue is a very effective water-soluble blue dye and you can buy it on [amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/25g-Methylene-blue-crystals-quality-Make-minerals-water/dp/B00B4ZRMNS) quite cheaply (the pack at that link is probably enough to dye a table and chairs). That might do the trick. It's also used for treating fish in tanks, so is quite benign. The question becomes one of whether the water raises the grain too much given that the dyed layer is likely to be quite thin. It's also soluble in alcohols (including isopropanol, so surgical spirit/rubbing alcohol) which wouldn't raise the grain.

I've done a quick test on a bit of scrap softwood using something like a 0.7 mmol/l aqueous solution (0.2 grams per litre of water). It was brief enough to not raise the grain even where I left it on the longest:
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/QH3Nj.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/QH3Nj.jpg)

I've adjusted the colours to look about right on my screen. The wood was quite old and yellowed. It had just about dried when I took the picture.

The left for 1 minute test was meant to simulate dip-coating. I didn't hold it very steadily, so the unevenness below the "p" in the annotation was casued by the solution running.

It could work nicely, but you would want to make sure the wood is very white to start with, and stays that way, to keep it really blue instead of turning greenish. This is probably true for any blue dye. [This article on bleaching wood](http://www.woodmagazine.com/materials-guide/finishes/get-the-color-out-with-wood-bleach) implies that you can bleach the original wood with the right wood bleach, then neutralise and rinse and there shouldn't be any bleach left to react. [Here's some more discussion on bleaching and coating so it doesn't turn yellow](http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?196995-Bleaching-Hard-Maple); in summary: use a water-based varnish over the top so the varnish also doesn't turn yellow, though pine will yellow slightly whatever you do.

Of course, test as much as you can on scrap (and the same type of wood) first, in particular if you decide to bleach then dye.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Pretty toxic stuff.  from PubChem: Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]; Causes serious eye damage [Danger Serious eye damage/eye irritation]; Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects [Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard] [link](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Methylene-blue#section=GHS-Classification) It is strange that it is also medicine, but I imagine that is in smaller amounts.  
> **username_3**: @username_4 the warning for paracetamol (acetaminophen) would be scarier, as would the warnings for  most paint products and related solvents - look them up with "MSDS"  
> **username_4**: Acetominophen is the chemical compound and if you were staining wood with it instead of taking tiny doses those "scary" warnings would also be worth noting.  
> **username_3**: @username_4 I chose it because the maximum dose is up to 4g of the actual drug per day, for adults.  4g  of methylene blue would make a saturated solution in about 100ml of water, but a saturated solution is far too strong here.  My tests above were (recalling that  the concentration lying we were using at the the time was 1 mmol/litre) about 100 times less than that.  The question gives no idea of the size of the workpiece but you could stain an awful lot of wood with very little active ingredient.  Don't drink it or pour it in your eyes, like you wouldn't with paint.  

---

