hobby #117
Mordant-Dyed Tine Tempering
Using natural plant dyes (indigo, madder, weld) not for colouring fabric, but as visual heat indicators during the critical tempering of steel tines for kalimbas and tuning forks. The oxide colours that form during tempering align with specific temperatures, but mordant compounds from traditional textile dyeing affect the oxide layer's colour spectrum, creating both functional heat indication and decorative patinas on finished acoustic metalwork.
Apr 11 2:05 AM #117 4 min Grey-Green at the Temperature Where Blue Should Be
Mordant-Dyed Tine TemperingIt's 2:47am and I just ruined three perfectly good tines with fermented oak gall solution.