Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: seminolewind on January 15, 2014, 03:43:59 pm

Title: Staining bone...
Post by: seminolewind on January 15, 2014, 03:43:59 pm
Does anyone have any ideas on how to permanently stain deer or elk bones? What would make them a dark brown color?

Thanks !
Title: Re: Staining bone...
Post by: thomas h on January 15, 2014, 03:48:35 pm
potassium permanganate,fiebing leather dye or soak in a strong solution of rit dye --hot.
Title: Re: Staining bone...
Post by: Pat B on January 15, 2014, 08:50:17 pm
Black walnut hulls.
Title: Re: Staining bone...
Post by: NeolithicMan on January 15, 2014, 08:56:07 pm
enough osage shavings boile down gets pretty dark, and darkens with age. charcoal mixed with a turpinetine or similar should work. i have used wood stains with pretty good results
Title: Re: Staining bone...
Post by: Zuma on January 15, 2014, 11:30:54 pm
I did a carving of a deer and plugged in a set of antlers from a skull I found. It was bleached out.
I used a walnut stain and a rag. Apply and wipe to suite. May want to thin the stain on first try.
A brush is good if there are gnarly parts but wipe to keep the drips in check.
That's my lazy way. The other posters have it right for the primitive way.
A well honed pair of antlers have a bit of gloss to them so a sprits of poly or a good
 oil can help in that department.
All the best
Zuma
Oh btw the antlers I did are in a thread 8 point wood carving. This forum
Title: Re: Staining bone...
Post by: mullet on January 17, 2014, 11:59:02 am
Walnut shell stain, shoe polish, Arab coffee.
Title: Re: Staining bone...
Post by: Adam on January 17, 2014, 12:01:06 pm
I had good luck soaking them in plain old Coke for a few days.  I'm not sure what the acidity does for the strength though.
Title: Re: Staining bone...
Post by: seminolewind on January 17, 2014, 01:11:43 pm
Thanks for all the good ideas as usual guys !
Title: Re: Staining bone...
Post by: bowtarist on January 17, 2014, 01:34:27 pm
Not sure what you're wanting to make, but tru oil brings out the natural colors in both bone and antler. Doesn't change the color, but will bring the darker colors out.  Two knives I last posted, Deep Penetration Knives post, I used tru oil.  Joe York told me to use tru oil on bleached antler to bring the color back into it, that's where I got the idea.
Title: Re: Staining bone...
Post by: Gus on January 17, 2014, 02:10:30 pm
you can also use a strong solution of tea or coffee to stain bone...

-gus
Title: Re: Staining bone...
Post by: bowtarist on January 17, 2014, 03:59:04 pm
you can also use a strong solution of tea or coffee to stain bone...

-gus

Works on my teeth!  :o ::) ;D ;D
Title: Re: Staining bone...
Post by: Scottski on January 18, 2014, 11:24:25 pm
I was thinking tea or coffee grounds enough to cover the bones with a lil water also.