I've decided I want to dye some scales with some sort of fabric dye. If the canvas micarta is made with real cotton canvas(I assume it is), the cotton should bind dyes fairly well. It should be easy to apply since they absorb water so readily.

I also think you can force a pattern using an oil to keep the dye out of certain areas.

I'm not certain how many "rinse cycles" it would take to get the unbound dye out or if the oil would hold long enough to get the excess dye rinsed out without it bleeding into the whole scale.

Has anybody ever heard of doing anything like this with mounted scales? I dont think it would hurt the steel any and might be a fun easy way to customize a blade.

Right now I'm thinking about a tan/green pattern on my tan BAD.

Any advice, thoughts, or warnings?