Sorry for the delay in replying my PC decided to go over to the enemy for a time.
Traditional Red Oil and Powdered Alkanet> There is quite a difference between the two.
Traditional Red Oil is obtained by Leaching the colour from the Alkanet root with oil sadly this takes many months of waiting, though now a days people want things yesterday. The Major benefit of the traditional method is that the end results is a very pure dying oil with extremely little root debris because this is left in the container when the oil is removed so not to form darker areas in the more absorbent places in the wood.
Alkanet powder is what it says ground alkanet root containing all the fibre partials and any other contaminants that may be around during its processing. Because of the high contents of insoluble partials it could be compered more to paint rather than a dye. In my experience it does not produce that eye catching contrast on Walnut like the traditional Red Oil. But like all opinions there are differences so you do have to try both and make your choice though my opinion is the Victorian gunmakers got it right with traditional Red Oil.
