Buffalo Horn Bleaching & Dyeing
Buffalo Horn Bleaching & Dyeing
My idea is that horn should be able to accept leather dye, but may need to be boiled in an alkali solution to prepare it to accept the dye. I'm going to try a solution of sodium hydroxide and distilled water and boil the horn at a low temperature, which apparently has a bleaching effect. I'll post results here later in the month, but if anyone has any tips please let me know.
I'm trying to get blonde horn to the point where it has a candy apple red color for a project I'm working on.
Source:
- Maggie Campbell Pedersen - A Background to Horn
Chad Sobodash
02-02-2025, 05:40 PM #1After some discussion with Scott Balestreri, I want to try my hand at dyeing buffalo horn. He told me that he had purchased a specific dye for horn, but couldn't recall from where.
My idea is that horn should be able to accept leather dye, but may need to be boiled in an alkali solution to prepare it to accept the dye. I'm going to try a solution of sodium hydroxide and distilled water and boil the horn at a low temperature, which apparently has a bleaching effect. I'll post results here later in the month, but if anyone has any tips please let me know.
I'm trying to get blonde horn to the point where it has a candy apple red color for a project I'm working on.
Source:
- Maggie Campbell Pedersen - A Background to Horn
(02-06-2025, 02:34 AM)zdk Your first problem was talking with Scott. I have nothing to add to help
I talked with my horn supplier today and it sounds like they use peroxide to bleach horn before adding dye (and couldn't tell me anything about the dye other than 'it's dye'). I might try one in peroxide and one in caustic soda and post both results here.
Chad Sobodash
02-07-2025, 08:14 PM #3(02-06-2025, 02:34 AM)zdk Your first problem was talking with Scott. I have nothing to add to help
I talked with my horn supplier today and it sounds like they use peroxide to bleach horn before adding dye (and couldn't tell me anything about the dye other than 'it's dye'). I might try one in peroxide and one in caustic soda and post both results here.
(03-17-2025, 08:50 PM)zdk Any update here Chad?
Had unsuccessful results that couldn't really retain dye. Any exposure to skin or oil would cause the color to just sort of fall out of the pores in the frame.. I'm now working on dyeing a sheet for laminate, and working on a piece that is dyed only on the front, but a bunch of other stuff has kinda gotten in the way. Pics to follow sometime this week.
Chad Sobodash
03-18-2025, 03:56 AM #5(03-17-2025, 08:50 PM)zdk Any update here Chad?
Had unsuccessful results that couldn't really retain dye. Any exposure to skin or oil would cause the color to just sort of fall out of the pores in the frame.. I'm now working on dyeing a sheet for laminate, and working on a piece that is dyed only on the front, but a bunch of other stuff has kinda gotten in the way. Pics to follow sometime this week.
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