Adding Colour to Wood in Woodturning

I was completely against adding colour to wood when I started.

For me, it was always about the natural grain. Covering it with paint or embellishment felt wrong. When I began my woodturning business, every piece I made was left natural.

That changed about a year in.

I came across a few videos of the Hampshire Sheen Intrinsic Colour range, and for the first time, I saw colour being used in a way that didn’t hide the grain, it enhanced it. That contrast between colour on the outside and natural grain inside caught my attention.

I was intrigued, but still unsure.

Taking a Gamble

I eventually bought the Hampshire Sheen Intrinsic Colour 125ml Box set even though I still had reservations.

Looking back, I’m very glad I took that risk. These colours are now a regular part of my work.

Hampshire Sheen Intrinsic Colours added to Irish Ash

Early Results

Before writing this post, I went back and found some of my early attempts. The piece above is one of them.

To my surprise, they sold quickly in the shop. That gave me the confidence to keep experimenting and refining the idea.

At the time, I was still finding my feet as a woodturner. These early experiments played a big part in pushing me forward.

I often show students work like this to remind them that everyone starts somewhere.

Progress Over Time

Thankfully, things improved over time.

The piece below is a more recent example. It uses Hampshire Sheen Gold Embellishing Wax to highlight the open grain, especially in woods like ash, elm, and oak.

The shape is also far more refined compared to my earlier work.

Hanging Ornament with Intrinsic Colours and Natural Grain

What About Bowls?

My first real experiment with colour on a bowl came from a problem piece.

An olive ash bowl had cracked badly during drying. I had already turned it to around 7mm wall thickness, so I decided I had nothing to lose. Cracks like this are fairly common when drying wood, and I’ve covered that in more detail in another post.

That’s when I started experimenting.

Olive Ash Bowl with Intrinsic Colours

Process Section

Once the black Intrinsic colour was dry on the outside and sealed with sanding sealer, I applied a base coat of electric green embellishing wax to fill the grain and cracks.

The effect was immediate, the grain came alive.

A coat of Hampshire Sheen High Gloss was then used t bring everything together. Instead of ruining the piece, the cracks became part of the character.

At least, that’s what I tell myself, and thankfully others seem to agree.

Inside of Bowl

On the inside, I kept things more natural, adding gold embellishing wax to the grain and cracks, followed by a gloss coat.

There was no way I was throwing that piece away.

A friend of mine saw the same value in it, and it now lives in his house.

How Best to Apply Intrinsic Colours

There are a number of ways to apply intrinsic colours, and most of them are messy.

Make sure you protect your lathe bed and surrounding area before you start.

Embellished Olive Ash Bowl from Tralee

I typically use:

● A small paint brush

● Cloth swatches

● Sponges (great for texture)

● Air compressor (for larger work)

● Sanding sponges

The air compressor is useful, but it adds setup and cleaning time, so I only use it when it makes sense.

Tip From Me to You

One piece of advice if you go down the colouring route is to get some magnetic cup holders like the ones I got on Amazon UK. Please Note: As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases. You can buy the Magnetic Cups using my Amazon Affiliate Link and I may receive a credit for the referral.

Magnetic Cup Holder from Amazon UK

These simple magnetic cups stop bottles from being knocked over, which saves both your finish and your sanity. They’re also handy for holding spray cans in place while you work.

In Conclusion

If you’re unsure about adding colour, that’s completely normal.

I was the same.

The only real way to understand what these products can do is to try them. Once you start experimenting, the possibilities become very clear very quickly.

Even damaged or imperfect pieces can be transformed into something worth keeping.

Don’t be afraid to experiment.

If you want to learn more about finishes and techniques, have a look through my woodturning guides and articles page for inspiration and guidance.

Thanks for Reading,

David

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About the Author

I’m David Condon, a woodturner and small business owner based in Tralee, Co. Kerry. I’ve been working with wood for most of my life at this stage — 11 years as a carpenter and over a decade running my own woodturning business.

Over the years, I’ve learned that woodturning is as much about patience and problem-solving as it is about tools and technique. I work mainly with Irish hardwoods, teach woodturning full-time, and spend most days learning something new in the workshop myself. On this site, I share the same practical knowledge I pass on to my students, shaped by experience, mistakes, and time spent at the lathe. If you’re interested in learning in person, I offer woodturning lessons in Tralee, with details available on my Woodturning Tuition page.

© David Condon Woodcraft – All Rights Reserved.

More Woodturning Pages to Explore​

● Hampshire Sheen - Fine Finishing products that will highlight your project pieces

● Hamlet Tools - Fantastic Woodturning Tools from a well trusted brand

● Woodcraft Hub - View my woodcraft creations for inspiration of gift buying.

● Sanding Essentials - Essential sanding products for Woodturners & Woodworkers.

● Woodturning Blanks - A fine range of Hardwood Spindle Blanks & a few Bowl Blanks too!

● Woodturning Pen Blanks - A huge assortment of Acrylic & Irish Hardwood Pen Blanks.

● Crafter's Haven – A vast range of craft supplies for crafters and gift givers!

Original content © David Condon Woodcraft — Written by David Condon. Please credit and link if shared.