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Hi, I want to stain a rosewood headstock to look like ebony, but I'm concerned as to whether it'll stain the MOP/abalone inlay...I read on a forum (somewhere ) that Clairol hair coloring makes a good one-shot ebony dye on the cheap and that's my plan thus far...anyone know if it'll ruin my inlay? Thanks, Larry.

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

I have not used hair dye. I use the Fiebing's black oil dye ebonizer. wiple on and wipe off and never had a problems. you can get it through StewMac ot LMI

Test & Verify...and of course please post your result

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I have a bunch of scrap pearl and rosewood. I will test the Calrol hair die this weekend and post the results Monday. see If I like it better than Fiebing's black oil dye.

Thanks Michael I'd sure hate to ruin the inlay! I went thru so much trouble getting it cut and in there, that it'd finish me and my lutherie follies if I had to re-do it! I'm eagerly awaiting the results!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

No problem

larry

your post inevitable raises the question: why are you dying rosewood to try to make it look like ebony when there is this stuff available that already looks like ebony? er.... well.... had a look at my supply of that stuff i referred to and guess what? it's called ebony!!!! seems like the hard way to a result.<g>

Ok, I knew this would come up...I had a guitar going with a rosewood headstock, and guess what the owner-to-be did? He saw one with an ebony one and wanted his to look like that! So, since the logo's already inlaid on the headstock and the neck's done and fretted, the shortest way to ebony is dye...so there' why, but I just don't want to ruin the inlay now and have to do it over! Hence my question...now, have you seen the "ebonoid" overlays that allied lutherie is selling? I ordered a half dozen and they are NICE!! Cheap too! Just so when I need ebony in the future, I have it...Also, wondering if the Clairol can be used on ebony f/b's to cover streaks and fill out the field around elaborate inlays like vines...

Larry

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

sorry larry, but i was so puzzled by the whole concept of dying rosewood to try to make it look like ebony i forgot to comment on the inlay aspects. don't you just hate clients like that. i usually use the $ dissuader.

none of the fingerboard dyes i've used have affected mop or ab. can't say anything about the clairol. when in doubt though the solution as always is test on scrap! don't forget the binding if applicable.crazymanmichael38478.9904282407

I have used Clairol dye on fingerboards and headstock, works great. It has 2 bottles in it one with the Dye and one with a conditioner. You are supposed to mix them together but I figure the wood doesn't need more conditioning so gave that bottle to my wife. I've used it on A fingerboard after the inlay and it did cover the pearl but it was just on the surfice so rubbed off easily. Remember though it only goes in so deep so if you are having to sand you want to sand first. I have tested it on all types of wood from Ebony to maple and while it may take a few coats it covers well. I've never used any wood or leather dye so can't compare it to those.arvey38478.9354398148

Do you suppose it works the other way?
Say a guy wanted his ebonoid overlay to look like rosewood? Does Clairol have anything that would do that?   

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Well alright then...just to be safe, I'm gonna wait til Michael does his test, and then I'll go for it...I'll let you know whether I end up making another neck or not!    Thanks for all the input guys!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Ok here are the test results from this weekend. I painted one coat of the Clairol 116 black hair coloring mixed 50%color and 50% activator. I let it set 10 min. then wipped off, allowed to air dry and wiped with Naptha. Here are pics of the results


First is IRW


This is BRW


Koa just to see


Some scrap pearl. I let the pearl set in solution over night. no infiltration at all.

I did a second coat on the IRW and it got much darker. As you can see in the pic's , the greatest reaction was in the Koa. The least was in BRW. Oil content seems to have a nutralizing affect but not by much. So If you dont mind the smell It works very well

Thanks for the pics Michael. By the way, how did your hair turn out?

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

You want to use Clairol #52 "Black Pearl Dye" for dying it. #115 isn't black enough and will probably take a number of coats. #52 is as black as black can be and works great. One coat (2 at the most) and EIR will be as dark as any ebony. Wear gloves of course. As I posted earlier it works great and is easily available. I can't compare it to any of the dyes as I haven't used them.

I am no chemist but I am sure with out resavation that it will not damage real pearl or abalone in any way. The color atached by chemical reaction to the acids in your hair, skin, or as in our case wood.