Anyone got experience with this???

[Alan Morrison]

My grandson in Australia sent me this link showing dyed bone. I wondered if it could be applied to pen making but don't know the process.

Handmade Damascus Bowie Knife 12.5 Inches 167 Layers Hammer Finished B

Handmade Damascus Steel 12.50 Inches Damascus Steel Bowie Knive - Camel Bone Brass Spicer Handle With Damascus Guard/pommel. Camping Survival Razor Sharp Bowie Knife Outdoor Hunting Specification: Blade Length: 19.05cm (7.5 Inches) Handle Length: 12.7cm (5 Inches) Overall Length: 31.7.5cm...

nooraki.com.au

 

[howsitwork]

Only ones I know who've done that are Kip Christiansen and he , I think, is on this site?

I saw him demonstrate bone turning here many years ago at one of Alan Barry's UK seminars . I think I have a copy of a book he wrote somewhere. I'll have a search . From memory ( and comments fro the late great Bill Jones ) you boil the bones first to bleach them . I suppose you can add colour to the boil ? Never done it though.

I do recall both of these masters said the dust when working bone was very unpleasant .

Sorry can't be more help at the moment Alan

 

[Alan Morrison]

Only ones I know who've done that are Kip Christiansen and he , I think, is on this site?

I saw him demonstrate bone turning here many years ago at one of Alan Barry's UK seminars . I think I have a copy of a book he wrote somewhere. I'll have a search . From memory ( and comments fro the late great Bill Jones ) you boil the bones first to bleach them . I suppose you can add colour to the boil ? Never done it though.

I do recall both of these masters said the dust when working bone was very unpleasant .

Sorry can't be more help at the moment Alan

Ian, I was not aware that you could dye bone to look like that, it was just that the wee grandson sent me the link. The blue dyed bone looks great....I think that it is camel bone.
I have only turned antler and horn before, and am very considerate of the dust ( and the workshop smelling like a dentists )

I saw a youtube that showed someone stabilising the bone with cactus juice ( which I have to get my head around) before dyeing.
Maybe it's something similar of a result to boiling, I don't know.

 

[wolf creek knives]

From experience Alan the bone I've used on knives, not a bunch, always came pre-colored. I would think using a dye in Cactus Juice might work but I would be sure to stabilize the bone with the dye, not stabilizing and then trying to dye it. As for Antler, not a good experience. I found an old shed (looked like it was shed years ago), in the creek up by our cabin. So I took it home, put it in the dehydrator for 3 days (really stunk up the shop) and then proceeded to cut it up for knife handles. Holy Smoke!!! My shop stunk like an old $ar! for days even with the air scrubber left on for hours. One of the vendors I've used in the past sells bone but I've yet to try it. I'm pretty sure it would gag a pole cat.
So if you're interested in Cactus Juice I can help you there. Great stuff and I've always had great results. I just finished a batch of Norfolk Pine and it came out great. Hope this helps and sorry for rambling on. Hello to you and Ian (@howsitwork) and stay healthy!!