How to Dye Leather Black

[Shorts]

Oh, They get that from hydraulic rams don't they???

Couldn't resist it!!!

So did I walk into that one or what??

Ok, here's a pic with some linseed oil (all I had on hand). The black has a grey tint to it as you can see, but the oil darkens it right up.

Edited April 2, 2008 by Shorts

[tonyc1]

So did I walk into that one or what??

Ok, here's a pic with some linseed oil (all I had on hand). The black has a grey tint to it as you can see, but the oil darkens it right up.

Gotcha, Shorts. Good to have a laugh,eh?

Tony.

[PapaWolf]

Ok so the way a read things (just want to make sure I don't screw it up here) If I want something dyed a good black color. I get a bottle of vinegar, add steel wool 00 or 000 (do you have to put the steel wool in the acetone to degrease it ?) Let it sit for about a week. Put it in a container, run my leather through it (Do I just run it throw or let it sit in it?) Then it will be a brownish color, then when I rub some leather oil into it it will turn black...Did I get that right? Then you can paint the areas if there are any and then what would you put on them leather to help make it water proof/resistant. I would mainly be doing that with saddlebags, bracers, and belts. Think I threw enough questions in there?

Papa Wolf

[Leather Bum]

In another forum I read that an unlined holster dyed with this solution can remove the blueing from guns. I would imagine neutralization after dying would help, but I do not know to what extent.

So does anyone know for sure if this method of blackening would be harmful to a gun (regardless of bluing, etc.). And if so, is there a way to get the same effect without the risk of harming the gun?

I'm basically wondering if this is a safe method to use on a gun holster. . .

L'Bum

[ChuckBurrows]

So does anyone know for sure if this method of blackening would be harmful to a gun (regardless of bluing, etc.). And if so, is there a way to get the same effect without the risk of harming the gun?

I'm basically wondering if this is a safe method to use on a gun holster. . .

L'Bum

It is perfectly safe - at least as safe leather and steel can be - I've used it for over 35 years on holsters and knife sheaths........no problems except for stupid peopl and unfortunately you can't fix stupid - one form of stupid being storing a gun/knife in weather wet leather.

[TwinOaks]

As posted in another thread on this same topic, I've done some experimenting with this concoction. Taking a sample of the 'vinegaroon', I added straight baking soda, and then a baking soda solution ( better reaction time when it's in solution) to the mix. There was almost NO reaction between the two. This leads me to think that all of the acid had been reduced (used up) in the reaction with the metal. As it's been sitting over a month, there is no more reaction to the metal, meaning that the conversion to ferric acetate is probably complete, having more iron than the acetic acid could cosume.

Also noted is that the ferric acetate seems to drive the tallows in the leather to the surface, leaving a fairly waterproof finish on it's own. I treated with Aussie and rubbed it in well, just to try to force some of the oils and tallows back into the leather's core. The leather still held it's shape (holster in 'more vinegaroon questions') and hardened as I expected it to.

Mike

[TroyWest]

I appreciate Chuck Burrows comments as his experience with this is far greater than mine. I have seen a number of old saddles dyed this way that are 60 to 80 yrs. old and have held up perfectly well. These old saddles are put together with steel screws and nails and covered in silver and they are simply not coming apart or causing damage that is apparent anyway.

I spoke with Shawn Farrow, Sean Farrow? I don't know how to spell it, anyway, a chemist for Sedgewicks in England and asked him about this method of dyeing leather. He thought it sounded like a great idea, stirred up the chemist inside him and said he was going to go home and make some himself. I also asked him about neutralizing with baking soda and he immediately said it wasn't necessary, just rinse in cold water. He started naming the ph of water and the ph of soda and frankly lost me in chemist language pretty quickly but again reiterated that rinsing in cold water was sufficient. He said they neutralize a lot of things at the leather plant in cold water only. I also asked if using distilled water was a good idea and he replied it too was completely unnecessary. The leather company uses the water that comes through the pipes. Just food for thought.

[Shorts]

Mike, Chuck and Troy, great information. Thank you for keeping the thread informed.

[jbird]

Ok so I tried the vinegar with steel wool and it worked great but the smell any way to help with that.

[TwinOaks]

When I did mine, the smell wasn't all that bad to start with. When I later heated the leather to harden it, almost all the smell left. It may be that the concentration of vinegar is different betwixt our mixes. Let the mix sit a week or two more and check it on a scrap. It appears that the longer this sits, the more likely the acid is reduced, and the smell probably will go away with it. If the leather does have the vinegaroon smell, just let it sit out a while and the smell should dissapate.

If not, well I'm sure you've gotten used to having dyes on your hands and clothes, so what's a little smell to get used to, right?