Fresh from the dye pot!

markksr

markksr

Joined
Mar 15, 2007
Messages
9,092
So I picked up this 1958-60 Queen here on the Exchange a few weeks ago with the intent to dye the scales red. I love red bone and yet seem to have given away any red bone knives I have had. That has now been remedied nicely. :thumbup:

What do you think?

DSC03498.jpg


DSC03497.jpg


DSC03500.jpg


I am happy with it. :)
 
Last edited:
jc57 said:
No "before" pics? Looks really good after!
Click to expand...

LOL... Sorry... As much as I like taking pictures, there really is no excuse for that... :o

I intended to grab the picture from the For Sale thread only to find the seller has removed them. Hopefully he might see this and post them for me if he still has them.

I have another old Queen that looks a bit like this one did, I'll post a picture of it shortly. :thumbup:




Edited to add:

This older Queen gives you an idea what the knife looked like before. It actually had none of the brown left in the grooves at all...
DSC03501.jpg
 
Last edited:
hmmm -looks good alright but is that the same knife?
or is it like those weight loss pics where they get the worst most dregged out looking pic next to one with new clothes, make up standing up straight and sucking the gut in?:D
 
Not the same knife... LOL...
As stated above, that is another older Queen that I have, but it gives an idea what the scales looked like.
 
Well done. Every time I see one of these I'm reminded of a S&M I have with uninspiring bone scales. Want to share ant details of time and temps?

Mark
 
Did you sand down the knife before applying the dye? Do you plan on putting a sealant over that, or don't need it?
 
Pretty much just simmered it on the stove in water/dye for about 30min.

There is an excellent tutorial that I (sort of) followed. I will edit in the link when I get to my computer.
Here it is: Dyeing Bone: A Tutorial

No sanding and no sealant. Don't think sealant is needed with RIT Dye but if I had some Ren Wax or similar I am certain it would look even better. I am just not the Ren Wax type, more the wipe it on my jeens type... ;)
 
Last edited:
Really nice work, very worthwhile outcome.

What sort of volume of liquid is needed? I had this recent CASE Humpback Half Whittler in their notorious 'Red' cough! bone, more like liquid pink with white streaks near the bolsters :barf: I tried a dye with very strong tea and a bit of salt overnight, it certainly darkened it but your effort is much superior. Can't get that leather dye here in Europe I suspect. Interestingly, the tea dye did an excellent job on some stag. turned the carbon blades & backspring really black!:D

Thanks, Will
 
Thanks again to all for the compliments!

RIT Dye is a clothing dye more than a leather dye. Very old and common stuff here in the US. I grabbed mine at the local Walmart in the laundry detergent section. (Also grabbed a bottle of brown to dye a vest of which I didn't like the camo pattern.)

I used just enough water to cover the knife in the bottom of a saucepan and maybe an ounce or two of dye mixed in with a dash of salt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top