Black aniline dye on fretboard

[Joe Lanza]

I have an ipe fretboard (and bridge) that I need to dye black. Any reason not to use regular water soluble aniline dye (Behlen's), rather than the leather dye that StewMac sells for fingerboards?

[Nick Middleton]

I've never tried it. I use the leather dye since it was what all the major manufactures use so I figured not to mess with a good thing. Maybe someone else can chime in?

[Barry Daniels]

You can also buy the leather dye at many shoe stores, some drug stores, and even some grocery stores.

[Darrel Friesen]

I bought the leather dye at a Tandy's leather store.

[David King]

I have the Fiebring leather dye and the black transtint. I'd say leather dye is a disappointment by comparison. It has the purplish cast and isn't very dark. It also rubs off on everything for quite a while.

[Joe Lanza]

Thanks to all. David, do you apply the Transtint before or after installing frets? And do you put anything else on the board (oil?) after the dye?

[David King]

Joe,
I think I'd want to apply it before installing the frets just for the ease and continuity. You can apply it to just the the streaks you want to darken or apply it uniformly. Because transtint is water and alcohol soluble I'd apply a drying oil as a barrier.

[Joe Lanza]

Great. Thank you, David.