Does anyone know how to antique bone and horn to a yellow or brown color???

I got an Orvis fly fishing catalog today and found a couple of Dan Winkler Limited Edition Knives in it.  Now that I have figured out the flared finger guard, next on my want to learn list is Antiquing Bone and Horn!  Here is a picture of the Winkler knives.  Thanks for any help...tippit

 

 

Tea will stain them but not very deep. I would guess they use some sort of vacuum system to get the dye in deep like stabilizing wood. Might try some leather dye and see if it works. Maybe some of the others can help. I have seen some antiqued giraffe bone of late on the auction site.

Wow Jeff those Winklers are some beautiful knives.I love the middle pic.Paul aka a 1st week bear hunter.He told use the name of a compound used by taxiderme-man to darken horns antlers or bone.The longer you live it in the solotion the darker the matiral will get.It actually penatrates the pours.Where as stain and or inks and dye's do not get into the pours.I will try and contact him asap....talk soon bowdoc

I believe it's Potasium Permanganate crystals mixed with water. Soak the antler or bone in it or wipe it on. Wear gloves or you'll have purple hands. The piece will be purple till it dries and it will take on a nice brown, natural looking color.

This stuff is easy to get from swimming pool supplies. You may have to experiment till your happy with the color. Lin

I believe Len is correct Jeff.Thanks Len I would never have been able to spell that one....bowdoc

Thanks Lin & Bowdoc.  I thought patasium permanganate was the stuff but I'd never used it before.  I'll call around tomorrow.

I heard if you boil onion skins, reduce the heat then as it cools let the horn soak that will add a nice patina!  I have never tried it.

The potasium permanganate works well darkening Osage, you can actually see the wood oxidize that quick.

Is a trip to the Orvis shop in the near future Jeff?

Has anyone tried boiling walnuts, like used for boiling your traps in?.-Rod

Vermonster,  A trip to the Orvis store might be in the near future...but not for one of Dan's knives.  Dan makes some gorgeous knives then Orvis adds their cut!  I'm just trying to add a Keeslar/Winkler twist to a lowly tippit blade  

Doc,I know you can do that nice of work.I've seen some...We will be waiting to see it..bd

Doc, Taxidermy supplies like vanDykes has PP.

A torch will work too.

Thanks Dan, I never thought of a torch...kinda like flaming a bamboo rod.  I'll give that try too.

yup a torch works real well. After your done you can wipe the antler or bone down with a damp cloth and even correct minor errors with oooo steel wool. Wear a mask of some type though. Burnt bone/antler is a very nasty smell.

Hey Doc I wanted to see how the torch worked.I was thinking it's gotta be safer then some swimming pool whatever that stuff Bernie spelled.So I torched a peace of fairly bleached out mule deer antler.Here's a pic hope you can see it OK.Hey thank you guy's for the info,it may be stinkier,but it's gotta be safer for you.bd    

you got it Bd. The best part about using a torch
is that if you have a nice piece of antler with character you can burn it different darknesses for depth of color.

I figured we could handle the goods in person Doc. Up close and personal look at the finish.

Bowdoc, Dang I had my bathing suite, mask, and flippers already on and ready to got to work     That's not your swizzle stick is it  :eek:

Vermonster,  That might just be a great idea.  They probably have one of those at the Headquater store!  You keep 'em occupied while I trace it    Doc

If you do use the potasium permanganate, be sure to follow Lin's advice and wear rubber gloves.  I had to clean up some that had spilled a few years ago and didn't know it would stain like it does.  I was sweating a lot and wound up with purple hands and purple spots all over my arms and legs for a week.  Boiling walnut hulls gives a nice dark brown die for leather, but I don't know how it would work for bone/antler/horn.  A torch works real good if you're careful.

Todd