Brown dye from household materials

[Klara]

Does Amazon not ship to Israel at all, or just no leather dyes? My brown dye of choice is bister, which is a powder made from walnut skins or shells. (Full disclosure: I've used it for wood.) It should be considered safe enough to be shippable and importable, keeps indefinitely as long as kept dry, you only mix (with water) what you need (a little goes a long way) - it's a great product. 

But the easiest way would be oil (no matter which), sunlight and time. Leather will darken to brown tones...

Another idea which I am tempted to try out: A wash of watercolour paint.... Nope, washes off. What should work, however, is permanent markers. I just don't know whether they come in burgundy. I have a black silhuette on my ckeckbook cover and a Renault symbol on my keychain pendant, both still good.

Edited December 27, 2024 by Klara
Ideas added

[1961Mike]

Hi

Actually I have or at least HAD a Maroon Permanent marker.  I was BORED Xmas of 2023 and stenciled cheapo canvas bags for reusable grocery bags.

Later

[Nowandagain]

Kara, there are two levels of problems with shipping here by Amazon. Some vendors do not ship here, others do. But the second are government import regulations. I'm wondering if the government considers leather dye environmentally sensitive because of the VOCs. I've also noticed that no one will ship contact cement here via Amazon, perhaps for the same reason.

Knives are another sensitive issue. No one will ship a skiving knife here because Israel is very fussy over what knives are allowed in the country.

[Klara]

https://www.amazon.com/Powertex-Bister-Brown-Powder-24-75/dp/B014R862GQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JDPJXPEKOO8C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.oOgNRHeD2jGrHbLWLEu7GrZrLvbYJB87kLHrnovL2elQFmXu5q6JHaUYGod3fUJ9oj90zujaxlZbLb3YnSm6OhqREi2pz83Zwf6VfpTBF6xnvGwzLuTN7jXdYIFTeEXKoTwz8MSIf5pkpNuXSPppO1aSTyhezocYvIoRy8jVAKy6Vmsko2kk5-X-VY9J4qzoSb3WSkwZLAcBuvieGIAQCqRCUNX2YOQEiQK0UdyA8zk.oFd22DZT0dKHiNikfF82PoU_MmfllI7e7ihg_47IIK0&dib_tag=se&keywords=Bister&qid=1739300289&sprefix=bitter%2Cspecialty-aps%2C656&sr=8-1

This was my idea (I think. As I got some from my friend, I don't know the brand). No VOCs...

 

[Nowandagain]

Thanks for the tip. Apparently they do ship to Israel. What did you mix the powder with? Does it come with instructions? How did you apply it? What were your results? 

[Nowandagain]

Klara I’ve now tried both acrylic & alcohol based markers. They both work pretty well but the alcohol does a better job of letting the grain show through. The acrylic is more opaque. 

[1961Mike]

Hi

Did the original poster ever try vinegaroon a second time?  I've made at least 2 and I think 3 batches.  They all worked great.  I took a break from leatherwork this year for various reasons.  I use the following procedure to use Vinegaroon:

    1. Tool the belt and let it dry fully, or at least draw the guide lines and tool the belt after dying.  
    2. Put the belt in the Black Tea Tannin Solution for 2 minutes.
    3. Put the belt in the Vinegaroon for 6 minutes.
    4. Put the belt in the Baking Soda solution until it quits bubbling.  This shows that the vinegar has been neutralized.  6 minutes also works well.  
    5. Rinse with Cold water.  
    6. Let the belt dry flat, this takes at least 3 days.
    7. Coat the front and back of the belt with Extra Virgin Olive Oil (from Extra Ugly Olives) or Neatsfoot Oil, and let dry.
    8. Put on a second coat of EVOO and let dry.
    9. Use a couple of coats of Tankote (shiny) or Bagkote (less shiny) on the fur side of the leather.
    10. Use multiple coats of Gum Tragacanth on the flesh side of the leather, smooth it with a glass deal and let try.
    11. To get Really Shiny finish on the fur side of the leather, use Gum Tragacanth on that side too.  Let it get mostly dry and them buff it out.  
    12. Mix Resolene half and half with distilled water and put on several coats.