Best and cheapest Dyes for Bone ?

[airborne09]

Not sure if this is the right section of the forum to send this thread but here goes . I am looking to dye the scales on a couple of slipjoint knives I have ( a light blue colour ) . The bone on these scales is bovine / cow bone , any ideas as to which type of dyes would be much appreciated , ie water based or whatever . Thanks

 

[Tengu]

I dont know!

And historically osseus projects were dyed.

I suspect they used some nasty things like verdigris, maybe.

Try Kool Aid?

 

[bobnewboy]

I think I’d try Fiebings oil based dyes. I can’t see water based dyes really doing too much.

 

[airborne09]

Ive heard that food colouring can be used but I wondered if you would get any bleed from that after handling the knife ? unless a sealant could be used ?

 

[Toddy]

We dyed bone beads by boiling them up in strong tea....walnut hulls would probably do the job too.

Honestly ? I think I'd just buy a leather dye for a decent job on a knife handle.

 

[airborne09]

Thanks Guys

 

[Toddy]

Be interesting to hear how you get on with it, and what you think about the result.