Frederick Reynolds wearing home dyed honey horn scales

I have used hair dye in the past to restore original scales with good success. This is my first attempt on new honey horn scales. On original scales 1 hour is enough to get a nice deep colors. 2 hours lightly etched the scales so that was too long. On new horn after 1 hour I washed off just a small section of the dye and found almost no color. I reapplied to that area and let it set another hour. Washing off the dye after the second hour I found even color but transparent. I mixed more dye and applied and let set for 3 hours more. So a total of 5 hours. The color was dark and smooth with no etching. The scales were finish polished before application of the dye. After rinsing in water and drying the scales they received a coat of Renaissance Wax.
I wonder if the old masters used some process to prepare the scales for the dye to improve penetration. Perhaps the dyes they used were just more caustic.
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Nice work! :tu

I remember Neil Miller describing the process by which they dyed horn back when.
I forget the details, but it was a nasty, hazardous procedure.

Wow. Those are beautiful scales. :tu

Super cool results on those scales sir! Thanks for sharing the process.
The rest, as always, impeccably cleaned up.
Nice job..
:tu

I am impressed. The blade is you usual very nice work, and the scales are over the top

Amazing as usual. Your a master!

Great job, now that is a nice result! Blade and scales beautiful together.

Lovely work as always :beer1:

Very nice tortoisy looks! Horn and hair are both made of keratin.
So you may want to speak to a hairdresser and ask how hair is prepared before dying.

Amazingly awesome job there, as usual.

Oh wow! The scales look fantastic. Spot on for the old style.

Very nice. Thanks for describing the process to dye the scales.

I'd say that the dye, and the rest of the razor came out perfectly.

Pete <:-}

Simply beautiful! Your pinning is outstanding, as well!

The 'Hits Keep Coming' ...another Beauty Karl!

More phenomenal work! I'd say you have the process down quite well from the looks of it.

Nice work, you've given that razor a whole new life. ;)

Karl, beautiful restoration, as usual. Especially like what you did with the scales. They look super. Nice factory like cup washers!!!!!!

Wonderful job Karl. Amazing work as always Sir.