Recolouring Antlers

[Tengu]

Got hold of some more antlers. (To the chagrin of Dad who had a big one fall on him. `They are safe until you knock them down`)

But some have been out a bit and are bleached...how do I get them brown again?

I thoght of using wood stain but am not sure

 

[Broch]

Can't help you with how to recolour them, sorry. However, one of the most beautiful red deer antlers I have seen was completely bleached white by the sea and sun and was quite stunning (quite a large one as well). Do they really need to be brown?

Sorry, I don't know what you use your antlers for so my comments may be totally unrelated to your needs

 

[Snake]

a quick look on bush wear and I came up with this https://www.bushwear.co.uk/st-hubertus-antler-stain-353803.html, (no affiliation, just a customer)
but then did a quick search on the stalking directory and came across this thread https://www.thestalkingdirectory.co...15-Staining-antler?highlight=staining+antlers
I know the pics are gone, but the description is still good, and it seems the answer is potassium permanganate.

 

[Billy-o]

I sometimes idly dream about a lovely little folding knife with red-dyed stag scales.

I wonder if coffee or RIT or Dylon would work ... I have dyed things with felt tip markers before now.

What is that reddish brown powder that Sami use to stain antler with?

 

[Dogoak]

Ive used Liberon Black Bison Paste, antique pine, Briwax, p7, antique pine is similar, in the past, seems to work well.

 

[Janne]

I sometimes idly dream about a lovely little folding knife with red-dyed stag scales.

I wonder if coffee or RIT or Dylon would work ... I have dyed things with felt tip markers before now.

What is that reddish brown powder that Sami use to stain antler with?

Traditionally, Same’s colored the antlers brienish red by immersing them for extended times in the swamps/marshes.
To whiten, they placed them in streams originating in snow melts and exposing to the sun

 

[Tengu]

Which is exactly what antler workers did in this country...

I can find a peat bog...but can I find my project afterwards???

(Let not talk about experimental archaeology fails through lost items.)

 

[Janne]

If more than one culture did it - must then be a good technique!

I guess tying a string and using a colored stake or something would work?

 

[Keith_Beef]

You could try to recreate bog chemistry in a stainless steel tank or in an aquarium. Maybe a bag of ericaceous earth, water, and add something like iron oxide, potassium permanganate or some combination.

 

[Billy-o]

Yes, buy a bag of peat and keep it wet ... grow next years tomatoes in it

 

[hog]

I sometimes idly dream about a lovely little folding knife with red-dyed stag scales.

I wonder if coffee or RIT or Dylon would work ... I have dyed things with felt tip markers before now.

What is that reddish brown powder that Sami use to stain antler with?

I think it is the inside powder from scraped birch bark.

 

[paleotool]

I regularly colour antler by steeping in very strong, hot tea (after cutting, and finishing the object). Sometimes as long as 24 hours. Works well and different teas give various shades of brown or reddish brown.

 

[Buckshot]

I've coloured antlers before using the pot per method
works surprisingly well for a purple solution!

 

[Navek]

Best things for antlers is fiebings dark brown leather dye . I’ve used it loads on antlers , i sand bits down to show the grain in the antler .

 

[Nice65]

Best things for antlers is fiebings dark brown leather dye . I’ve used it loads on antlers , i sand bits down to show the grain in the antler .

I have two beautiful shaving brushes, one antler and one cow horn. The antler faded from sunshine on the bathroom window ledge. I sent it off for a spa treatment, the maker uses leather dye. For added info, he seals the end grain pores with dry rot wood treatment. It fills the pores, (and rotten wood) and then hardens enough to take fine polishing.

 

[Navek]

I have two beautiful shaving brushes, one antler and one cow horn. The antler faded from sunshine on the bathroom window ledge. I sent it off for a spa treatment, the maker uses leather dye. For added info, he seals the end grain pores with dry rot wood treatment. It fills the pores, (and rotten wood) and then hardens enough to take fine polishing.

I won’t use anything else now other than fiebings dark brown leather dye , it really is excellent stuff