Bone nuts - color change

[vh2580]

Hi Guys thought Id seen on the forum previously about using dye to colour a bone nut but was unable to find it.

Will a bone nut take a stain or dye to make it go black? Has anyone had a go at this?

[WeirdBits]

Bone in alcohol-based black dye test (http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/luthiers-corner/170313-making-bone-nut-blank-2.html#post3325964). There's a risk it could impact the longevity and/or properties of the bone, but worth a try.

[Tindrrel]

I'm also interested in this. I'm replacing the black plastic nut on my IB-5 with a dingobass bone nut.

I think I'd like it to be black.

Suggestions I've found include,

- black alcohol dye
- black shoe polish (alcohol based)
- kiwi brand brown shoe polish (perhaps black would do as well)
- sharpie (suggestion is that would fade though)
- black wood dye, then a sharpie, then glaze with cyano

Was wondering if anyone had tried making a black nut or knew about bone and dyes enough to suggest any of these methods over the others.

[Brendan]

Have seen some buffalo horn nuts around - no idea how good they are, but they are black... https://www.allparts.com/BN-0291-000-Water-Buffalo-Horn-Nut-Blank_p_770.html. Then again - I haven't read any positive reports about them (seem to be good for the low end, but lose highs and mids).

[keloooe]

If you dye an existing bone nut, most likely it will impact the longevity and hardness of the bone, personally I prefer to keep it in a natural colour