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I'm about to graduate from PIMO stains and stock up on Fiebing's. I love the expanded color selection. After reading about the flimsy nature of the Fiebing containers I'll probably transfer them to baby food jars and relabel them. Up until this point I've been doing pipemaking in various spots in my house as my garage is a true POS. I'll be completely renovating my garage though in the next month, and will finally have heat in the winter and A/C in the summer, a roof that won't leak, and more power outlets than I'll know what to do with (I've been operating all my shop tools on one extension cord from the only outlet in my garage...major pain...). Oh, and more than a single bulb in the middle...let there be light! Anyway, that's a bit of a side note....

My question is regarding your opinions on the colors that are available. I don't really know what I want to get as I don't know how they look on briar. I'd love it if I could see some pictures of pipes showing off various colors so I can gauge which ones I want to buy.

Thanks!

Jonathan

The stain kit from PME is a really good buy. It'll give you all the colors you need to start and then you can check out each one on some scrap briar.

I would buy Red, Yellow, Cordovan, Chocolate, and Black. You can mix a hundred really nice colors with red and yellow and a dark brown base.

Likewise, you can get completely different finishes from the same stain depending on application and sanding techniques.

Did you recently hear that the Fiebing's containers are flimsy, or is that old info? Since they changed to a foil seal (in the past year or so?) I haven't had any leaks.

I'd buy a big container of Chocolate as I use that all the time. I also like Light Brown, Buckskin, Light Tan, Burgundy (if you like red), and maybe Russet or Mahogany. It's all preference really.

Thanks for the replies.

I guess the thread was a bit old, but there was one on here called "stupid Fiebing containers" or something like that, and the leakiness of the containers was mentioned. I like uniformity, so I'll probably still transfer to baby food jars which is what I'm intending to use for mixing new colors.

And it looks like PME has the best price online right now for the 4oz bottles...


Cheers!

Yes, Fiebings recently changed to a new seal style and they don't leak at all anymore.

British Tan is a nice one too.

I'm assuming that the leather dye can be cut with denatured alcohol? "They" recommend using Fiebing's Reducer, but I suspect it is pretty much the same thing?

Thanks!

Denatured alcohol is what I use. Works just fine.

Would isopropyl alcohol work?

The Smoking Yeti wrote:Would isopropyl alcohol work?

Denatured.

Sasquatch wrote:I would buy Red, Yellow, Cordovan, Chocolate, and Black. You can mix a hundred really nice colors with red and yellow and a dark brown base.

Likewise, you can get completely different finishes from the same stain depending on application and sanding techniques.

I don't like their red, I prefer maroon.

baweaverpipes wrote: I don't like their red, I prefer maroon.

But, as everybody knows, you are a bozo.

Hope this helps.

Rad

RadDavis wrote:

baweaverpipes wrote: I don't like their red, I prefer maroon.

But, as everybody knows, you are a bozo.

Hope this helps.

Rad

Rad's back!

RadDavis wrote:

baweaverpipes wrote: I don't like their red, I prefer maroon.

But, as everybody knows, you are a bozo.

Hope this helps.

Rad

I still like maroon, moron.

Hope this hurts.

The red is..... not a very good color on it's own. I think I've only done 2 pipes with the red.

I will buy maroon next time, because, as much as I hate to admit it, all the advice Bruce has ever given me on finishing has been veridical with BST Labs results.

baweaverpipes wrote:

The Smoking Yeti wrote:Would isopropyl alcohol work?

Denatured.

Yes plain old rubbing alcohol at a buck fifty from the grocery store works great, I've used it for six years now. The only time I have ever used the high priced stuff was to cut shellack and since I no longer use shellack I no longer buy the high priced stuff. bob gilbert

denatured alcohol can also be purchased at the hardware store. It would be next to the camp stoves or paint thinners. I recommend wd lockwood stain. I like the denatured alcohol base, though they have oil and water based too. It's a lot more afforable than fiebing. They have a 45 color base (you buy the powder and mix your own to desired strength). With 45 colors, you can easily create thousands of mixes / custom colors.