Bone dyeing

Jewelry Discussion
1

I have some beautiful Green Men of carved bone. They have a very
high gloss, and the vendor thinks they were finished with something
like Zam (which I know nothing about). I would like to try dyeing
one of them green. Does anyone have any suggestions for removing
any waxy or oily or other component left by the polishing? And
someone once mentioned some high-quality water-based dyes - does
anyone remember the name?

Thanks.
Tas

2

heya I use acetone to remove dirt from shell and bone from glue to
oil to beeswax mixture I use as a dop wax for lighter duty working

looking for dyes myself to use on alabaster so watchin ghtis thread

America’s Only cameo Artist
www.cameoartist.com

3

I am confused. Why dye a green man green if it is already green? Am
I missing something here?

Jerry in Kodiak

4

I don’t recall that post, but I’'ve gotten decent results from
alcohol based leather dye. Zam is a pretty standard polishing
medium, it generally doesn’t leave much wax residue. I’d try
wiping/scrubbing them down with denatured alcohol first.

Ron Charlotte – Gainesville, FL
@Ron_Charlotte1 OR afn03234@afn.org

5

I’m assuming that “GreenMan” refers to the shape/style,… as in the
forest fellow with the leaves, not the colour. :slight_smile: And I’m not sure
how safe the leather dyes are- they are aniline or orosol dyes, just
like the stuff we use on furniture in the prop shop,… so, would
you seal them with something???

Martina

6 
Why dye a green man green if it is already green? Am I missing
something here?

When I clicked “send” I KNEW I should have covered that. :wink: The
Green Man is not necessarily a green man. He’s a symbol, like Mother
Nature, of growing things. He’s usually carved as a face with leaves
for hair, beard, etc, berries over his ears, whatever. Sort of a Pan
figure maybe. But the carvings I have are bone-white (there’s one on
my website on the Earth Mother page).

Tas
www.earthlywealth.com

7 
And I'm not sure how safe the leather dyes are- they are aniline or
orosol dyes, just like the stuff we use on furniture in the prop
shop,.... so, would you seal them with something???

Leather dyes are the same types of pigment used in fabric dyes, but
in an alcohol base. In truth, I’ve never seen a msds for the stuff,
but the denatured alcohol base is probably the most dangerous thing
in it. I’d seal them with a good wax buffing. Leather dye is
designed for items that have a lot of skin contact and handling.
Once it sets, the only thing I know of that makes these dyes crock
much is solvents.

There are a number of natural dyes that take on bone as well, but
you have to pre-treat the material with a mordant like alum, and
it’s a lot more involved.

Ron Charlotte – Gainesville, FL
@Ron_Charlotte1 OR afn03234@afn.org