- Joined
- Apr 20, 2005
- Messages
- 2,351
First of all this is probably long overdue. I will try to get across what works
for me in the world of dyeing and jigging bone. I've been messing with this
for about 12 years or so, some success, some not. I will try to describe
my methods.
Slab and grind a dome on the bone before jigging, the bits I use are simple
dremel, or router bits, or I make them depending what I'm after. Left to
right in the pic is as I buy it, slabbed and jigged, and finally dyed and jigged.
The first dyed set is what you don't want to do. This usually results from
there being a dry chalky looking spot on the bone. To remedy this I boil the
bone in water for 15 or 20 min (hard rolling boil) take the bone out hot and
look thru it against a lite bulb. If the scales look about the same degree of
translucency they go into the spirit based (regular) leather dye. Leave the
bone in the dye for a couple of days then take it out and let it dry for about
a week. Put the scales in lemon or mineral oil and there you have it the
dye went into the dry chalky spot.
Now for the oil dye. If there aren't any dry or chalky looking spots after
jigging put the scales in gasoline overnite. The next day paper towel them
dry and check to see that they look fairly uniforn against a lite bulb. If
they look good put them in oil dye. Experiment with times on this to check
for depth of color penetration.
The second set was in golden oak oil stain untill saturated, let dry and then
mahogany oil dye brushed on over and let dry. There seems to be so many
variables to doing this that I'd guess thats what keeps me interested. I'm
sure there are other methods that would work but after years of crockpots
and what not this is how the bone that you see on my knives is done.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL All of this stuff is FLAMMABLE
Will do my best to answer any questions.
Ken Coats.
[/IMG]
for me in the world of dyeing and jigging bone. I've been messing with this
for about 12 years or so, some success, some not. I will try to describe
my methods.
Slab and grind a dome on the bone before jigging, the bits I use are simple
dremel, or router bits, or I make them depending what I'm after. Left to
right in the pic is as I buy it, slabbed and jigged, and finally dyed and jigged.
The first dyed set is what you don't want to do. This usually results from
there being a dry chalky looking spot on the bone. To remedy this I boil the
bone in water for 15 or 20 min (hard rolling boil) take the bone out hot and
look thru it against a lite bulb. If the scales look about the same degree of
translucency they go into the spirit based (regular) leather dye. Leave the
bone in the dye for a couple of days then take it out and let it dry for about
a week. Put the scales in lemon or mineral oil and there you have it the
dye went into the dry chalky spot.
Now for the oil dye. If there aren't any dry or chalky looking spots after
jigging put the scales in gasoline overnite. The next day paper towel them
dry and check to see that they look fairly uniforn against a lite bulb. If
they look good put them in oil dye. Experiment with times on this to check
for depth of color penetration.
The second set was in golden oak oil stain untill saturated, let dry and then
mahogany oil dye brushed on over and let dry. There seems to be so many
variables to doing this that I'd guess thats what keeps me interested. I'm
sure there are other methods that would work but after years of crockpots
and what not this is how the bone that you see on my knives is done.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL All of this stuff is FLAMMABLE
Will do my best to answer any questions.
Ken Coats.
Time to switch to glass
