Old bones revisited

[Jimrogers]

Just a note. As I mentioned before, Old Bones (I believe) is nothing more than potassium permanganate. I put a friend's name on a plain horn and antiqued it with potassium permanganate. I mix a strong solution for the darker spout and a weaker one for the body. Simple and fast.

Here's a picture.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/SigMM/P3060007.jpg

:thumbsup:

 

[Claude Mathis]

Great color! :thumbsup:

I've used Old Bones, but I'm going the get some potassium permanganate and give it a try.

 

[Jimrogers]

It's much faster. Try the Chemistry store.

 

[Griz]

will it scratch off easy? or is it premanent?

 

[longshot47]

Griz-
I've found that the lighter the treatment the easier it would be to sand or scrape thru --but if u was to scrape an old patinated horn u would likewise expose lighter, unseasoned material. Though the reaction is somewhat different from horn to horn, in my experience the permanganate is superior to stain or dye.....Longshot

 

[Griz]

I may have to get some and give it a whirl, If you don't mind me askin', what are your 2 ratio mixes that you use for the 2 colors?

 

[Jimrogers]

Not sure who you're askin Griz. I just go by color. The stronger solution is extremely dark like the color of blood. I apply it to the spout with a Q-tip. The weaker is dark purple and I apply with an old cloth and wear a rubber glove (the permanganate wont hurt you but it will stain the skin for several days). I hjust mix it in a couplke of old antique bottles I have (for fun) and cover them with cellophane after use. PP is an organic oxidizer so it eats the corks I used to use over time. A glass stopper works too but evaporation occurs over time. And no, it wont wear off (unlike leather dyes), but sunlight does lighten it over time (it also will crack your horn).

I found a photo of some southern horns from the period the other day and the colors are identical to the PP application BTW.

 

[Griz]

(it also will crack your horn).

Do you mean that PP will make a horn crack? If so, I may not want to use it. Or, did you mean that the leather dye will make a horn crack?

 

[Jimrogers]

I mean the sun will. LOL. PP just turns brown when the organic (horn) material oxidizes. Like blueing on a gun.

 

[elee]

Just a side note..Potassium Permanganate is also a first rate cure for jungle rot (trench foot)! Just soak your feet in it. Turns them black and makes you look like a rotting corpse...but it does cure the affliction. Yes...I have had jungle rot, and it aint fun! Some pharmacies still carry it for this purpose if you cannot find it elsewhere. I have also used it as a wood stain.
ELee

 

[Griz]

:redface: :redface: :redface:
Ok I'm embarressed now. SEE, I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

 

[Jimrogers]

Yep Elee. When I was a little boy, I had to handle every cat in the neighborhood too and from school, so I caught ringworm from them and it was PP the Doc prescribed to get rid of it. I remember all the brown dots.