Dying Knife Scales

A

abrig005

Joined
Nov 26, 2012
Messages
18
What is the best way to dye knife handles? Not staining but a dye additive that is mixed with stabilizing agent? Best wood to use?
Thanks!
 
I've never done this myself, but I'd be really interested to find out. I have a few older knives I'd love to be able to dye.
 
I made some knives with stabilized and dyed scaled--mostly dark blues and purples. They look very unique. If I knew how to post a picture I would show you.
 
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I've got a lot of exp dying G10, FRN and Benchmades polymer it uses on the griptilian line (whatever its trade name is). I use liquid and/or powder RiT dye (no difference, some colors are one and some are the other, you can even mix them together). I mix the liquid dye per instructions but I add one cup of vinegar. I mix the powder per instructions but I use a 50% water 50% vinegar mix for the total amount of water it calls for.

The longer you leave it in darkens the color so there is no set time. After you dye it rinse it in boiling water for 5 min.

I have found spyderco's FRN and [any] G10 to hold the color the best, on my mini grip, it doesn't wash but the handle scratches easier and anything more than a paper width deep and you'll scratch threw the color. FRN and G10 seem to be more resilient in that I've never needed to re-dye anything I've done of either of those materials, I have to re-dye my mini grip about every 6 months. I used a custom mixed color on my mini grip but that's ok cause I just save th dye in a gatoraid bottle, it keeps just fine at room temp.

I know for a fact it'll hold up to being submerged for 5 minutes in both gas and alcohol yet the rit color remover claims to work of you want to redo it or go back to stock (seen people here say that too but never tried it).
 
Not really sure what you're asking... If you want to use dyed wood, buy some stabilized dyed stuff that appeals to you.

If you *really* want to do it yourself you'll need a stabilizing chamber, a pump, a resin like Cactus Juice and resin dye.

Unless you plan to do a bunch it's probably best to just buy some stabilized wood that you like.

If you want to go super ghetto you could try a brake bleeder pump and mason jar, minwax wood hardener and resin dye, but I have NO idea how well that would work. Still probably cheaper to just buy the quality piece straight outta the gate.
 
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