Scrimshaw not showing up...

[magyar]

I have made a few horns with zero problem getting nice dark color in the lines using RIT dye. however, this time, I have a horn with scrimshaw that will simply not get dark. Faint to light at best. No idea what it going on or why. Are some horns just tough to get the lines to darken? I even went as far as using aqua fortis on this one and love hte yellowing affect but, again, the scrimshaw is weakly defined. ready to scrape it all down to almost a translucent/see through shell instead.....

Any help or moral support  will be appreciated.

[Joey R]

Have you tried black India ink?

[Habu]

It sounds like perhaps there is something that is preventing the dyes from penetrating in the scratches.  Have you tried rubbing the scrimshaw with a sooty thumb?  Your thumb will push the soot into the scratches--if that doesn't work, you can be reasonably sure the scratches are filled with something (wax maybe?).

[Horner75]

It also can depend on the type of engraving cutter you are using and how deep the cutter tip is cutting into the horn surface.  I have had horns where I had to go over the previous engraved lines more than once.  Even some of the old original horns have shown this as being done.

Rick

[seesbirds]

the most obvious question to me is what color is the horn?  Unless it is white, you are going to have a hard time seeing scrimshaw.  Not saying you won't be able to see it, it's just not going to pop like it would on a white horn.

[Jerry V Lape]

You can also try artist oil paint.  Put a tiny bit on a cloth and rub it over the cuts.  Excess is easily cleaned off with alcohol without pulling it from the cuts.  Also might want to wipe your horn down with alcohol before drawing on your design to remove any thing which may be on the horn like wax or some hand lotion etc.