Colouring Mortar mix

[utterlydiy]

My house built approx 30years ago and used a Red sand mix for the mortar.
Need to do some repointing in a small area. None of the high street or local DIY suppliers have red sand. Have been tempted to get some the beaches of Torbay.

Any tips of how to colour the normal building sand for a reddish colour.
Have read, using food colouring for the same effect without using the expensive building dye for a such a small amount ??

 

[footprints]

Use the proper stuff less than 8 quid!
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Bostik-Cem...VB8jeCh3Lqg7AEAQYASABEgLd-_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
A little goes a long way, colour does not show till water added to mortar, make up some trial mixes and let them dry overnight before deciding.
Yes red sand is a pain I tried everywhere to get some to match stuff I used some years ago but no luck.

 

[bobasd]

bit late but fwiw:
drill a bit of old or handy red brick - any red brick - and then collect the brick dust, and add it to the mortar mix water, and then mix the lot.
the mortar will be stained red for keeps.

 

[SFK]

I am sure that you have already looked, but a few years back my local B&Q were selling a sand much redder than wickes (which caused me a nightmare halfway through a build).
Images half way down here.
https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/white-mortar-suggested-mixes.459515/
SFK

 

[footprints]

I am sure that you have already looked, but a few years back my local B&Q were selling a sand much redder than wickes (which caused me a nightmare halfway through a build).
Images half way down here.
https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/white-mortar-suggested-mixes.459515/
SFK

That must have been the batch I bought that I had to match!