Stainig sails with black tea

[Messis]

Trying to give some ancient brownish colour to the white cloth included in my dusek bireme kit. I once heard that black tea does it.

I would appreciate any help.

 

[shipahoy]

black tea works great, but only leave it in for 30 - 45 seconds then wring out and let air dry you can always put it back in to darken it but you cant lighten it. i use a water based stain mixed to the shade i want and put it on with a foam roller and let air dry. this gives the sails a bit more rigidity if i am displaying the ship with the "wind at its back".

 

[Messis]

@shipahoy thank you very.much for your imost nformative help. What stain do you use? Is it a plain wood stain or is it something special?

Christos

 

[Thomas Marocke]

Hi Christos!

Wash the sail with a little fine washing powder in the hand wash basin. Rinse cleanly and then make sure it is damp and lay it flat in the tea. If you crumple it there will be streaks or clouds.

With best regards
Thomas

 

[Messis]

@Thomas Marocke
Danke Thomas

Gruesse aus Zypern
Christos

 

[shipahoy]

i use a water based wood stain called Saman and mix their "sesame" into their "whitewash" to obtain a light brown color. when you roll it on do both sides lightly as it will bleed through to cover all the areas . hang to dry with a clip on each end and it will dry wrinkle free. it can be ironed flat if you desire with a medium setting. when dry i cut out the shape i need and the necessary reinforcing strips, robands ect with diluted white glue. the brand Saman may not be available in your neck of the woods but any water based stain should work.

 

[Messis]

@shipahoy thank you

 

[Clair G]

Please keep in mind coffee as an alternative. Also if there were to be more than one sail, some in tea, others in coffee would give the look of mixed age sails.
Makes me wonder what a green tea would do, I might just see on some scrap cloth. With my big feet I might just stumble onto something cool for the future. lol