Did I destroy my Sambar Stage scales?

[Joss]

I have a few scales of sambar which I bought a while back. Because they all had little spots of white paints, I brushed them with soap. That worked too well - it removed the paint, the the stage now looks a much lighter shade of brown, and it has lost its lustrouss quality.

Did I destroy those scale? Can I hope to get back the proper shade and luster by diping them in some kind of oil?

Thanks,

JD

 

[Mike Hull]

Leather dye(Fiebings), dark, and a light buffing(clean buff, white compound) when dry should fix them up.

Another way is to soak them in a potassium permanganate solution, then buff lightly.

I think either would work equally well.

 

[MaxTheKnife]

Next time,instead of soap, try using a small toothbrush size steel wire brush to clean the stag with. Just brush it lengthwise with the grain of the stag and it'll clean it right up and actually buff the stag at the same time. I do that on all antler handles to clean them up before I put the finish on. I always finish stag or antler with cutler's resin just in case you were wondering.