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I have used India Ink to dye both maple and cherry with good success, but that was under a finish. I am wondering if I dye ebony if the dye will come off on your fingers when you play on it? If so, what would you use that might penetrate a little and not rub off?

Ed

Try this.

https://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_S ... Stain.html

B

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Bri - thanks

That's India Ink. So I guess they are saying that India Ink won't come off on your fingers? Good to know.

Ed

Cheap violin fingerboards (white wood) are often dyed with fiebings leather dye.

The Higgins India Ink doesn't come off.

Fiebing's Leather Dye does not come off either, but it is bluish on some woods, and like other alcohol-based dyes may be prone to fading. I've used it over the years, but have not kept any of the dyed items long enough to have personal experience of its fading or permanence.

There's an interesting (to me) article on India ink here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_ink

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Tim

That article is oddly specific on other uses of India Ink. For example:

"Model railroaders use a mixture of India ink and isopropyl alcohol as a wood stain, graying wood to appear aged and to bring out detail."

So India Ink it is - thanks all. I may have some Fiebings Black Leather Dye down there too - maybe a comparison?

Ed

If you were going to dye an entire guitar black then Mohawk ultra penetrating stain might be a good choice. It has alcohol as a carrier and can be used to color or tone both solvent based and waterborne finishes in addition to being a wood stain. It's about $25 a quart or $60 a gallon and would dye a lot of fingerboards. It is a nicer black than the leather dye, but not something you can pick up in the average big box store.

Black shoe dye followed by a coat or 2 of wax buffed out with 400 grit fine paper works on vln FB

Thanks - shoe dye is probably alcohol based like Feibings.

I restored a split-open 1933 Gibson L-00 with a very good neck. Modern black lacquer on the body matched the original black of the neck exactly. Wonder what is used to tint lacquer?

Ed

You can use Mohawk ultra penetrating stains to tint lacquer. Lamp black is another possibility to make a black lacquer.