Antler Dye?

[luieb45]

I made a 5" antler handle knife last summer and tried selling it but it just looks so weird and light that no one really wanted it. So I think I want to somehow darken the antler with a dye or something like guys do on their powder measures. What stuff should I use on it?

 

[Ranger1759]

I use a light coating of brown leather dye. Then while still wet, wipe it with a shop rag until no color comes off....it antiques it real nice....search under the antler powder measure....I put several photos of antlers I ve dyed...

Ranger

 

Luie,
Potassium Permanginate. It comes in a powder form and you mix it with water. It makes a purple color liquid dye and when applied it is purple. When it dries it will give your antler its natural color.
Mark

 

[Stumpkiller]

Any good black tea - brewed strong. Add a teaspoon of vinegar and let the antler sit in it overnight.

 

[Walks with fire]

I would try some Old English furniture polish on it.

 

[Rogue River]

Brown shoe polish (not liquid)! :thumbsup:

 

[Rifleman1776]

Easy, just rub some Neatsfoot oil on it. Looks old instantly and protects the antler at the same time. Personally, for something like that I wouldn't even consider chemicals and leave the tea for sissies. :wink:

 

[lonehunter]

Luie, This one was bleached white when I started.
I heated the antler a little to open the pores, Then dyed it with Fiebings Dark Brown leather dye.
Afterwards I buffed it back with steel wool. :v

 

[luieb45]

Did all of you do the antler aging before you put the blade and guard onto the handle? I wish I would have done something about it before I made it into a knife but can't do nothing about it now :idunno:. I guess I'll have to use painter's tape on it so I don't get stuff on the metal.

 

[JamesG]

What I do is lighty toast the antler with a plumber torch then let it soak in some homemade walnut dye , I heat the wet antler and let soak I do it couple times. Then I let it dry fit it on my knife then lite sand with steel wool and couple coats of tru oil.

 

Luie,
Don't worry about adhesive on the metal parts of your knife. ppull the tape and rub any adhesive that is left with baby oil or goof off.
Mark
Luie,
Forget this, It is late and I wasn't thinking on the same page as you

 

[Nifeman]

Luie, here's a friction folder I dyed with potassium permanganate a couple of yrs ago....Bud

 

[luieb45]

I think that's what I'll use since I already got some in the garage. I think that knife will be a lot better if it wasn't so light but I put the knife to good use skining a yote today. I don't think I'll sell that knife now, though. I think I just wanna trade it for a better skinning knife.

 

[jock scott]

Hi,

I really like the magic mapple from dunlap, with a coat of oil finish on the top you have very nice patina. You can adjust the darkness by adding water in the stain.
http://www.dunlapwoodcrafts.com/MagicMapleStain.php

Jock

 

[Birdman]

I met a guy that used to use plain ol cray-ola crayons. Used all the black n browns grays , some yellows n a few other colors. Laid them on one color at a time and warmed them with a heat gun to blend until he got what he wanted, then buffed the heck out of them n ya couldn't tell where a repair was done. I imagine it takes some practice but what the heck doesn't--just some thoughts YMHS Birdman and most of the color on antlers is just dirt n sap n such anyway so the waxy finish looked real

 

[hoochiepapa]

I have a set of antlers from a buck my dad killed. I put them in a tree and forgot about them, then when I remembered them, they were bleached white. I took them home and used some walnut stain and dark brown shoe polish, then rubbed in some black acrylic paint, rubbing so it just stayed in the low spots. You can't tell it from any of the rest of my antlers.

 

[luieb45]

Am gonna put some neatsfoot oil on it. I figure with whatever I got left my boots could use on 'em. I'll have the knife looking better soon, but first I want to slim down the knife a little. I didn't slim the handle enough I think. Hopefully I can get this knife sold soon so I can take the money from that and start my next one. I'll be making a skinning knife for my cousin for skinnin yotes and coons.