Finish thickness FYI

[a_novice]

Do you need to put a sealer onto of the dye before spraying the poly? I'm doing a dye finish at the moment and trying to understand what i have to put onto (if anything) before i do the finish...which is either TruOil, wipe on poly or spray can.

[McCreed]

Do you need to put a sealer onto of the dye before spraying the poly? I'm doing a dye finish at the moment and trying to understand what i have to put onto (if anything) before i do the finish...which is either TruOil, wipe on poly or spray can.

The short answer is no, if the clear coat is being applied by spray (can or gun).

If you're going to do a wipe-on finish, there will be colour "transfer" of the dye. There are steps you can take to minimise smudging etc.
The most effective is to spray a couple of light coats of shellac (or polyurethane) to lock in the dye/stain and then start your wipe-on.
But many people choose a wipe-on finish simply because they can't spray anything due to workspace etc, so that may not work for everyone. Also, my feeling is if you're able to spray (even with a spray can) you might as well do the whole job that way.

If wipe-on is your only option, the first few coats can be applied using a rag and a blotting or dabbing approach rather than wiping.
You'll still want to change your rag or at least refold it often to prevent smearing any dye.
Once there is enough poly or tru oil to set the colour, you can start with the wiping process. Levelling can be addressed after subsequent coats as needed.

I've heard of people using foam brushes to apply the initial coats, but I have no experience with that. I presume you would need to use a really light touch so the colour(s) don't run.