Question
i have made a sign by embedding small local stones (3/4-1") in concrete to read "Lake Marion" (a memorial by a lake named for my wife). did not want to dye concrete, as i've seen such fade. but there is too little contrast between some stones and the concrete. what can i use to dye the stones a darker color (as e.g. linseed oil w/an umber stain brings out color in or adds color to wood)?  it will be outside.  conrad

g

Answer
Hello,

Try brick stain or an iron oxide paint on one of the stones to see what results are achieved. Brick stain consists of iron oxide (which is essentially the same thing as rust) and a binding agent such as potassium silicate. Pigments can be added for greater color variation.

Iron oxide paints are often used on pottery but may not be as penetrating or long lasting as brick stain on stone. Stone tends to be denser,in many cases,than brick or concrete. The more porous stone would be sandstone and limestone,but stone such as granite tends to be very dense. The penetration power comes from the iron oxide. Iron oxide paints are available in the following earth colors:

Yellow:

light yellow ocher

colonial yellow ocher

dark yellow ocher

curry yellow

natural yellow

lemon yellow


Orange:

apricot

havana ocher


Red:

red ocher

venetian red

red brick

natural red

black currant red

plum

violet

burnt sienna



Brown:

clay brown

light sienna

raw sienna

natural sienna

brown ocher

brown

natural umber

burnt umber

raw umber

terra cotta

dark brown


Green:

nicosia green

verona green earth

turquoise green

pistaschio green

viridian

green


Blue:

sky blue

lavender blue

charron blue

ultramarine blue


Neutral:

titanium white

slate

pewter gray

natural black

black


Good luck. Let me know if I can be of further help.

Mark Harshman
http://www.mahdrafting.com
Email: [email protected]

http://www.scribd.com/markscrib47