Question on adding color

[number 9]

I'm kinda new here but have spent time reading past post. This may have been covered if so I haven't found it so bear with me.

I started a new metal works shop three weeks ago. Am retired construction so I have hands on experience with many phases. Some cross over some do not. But to get to the meat of the matter ----

As far as altering the color of my monolithic slab goes I do not want a solid color, more of a translucent treatment is what I am shooting for so if a person was doing a lot of automotive work with fluids leaking and as spills will happen could the raw concrete be "stained" with a coating of either light or dark oil where the accidental later spill would blend in better?

Also if one wanted a designer color could water based aniline die be used ? I have used it successfully where the color of high end cabinets and furniture needed to match and blend yet allowed some grain to show.

I am not recommending this to anyone but am searching for answers for my use. Has anyone tried this before?

Thanks

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

9: most use acid stain or acetone dye. Water based dyes and concrete
are tricky. They don't always take properly and most sealers used for that type of dye are too weak for a garage environment.

Also... Any coloration added will need to be sealed. Acid staining preps the floor for the sealer as the acid etches the floor in the process.

Acetone dye requires a grind before hand.

If you come up with an alternate method that works well, please share with the forum .


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[number 9]

Fitting answers, thanks. The theory behind the question relates to a piece of furniture I built for a gentleman. He was an avid coffee drinker and wanted the rolling breakfast cart I built for him stained as close to the color of coffee as possible. After trying several commercial stains we brewed up a strong pot of coffee and used that for the stain. It really brought out the grain in the walnut used for the cart after allowing to dry and sealing with a thin wash of lacquer.

I will research the acid stain, Thanks

 

[James-W]

Instead of staining the concrete to match oil spills, why not epoxy the floor instead? That way if you do spill oil on the floor you can just wipe it up and it won't stain the concrete.