Ebonizing rosewood??

BluesBop Harry

I have an spare Dupont bridge I'd like to use but it is natural rosewood and I like it to be darker. Anyone knows how to ebonize it??
I read you have to apply some kind of vinegar solution to dye the wood but I don't know exactly how to do it.
Anyone??

Bob Holo

Look for aniline dye - there are various brands and you can get it in water or alcohol versions - actually a lot of it comes powdered and you mix it. If it's just one bridge though - there are two easier solutions:

1.) Premade fingerboard dye http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproduc ... rboard+Dye

2.) Magic Marker - which will make it a little blue but buff it lightly with 0000 steel wool and cloth and it will look 'close enough'

Oh, by the way - for the alcohol soluble dyes - just use high octane grain alcohol - not methyl. Grain alcohol is much safer for you and if the bridge doesn't turn out at least you get a bottle of booze out of the deal

BluesBop Harry

Thanks Bob, I think I'll go the magic marker way this time.

CalebFSU

Bob Holo wrote:

Oh, by the way - for the alcohol soluble dyes - just use high octane grain alcohol - not methyl. Grain alcohol is much safer for you and if the bridge doesn't turn out at least you get a bottle of booze out of the deal

Bob I like your way of thinking

Bob Holo

Yeah baby... white lightning...

Oh, and actually - not Magic Marker... use a Sharpie - (the permanent one) I mis-spoke earlier.

Klezmorim

Bob Holo wrote:

Yeah baby... white lightning...

...I mis-spoke earlier.

Hmm, yeah, maybe too much o' that "light whitening," perhaps?

Bohemian

Find a shoe repair that carries small bottles of Boot and Leather dye

This is premixed analine dye...

Brand names would be Lincoln , Angelus, Feibings

About $5 enough to do 100 bridges

wipe on let dry buff with t shirt done deal

repeat if necessary

wear gloves and old clothes, work over a newspaper covered old bench