Three from the vat

[mr_badexample]

The dye vat that is. After checking out jkulysses peanut tea dye how to I decided to try it myself on a few bone handled slip joints.

The first is a Steel Warrior peanut. I used the same ingredients as jkulysses. Black tea and coffee grinds. My grinds were used because I ran out of coffee that day. Not sure if that matters.
Before pics is on the left.




Not the greatest pics,sorry. The weather here has made outdoor pics a challenge.
It's a nice warm brown that is more evenly colored across the entire scale.

I also tried it on this Queen stockman I recently grabbed off the exchange. I love the color of the pile side. The mark side is much lighter and I hoped to darken it. The results unfortunately were not so great. After talking with jkulysses I realized that the mix was likely not hot enough with the queen. I may try again as there is some progress on the one corner. It also put a neat purple patina on the D2 blades. Again the pics are not the greatest.

This time before is on top and after is bottom.

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Patina!





Next I decided to try the dye method. I purchase some scarlet RIT dye in powdered form. This was the only shade of red available. The subject is my Boker Plus stockman with punch. This one turned well.

Before is on the left.








So that's it, thanks for looking. Comments, questions, suggestions are welcome.

Brian

 

[gunstockjack]

That red came out extremely nice, Brian. I've considered trying it on some otherwise plain stag covers before, but never had the nerve. Maybe I'll give it a shot sometime.

 

[Sonnemann]

RIT dye is the way to go from my experience for red bone or dark brown. I do like the tea and coffee results some people have been posting though. Nice job!

 

[Will Power]

The Böker emerged very well.

As for the Tea Party...I think you could degrease the handles with lighter fuel etc before immersion. Use A LOT of strong tea, four bags and boling water, pinch of salt too. Had very good results on Stag with this method and on bone too.

Thanks, Will

 

[jone]

Wow! That Boker looks amazing. Make me want to try it. Thanks for sharing.

 

[mr_badexample]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Will I degreased with rubbing alcohol beforehand and used a pinch of salt too. I think adding a few more tea bags sounds good.

 

[jkulysses]

That is such a huge improvement on that Broker! I love the way it turned out & I'm going to try that scarlet dye out on a knife for sure. I think I will do it on a Case with the amber bone see what happens. I'm almost positive the temperature is why the Queen didn't turn like you hoped it would or lack of temperature I guess I should say.

Speaking of temperature you told me it was snowing there this afternoon. It was in the mid 70's here yesterday & 60's today not a cloud in the sky. Been a very weird winter here!