Anyone Tried Staining Leather with Blood?

[RVM45]

Originally I asked this on the tail end of the Coffee thread. No one answered--but maybe no one saw it buried behind all those other posts.

Working maintenance in a slaghterhouse; I came close to cutting the tips off two fingers. Bled quite freely. Bled all over my leather tool pouch. Several years later, the light gray leather is still a rich chochlate brown where the blood soaked in and stained it.

Many slaughterhouses willl sell you five gallons; or so, of defibrinated blood. People use it to make blood sausage; or catfish bait. They might not even charge you; if its a small plant; and you're a good customer.

.....RVM45

[TwinOaks]

"Any one stain with blood...."

Not intentionally.

That said, while the color may be lasting, keep in mind that it is edible to all kinds of microorganisms that would like to eat the leather.

[moon]

Never tried it on leather but every knife I do usually gets a few drops on it.

[Bree]

"Any one stain with blood...."

Not intentionally.

That said, while the color may be lasting, keep in mind that it is edible to all kinds of microorganisms that would like to eat the leather.

I would be much more worried about the little bugs that like blood and might get into the leatherworker's or the customer's body! I don't think that using blood is a good idea.

[RVM45]

A thoroughly reasonable objection that I hadn't considered...

.....RVM45

[jbird]

All kinds of bactirea and other things or carried in blood that could posion or kill some one, in my mind it's not a good way to go. And if I found such a thing in something I bought I would be very upset and might get in touch with a lawyer. I say this because that's my thought so any way it's not that I am saying this to be a jerk but to me it's morbed almost.

Josh

[RVM45]

Well, on second thought--cattle blood thoroughly suffuses the meat; hide; and vital organs of live cattle.

Although bled; there is always a residue in any meat. Blood is a time-tested ingrediant in blood-sausage; and other ethnic dishes( Try Watching Andrew Zimmer Sometime). Some folks like to drink an occasional mug of warm bull's blood.

Slaughterhouse workers spend much of every day wrist-deep in the stuff. Very few, if any of them ever get any blood-bourne zoonotic infections.

Ever hear of brain-tanned hides? Well now, what's the difference in "Brain-Tanned" and "Blood Stained"?

Ever hear of tempera paints? They made them in the old days, out of pigment and raw eggs. Sound like a breeding ground for salmonella? Well some of those old masterpieces were painted with egg tempera paints centuries ago.

Neither dried blood; nor dried egg tempera has much in common with its liquid aspect.

Sides, I was going to experiment on leather for my own use...

When I worked in the slaughterhouses, blood was considered "Clean"; but if we butchered a lactating animal; we were instructed to treat any milk that got on anything; exactly as if it were pus.

Is unpasturized milk as nasty as pus? Not as a general rule; but it can be.

Yet no one would be offended at the idea of treating leather with milk...

I really don't care--but it seems some people are responding with a disportionate amount of distaste...

Vegan Leather Workers???

.....RVM45

[jbird]

Those are all good points and I don't think there's a difference in brain tanned and blood stained I think it's most likely safe and well would work but for me I like somthing well different.

Josh

[Ian]

Then, of course, when you eat jerky, you're eating dried blood.

[tonyc1]

Well, what about Black Pudding?

Tony.

[2MadJacks]

Well... I have to admit that I was a bit grossed out and blown away last week at your idea. Although I was very curious of what the response would be from everyone. but after hearing your latest points with brain tanning along with the egg painted masterpieces, puss like milk, lol. you MIGHT be onto something. Let us know if you try it out and how it works for you. I still not saying that I will try it. Even though I love deer hunting and do my own butchering, I just don't know. good luck in your new experiments. James

[Ian]

Well, what about Black Pudding?

Tony.

Sorry Tony, I'd have to draw the line at black pudding. <shudder>

[Frank]

I really never thought about it but I'm wondering if the amount of salt in the blood might dry rot the leather? I don't have a problem with the other aspects at all, just the amount of salt.