Staining bone for knife handles?

[David R. Pennington]

What do you cuttlers use to get a good color on bone?

[Stoner creek]

Potassium Permanganate works well. Take a small amount of the granulated mixed with water. 2-3 applications and let dry.

[webradbury]

I like RIT dye you find at the grocery store.  The darkest color I have gotten is with Feibing leather dye.

[Dennis Glazener]

Potassium Permanganate works well. Take a small amount of the granulated mixed with water. 2-3 applications and let dry.

Stoner Creek
How long does it last? I have been tempted to use it on a knife I gave and heard it didn't last very long.
Dennis

[WadePatton]

Potassium Permanganate works well. Take a small amount of the granulated mixed with water. 2-3 applications and let dry.

Stoner Creek
How long does it last? I have been tempted to use it on a knife I gave and heard it didn't last very long.
Dennis

I think this is the same stuff Mark Thomas showed us at the engrave-in, he made a design with it (gave the appearance of an inlay).  Must have UV to activate (was raining that day) and it'll stain the fool outta your fingers-won't wash off.  I don't think fading is an issue, and it's an HC process. That's how I recall the high-points.                           

[David R. Pennington]

Thanks Wayne, those antlers look good, like the color. I think I have some of that. Have you tried it on bone? I have a bone handle knife that’s too white for my taste.

[James Rogers]

It will sho nuff fade on a gun stock ; ) .... but I have not seen that happen to antler or bone so much.

[Greg Pennell]

David, try a good strong cup of tea to age those bone handles.

Greg

[Huntschool]

Agree with g.pennell….strong tea works great....  I also like walnut hulls soaked and then add a bit of vinegar as a mordent.... careful.... this can be really dark...…

I have also used Rit dye and some mixed up stuff.  Much like raw fabrics a mordent can make all the difference.  Potassium Permanganate  is poisonous.  Especially as a gas. We use it to fumigate incubators.  There is no "bug" left alive in an incubator after fumigation......   

[Stoner creek]

Potassium Permanganate works well. Take a small amount of the granulated mixed with water. 2-3 applications and let dry.

Stoner Creek
How long does it last? I have been tempted to use it on a knife I gave and heard it didn't last very long.
Dennis
I haven’t had any of it fade as yet. I’m sure that long time exposure to the sun might fade it some. I have also had long term success with simmering the handle material in a cocktail of vinegar and tea bags. It makes my shop smell like we’re canning pickles!
Dennis

[Stoner creek]

Thanks Wayne, those antlers look good, like the color. I think I have some of that. Have you tried it on bone? I have a bone handle knife that’s too white for my taste.

David it works on antlers and cow horns, I’m pretty sure it’s going to work on bone.

[David R. Pennington]

Thanks Wayne, I like your knives, you are inspiring me to get some of my forged blades handled. Do we have any tentative date set for our winter meeting at the fort?

[Stoner creek]

I’m sure that Ron has a date in mind. I don’t know right now.

[Craig Wilcox]

Please don't mix potassium permanganate with glycerin -  that makes a dandy fire starter.