Antler coloring?

[gundy]

Hi guys,

I have a question and a search did not pull up any results.

I have some antler that is quite light in color, maybe just tan in some areas. Does anybody know how to darken it up similar to the attached photo?

I have thought of burning it, dipping in black tea (I heard that the tea impregnates into the antler).

Any help appreciated.

 

[Cindy Denning]

We tried the dipping in tea, that was the worst looking and one thing we'll never do again. Actually the knife sold at a show so the customer could see what this looked like. I wouldn't reccomend doing it with tea. NNNNOOO

 

[Kim Breed]

The best results Ive had was using a little brown dye with minerial oil. the old rag that we use to wipe down our sheathes has picked up the dye, it gives the perfect color of old stag.

 

[Dan Gray]

I use permanganate most of the time, get it in Sear in the water treatment department but read the warnings on the link below first, before using it please..indian Stag was treated with it before it was imported, to kill the nastys on it it gave it most of it's nice color IMO
I've had good luck with it , some say it will turn color on you but it's not been the case with me anyway.. I have an antler colored with it setting in front of me that's been here for about two plus years and it's hasn't changed at all.
it's getting about time to use it I guess
go here for some info on the stuff, also see the pictures at the end of the page. it shows one I just finished yesterday with M Ivory that I matched the
edges to the bark of the ivory with permanganate..
www.knivesby.com/Potassium-Permanganate.html
you'll find that link here
http://www.knivesby.com/knifemaking.html
at the bottom of the page in, interesting information..

 

[gundy]

Thanks people!

Excellent info Dan! Thanks...

:thumbup: