how to age pearloid inlays

[dmraco]

I have a new guitar with nice shiney white pearloid inlays.  Is there a way to yellow them up?  I would rather not use chemicals.  Do you think an amber dye would work?

 

[Superlizard]

I'd wonder if dipping them in a cup of coffee would do the trick... they use that to age plastic strat knobs and the like.

 

[bagman67]

Or tea - trouble is, they're already installed on the guitar, yes?

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Is Amber Dye not a chemical?  I'd be concerned how to contain it from running.

 

[dmraco]

Or tea - trouble is, they're already installed on the guitar, yes?

Yes... they are connected...hence my delema...the coffee or tea may work other wise

I suppose the dye is a chemical.  I was speaking more of acids or other caustic chemicals that could damage the wood or glue holding the inlays in.

I did try the dye last night...applying with a q-tip.  No success in the diluted form.  Nothing for it to grab onto since the surface is so smooth.

Now considering an amber poly or lacquer.  I just need a good test piece

 

[swarfrat]

Good luck finding any substance on earth which is not chemical in nature.

 

[dmraco]

Good luck finding any substance on earth which is not chemical in nature.

always a wise guy :laughing3:

OK...non-caustic chemicals

 

[Cagey]

I did try the dye last night...applying with a q-tip.  No success in the diluted form.  Nothing for it to grab onto since the surface is so smooth.
Now considering an amber poly or lacquer.  I just need a good test piece

If dye won't stick, it's highly unlikely anything else will. Dyes are pretty aggressive. Whatever those inlays are made of, they're behaving like Teflon. You may have to burn them to change their color.

 

[tangent]

Acrylic paint (the binder for acrylic paint is basically like glue.. it will stick to almost anything that isn't excessively oily)

Since these are on your fretboard, you will want to either use a heat curable acrylic paint or put a light coat of poly on top

I painted some inlays on my fretboard green and none has come off after 6 months of playing.  I used createx airbrush paints which are heat curable, I used a heat gun (very carefully) but you can cure them using a hairdryer as well.  Also BTW I applied the paint with a q-tip, not an airbrush =)

Another nice thing about createx line is they make most of their colors in both opaque and transparent versions, one of the transparent yellow shades should do a good job of tinting the inlay without completely obscuring the underlying pearloid.

 

[jackthehack]

Good luck finding any substance on earth which is not chemical in nature.

always a wise guy :laughing3:

OK...non-caustic chemicals

Try peeing on them?

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Sunlight (or cigarette smoke) might fade them a bit.

 

[swarfrat]

I figure 98% of "aging" both for guitars and people, is sunlight, beer and cigarettes.

 

[clewnii]

Sunlight (or cigarette smoke) might fade them a bit.

cigarette as in "Tar" ?

 

[-CB-]

Good luck finding any substance on earth which is not chemical in nature.

Ideas have substance, and are not chemical !!!

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Good luck finding any substance on earth which is not chemical in nature.

Ideas have substance, and are not chemical !!!

A chemical reaction in your brain (or Drambuie) lead you to think that.