Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Why do you start with dark colours when colouring a woodturned piece?
Dark tones absorb into the grain first and build depth — they give the lighter colours applied on top something to work against, creating a rich, layered finish. For this memorial urn for Digby, I used forest green, plum, midnight blue and ruby from my Intrinsic Colour Collection.
What wood dyes work best for woodturning?
Dyes that absorb quickly and sit in the grain without obscuring it. The Intrinsic Colour Collection was developed with exactly that in mind — rich, layered colour that lets the wood speak for itself.
How do you apply wood dye on the lathe?
With a cloth, working quickly to keep coverage even and let the grain absorb the pigment. The full film on the channel shows the complete process and the finished piece.
🎓 Want to learn in person?
I run woodturning courses at my school in Hampshire for all levels — from complete beginners through to more advanced techniques. Details at www.thewoodturning.school
🛢️ My Finishes: yandles.co.uk/shop/?manufacturer=martin-saban-smith-woodturning
📘 Design and proportion in woodturning — I wrote the book: msabansmith.com/shop
📍 Based at Garthowen Garden Centre, Four Marks, Hampshire — next to the South Downs National Park.
🌐 msabansmith.com
Facebook — Me: facebook.com/msabansmith Facebook — Woodturning School: facebook.com/thewoodturningschool Instagram — Me: instagram.com/msabansmith Instagram — School: instagram.com/thewoodturningschool
The visual video content (including my voice), any text and any graphics in the video are Copyright © Woodturning Online Ltd 2015–2026. All rights reserved.
Why do you start with dark colours when colouring a woodturned piece?
Dark tones absorb into the grain first and build depth — they give the lighter colours applied on top something to work against, creating a rich, layered finish. For this memorial urn for Digby, I used forest green, plum, midnight blue and ruby from my Intrinsic Colour Collection.
What wood dyes work best for woodturning?
Dyes that absorb quickly and sit in the grain without obscuring it. The Intrinsic Colour Collection was developed with exactly that in mind — rich, layered colour that lets the wood speak for itself.
How do you apply wood dye on the lathe?
With a cloth, working quickly to keep coverage even and let the grain absorb the pigment. The full film on the channel shows the complete process and the finished piece.
🎓 Want to learn in person?
I run woodturning courses at my school in Hampshire for all levels — from complete beginners through to more advanced techniques. Details at www.thewoodturning.school
🛢️ My Finishes: yandles.co.uk/shop/?manufacturer=martin-saban-smith-woodturning
📘 Design and proportion in woodturning — I wrote the book: msabansmith.com/shop
📍 Based at Garthowen Garden Centre, Four Marks, Hampshire — next to the South Downs National Park.
🌐 msabansmith.com
Facebook — Me: facebook.com/msabansmith Facebook — Woodturning School: facebook.com/thewoodturningschool Instagram — Me: instagram.com/msabansmith Instagram — School: instagram.com/thewoodturningschool
The visual video content (including my voice), any text and any graphics in the video are Copyright © Woodturning Online Ltd 2015–2026. All rights reserved.
