Wood Dye
It says leather dye on the bottle, and it's also one of the easiest ways to stain bare wood. Hundreds of our reviews come from guitar builders and woodworkers who use Angelus dye on guitar bodies, figured maple, furniture, and gourds. The same formula that soaks into leather soaks into bare wood for rich, even color that shows the grain.
Choose our Low VOC dyes, which are California compliant, non-flammable, have fewer harsh fumes, and ship worldwide, or our standard leather dyes in pints and quarts for bigger builds. You'll find the sandpaper, applicators, and sealers to finish the job below.
Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 1,466 reviews
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- Family owned since 1907
- 40,000+ five-star reviews
Shopping guide
How to dye wood
- Sand down to clean, bare wood with no existing finish, using Angelus Multi-Purpose Sandpaper, so the dye can soak in.
- Wipe away the dust and put on disposable gloves to keep dye off your hands.
- Test your color on a scrap piece of the same wood, since the type of wood changes the final shade.
- Apply thin coats with a wool dauber for small areas or a brush for larger surfaces. Building thin layers helps prevent blotchiness and keeps the grain visible.
- Let each coat dry before adding the next. A heat gun used carefully can speed up drying.
- Once the color is dry, seal it with Angelus 4-Coat or Acrylic Finisher to protect the finish.
Low VOC or standard dye?
- Low VOC dye is made to meet California's VOC regulations. It has fewer harsh fumes for indoor work, is non-flammable, and ships worldwide. It comes in 3 oz. bottles.
- Standard leather dye comes in 3 oz., pint, and quart sizes for larger projects, and offers more colors, including Brandy, Cordovan, Honey, and Kelly Green. It ships within the U.S.
Mixing custom colors and burst finishes
Colors in each line mix together, so you can blend your own shades. To make a color lighter, mix in Neutral dye from the same line, either Neutral Low VOC or Neutral Leather Dye, rather than water.
Guitar builders use Angelus dye for burst finishes, blending one color into another across the body. Measure small amounts with eye droppers and mix in empty mixing jars so you can repeat a color later.
What you can dye
- Bare wood, including guitar bodies and tops, figured maple, and veneer
- Wood furniture and decor
- Gourds and other craft projects
- Bone and antler, like knife handles
- Leather shoes, bags, belts, and furniture
What customers say
“These leather dyes are awesome for staining wood. I have done several guitar tops using both regular and low-VOC Angelus dyes and the colour saturation and ability to blend are great.”
★★★★★ Frederick W., Perth, Australia
“Used with purple to create a purple burst finish on guitar. Turned out great!”
★★★★★ Rob F., San Jose, CA
“I have now used this product on 3 of my guitars. I have also used turquoise, light blue, black, purple and burgundy. This is a great product for dying wood as well as leather.”
★★★★★ Brian W., London, Canada
What customers say
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Awesome product!
I have now used this product on 3 of my guitars. I have also used turquoise, light blue,black, purple and burgundy. This is a great product for dying wood as well as leather.
Brian W., London, Canada Reviewed Neutral Low VOC Leather Dye -
Easy true turquoise
Really easy to work with, gives a true turquoise blue, not a teal. Mixable and layerable, very nice outcomes.
Pamela R., Seattle, WA Reviewed Turquoise Low VOC Leather Dye -
Guitar Top Staining
These leather dyes are awesome for staining wood. I have done several guitar tops using both regular and low-VOC Angelus dyes and the colour saturation and ability to blend are great.
Frederick W., Perth, Australia Reviewed Navy Blue Low VOC Leather Dye
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called leather dye if it works on wood?
Angelus has made it for leather since the start, and woodworkers and guitar builders found it soaks into bare wood just as well. Same bottle, same formula, and hundreds of our reviews come from people using it on wood.
What is the best dye for wood?
Angelus leather dye gives bare wood rich, even color that shows the grain, and it's a favorite with guitar builders for solid colors and bursts.
Can you use leather dye on wood?
Yes. Angelus leather dye soaks into bare, unfinished wood the same way it soaks into leather, so sand off any existing finish first.
Is it better to dye or paint wood?
Dye shows the grain for a natural look, while paint covers it with solid color. For solid painted guitars, see our guitar paint.
How do I make a wood dye color lighter?
Mix in the Neutral dye from the same line instead of water, and test the shade on scrap wood first.
Do you ship wood dye internationally?
Yes. Low VOC dye is non-flammable, so it ships worldwide.
Do you offer free shipping?
Yes. Orders of $49 or more ship free within the continental U.S.
