Antler finish

H

harrington

Joined
Dec 14, 2005
Messages
65
I tried and failed in a search for information on how to get the antiquated finish on deer antler.
I've used antler before but left it with the natural coloring that was on the antler washes off after a while.

I read that some of you guys use Condy's crystals or shoe polish to color the antler,if so what type and what is the procedure? Do I need to seal the antler after coloring?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.

Jamie.
 
harrington said:
I tried and failed in a search for information on how to get the antiquated finish on deer antler.
I've used antler before but left it with the natural coloring that was on the antler washes off after a while.

I read that some of you guys use Condy's crystals or shoe polish to color the antler,if so what type and what is the procedure? Do I need to seal the antler after coloring?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.

Jamie.
Click to expand...
Try Fiebings spirit based leather dye.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.
So now I'm on the hunt for some of this Fiebings leather dye. Trying to buy certain knife making stuff locally in Australia can be a pain in the butt.

Is this dye all the same color or is there a particular color that works the best?

Jamie.
 
permanganate was used on all Indian stag that was exported from India to kill and disinfect all the buggies on them this is what you find in the nice coloring from that. I only use permanganate myself..
here's a picture of a handle I made that is red deer and was almost completely white when I started.
also see here http://www.knivesby.com/Potassium-Permanganate.html
I buff mine after dry.. and you can seal it with thinned out coatings of Minwax wood hardener , thin with acetone..
potassium permanganate is an oxidizer which is in effect sped up aging .
you can get it in any sear store in the water softening department you don't need much $7.00 worth of the crystals will last you years . ( I keep some mixed up in a 1 gal jar )
gray-irwin3.jpg

I hope this helps..
 
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Thanks for all the good info guys.
Dan, That's exactly the look I'm after. I take it you apply the color after final shaping.

Jamie.
 
harrington said:
Thanks for all the good info guys.
Dan, That's exactly the look I'm after. I take it you apply the color after final shaping.

Jamie.
Click to expand...

actually I color it before and do most of my buffing to see what I have then
fit sand/grind to my blade, then I touch up where I've ground,,
you can add more permanganate to darken things and then buff to lighten where you want it to be lighter, it don't take long to get the hang of it..
on your final finish just make sure it's dry so you don't get shrinkage
try it on some antler first to play with the stuff.. :)
 
Jaimie...DON'T PANIC when the Pottassium Permanganate turns purple in the mixing bowl. I nearly had a coronary the first time I used it but this dissappears soon enough. In Austrailia you might have to go to the Pharmacist to get some like I did in Canada.

J. Ziegler
 
when I first looked to buy some of this it was from a Pharmacist and they would not sell it to me, they told me it was an explosive,,

so I found the same stuff in sears :D

don't mix any sugars or glucoses with this stuff

in the lab years ago in school we would mix up some of this , water and table sugar all to gather soak a sheet of paper with it and let it dry out on the lab counter.. once it was completely dry we'd throw a pencil or something on it and watch it blow up :eek::D

they still use this I guess over sea's as an antiseptic but it's outlawed here in the states for that use I'm told.. as an oxidizer they say it's not good for your skin so I'd suggest being careful with it. :)
 
Cool, I remember hearing along time ago that it was explosive when mixed with sugar.

Same problem over here getting it from a Pharmacist. I think it's on the restricted list.
 
harrington said:
Cool, I remember hearing along time ago that it was explosive when mixed with sugar.

Same problem over here getting it from a Pharmacist. I think it's on the restricted list.
Click to expand...


you know,,,
the danged terrorist are making it hard for us honest folk to have fun any more :grumpy: :D
 
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