Elk Antler Staining?

[TK Steingass]

My brother sent me a huge box full of elk antler. It's all a light bone color with no color contrast like sambar stag has. Can it be stained to give it some color contrast?

 

[godogs57]

Sure it can....I use it all the time. Potassium permanganate works, leather dye works, as does Briwax stain (google it). All three work great. Briwax is the easiest. Get the dark walnut or dark oak stain if you get some.

 

[John L]

Try the Potassium permanganate. It does not stain the antler..it burns it. Almost all stag is treated with PP whether you know it or not. Years ago the PP was used as a disinfectant when shipping from India to England and after many years it was expected as it also colored the stag a deeper brown and black. The amount of time you apply the PP will determine the deepness of color. Staining with oil stains works but it is not necessarily permanant as is the burning with PP. PP is easily found on Ebay in various quantities. Use it in a saturated mixture.

 

[TK Steingass]

Thanks fellas - I'll give it a whirl!

TK:thumbup:

 

[Burl Source]

Bill DeShivs did a tutorial on dying antler a little while back that I thought was really good.

This should take you there.
Tutorial: Dyeing stag