doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DIY Gunsmithing @ doublegunshop.com Alkanet Staining Technique

This is another reliable source for the powder is Mountain Rise Herbs. Esp. Popular with muzzleloader builders



https://mountainroseherbs.com/search-results-page?q=alkanet%20root%20powder

Woodreaux, I appreciate you sharing your experiments with us. I’ve wanted to try the same myself. Let us know how this last batch turns out.

I get my root powder from mountain rose herbs too.

Has anyone tried Achiote/Annatto seeds or paste, used to give a red color in Mexican cooking.
Mike

I have not heard of that being used, Mike. Doesn't mean it hasnt been though

The new red oil is at 24 hours.

The powder settled and the oil above appeared clear and fairly nice red.



Since its storming and overcast today, I decided to shake the mixture up and stick the jar in the microwave for a minute (low power microwave-- really only got it warm).

The powder resuspends and makes for a very dark looking concoction. I suspect I could stop the steeping tomorrow and have a very nice, useable oil. :

Well, I guess I'll have to be the one to try.
Mike

I find that the darker oil, the better it works. YMMV.

Day 3:

With the light shining just right, you can see through it. Not quite as dark red as I am hoping for, but still seems a little redder than yesterday:




Once again, microwaved for 1 minute to warm it then stuck it back in the window for one last day. Planning to filter tomorrow.

Results (edited post with new info):

Filtering with lab filter paper leads to essentially no residual powder in the oil, but takes a very long time, even using the higher micron paper. Also, the low alkanet root : oil ratio was not sufficiently dark to my eye, especially compared to the higher concentration long-brew.
Here is the new oil and the slow brew high test oil filtering side by side.


I decided to add another 1/2 tsp to the new red oil, warm it in the microwave, and leave for 24 hours. I filtered it again with the high flow paper, but warmed it again before filtering to decrease viscosity. This helped.
The result was an oil that is just as dark as the long-brew oil, and with essentially no residue in it.
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I also had a little real turpentine with alkanet steeping and I decided to filter that through the paper as well. The color is very dark and the filtration was much easier.

This has been sitting since last fall at least, much less scientific, I just toss a bunch in a jar of BLO.



Quiet a few coats, maybe 8 or so, on a nice stick of Tessier French walnut, the wood is lighter in person than the pics make it appear.