Removing Dye?

[Hunter]

Is there a way to remove dye from a body? I have begun to dye an Alder body blue, but decided that I want it natural, and not blue.

Could I bleach the body to get the dye off of it, or do I have to sand it all off?

[Drak]

You have to sand it off.

But it shouldn't take too long or be too difficult with any typical random-orbit sander, I sand finishes back all the time with mine, it's no big deal really.

PS, Alder actually looks quite nice left natural. It doesn't have any outstanding figure, but it's natural color is a good color for natural finishes.

Just make sure you get it ALL off.

[Hunter]

Yeah, alright. I was hoping I would be able to bleach it, but, this works too. I want to mimic the look of a Lite Ash Strat, but I want the tone of Alder.

[Doc]

Chlorox bleach, if you give it time to work will neutralize dyes and stains, except for Mixwax type spirit stains. Those usually take sandpaper or scrapers.

Oxalic acid, which is sold as wood bleach will kill a lot of stains. Again, not most spirit stains.

Kleen Strip makes a two part peroxide bleach that is sold at home centers that will sometimes work on spirit stains and will kill most others.

[Scott Rosenberger]

Those Bleaches might kill they dye but they'll also kill the color of the Alder. Just sand it off like Drak says

Edited June 29, 2005 by Scott Rosenberger

[Southpa]

If you got any dye into endgrain areas you got a whole lotta sanding ahead of you.

[Hunter]

Okay. I think I'll do this one a solid color finish, and save my next project for a Lite Ash Strat or Tele or something. Thanks for the input.

EDIT: Couldn't I just tint the clearcoat to make it look a bit colored again?

Edited June 29, 2005 by Hunter

[Scott Rosenberger]

I say start over with a clean piece of Alder or Paint the one you have a solid color. If you bleach it you probably still wont get all the color out of the endgrain so you'll have to do a solid color or some kind of burst with dark edges

[Hunter]

Alright, Solid color it is. Anyone have some suggestions on what color? I wanted to do a Pearlescent finish, but I don't have a spray booth set up,nor do I have the money to set one up. Sooo.... I was wondering if they had that stuff in rattlecans.

[JPL]

Alright, Solid color it is.  Anyone have some suggestions on what color?  I wanted to do a Pearlescent finish, but I don't have a spray booth set up,nor do I have the money to set one up. Sooo.... I was wondering if they had that stuff in rattlecans.

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[Hunter]

*Shakes head*

Do you know if I can get Pearlescent stuff in a rattlecan?

[sscovill]

I know model/hobby stores carry small cans of it so I'm sure you can find it around in larger cans. If not, buy several small cans.