questions about steel wool for vinegaroon recipe

[TinyL]

Good morning! I followed the threads for the vinegaroon and just have a couple of questions that need claifying.

How much steel wool to how much vinegar (measurement wise)?

What container -plastic vs. metal?

How long should the wool soak in acetone to degrease and do you rinse in water before putting in the vinegaroon?

Thank you, TinyL

by the by, I have no rusty nails to work with, which I find hard to believe but that's the story my husband is sticking with!

[rhall]

Tinyl... I puchased 1/2 gal V,I soaked 3 Sw pads for about 25 min in Acetone.Fish out the steel wool squized out the pads and stuffed em in a gallon plastic milk jug.Dumped in the vin and let it sit in the garage.It lingured there for a week or so.I used it with a sheep wool ,straight from the jug ,after cleaning the leather with denatured alcohol.The leather turned black as I rubbed it with the Vinagaroon solution.I then scrubbed the piece with a detergent/water solution.Dried it in front of the pellet stove and finished the project with 2 coats fiebings sheen and 2 apps of carnauba cream!Turned out Great and very cheap to do!!

[Go2Tex]

Tinyl... I puchased 1/2 gal V,I soaked 3 Sw pads for about 25 min in Acetone.Fish out the steel wool squized out the pads and stuffed em in a gallon plastic milk jug.Dumped in the vin and let it sit in the garage.It lingured there for a week or so.I used it with a sheep wool ,straight from the jug ,after cleaning the leather with denatured alcohol.The leather turned black as I rubbed it with the Vinagaroon solution.I then scrubbed the piece with a detergent/water solution.Dried it in front of the pellet stove and finished the project with 2 coats fiebings sheen and 2 apps of carnauba cream!Turned out Great and very cheap to do!!

That's probably the correct way to do it.... I gathered up as much scrap metal as I could find, including steel wool, put it in the vinegar and left it sit for about a week..... yeah, I think it was strong enough. Took out the metal, and what was left of it, and dipped a piece of leather into the vinegar, which looked about as black as coffee by this time. Yep, worked like a charm. No acetone, alcohol or rinsing. Just oil.

[Denster]

Tina

This is the way I do it. I gallon of wal-mart vinegar, I like this brand because it has a pop off top that will release if I forget to bleed off the gas every few days. Five 0000 steel wool pads. I soak the steel wool pads in Simple Green to degrease and then rinse and tear into strips and and stuff into the vinegar. I use 0000 because there is more surface area for the acid to work on. Shake it up every few days. I about a month it will have turned a deep burgundy and most of the acid has been used up. Strain it through a coffee filter to remove the remaining particulate and you are ready to go. I generally have a second gallon brewing so I can replenish the one I am using out of. The viegaroon will work after about a week, as has been stated ,but will still be pretty acidy and you might want to neutralize with baking soda.

[TinyL]

Thanks for the info guys. I want to get this stuff together so that I can make it soon and have it on hand. Is it ok to punch air holes in the top of the container so it won't explode while it's fermenting or should i just pop the top every few days?

TinyL

[Denster]

Thanks for the info guys. I want to get this stuff together so that I can make it soon and have it on hand. Is it ok to punch air holes in the top of the container so it won't explode while it's fermenting or should i just pop the top every few days?

TinyL

Tina

Doesn't hurt to poke a hole or two, but then it's a mess when you pour it. Check the lid when you buy it if it's like the wal-mart brand and just snaps down you don't have to worry if it's a screw lid just don't tourn it on tight or poke a hole in the lid either will work.

[Bree]

I am brewing my first batch. I put three good sized hunks of steel wool in there along with a handfuil of rusty nails and I have been letting them sit partially submerged in water for several weeks rusting away. Periodically I pour some more water in. The rust keeps accumulating and I plan to fill the coffee can with vinegar this weekend so it can brew up.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

[pman]

how long does it take the vinegar to turn black?

i read on here that you can use the vinegaroon after brewing 1 week. Is it black by then?

I just started my first batch ever yesterday... 1 quart vinegar and an s.o.s pad.

I see tiny bubbles along the steel wool fibers, but no violent fizzing reaction or anything.

[marine mp]

how long does it take the vinegar to turn black?

i read on here that you can use the vinegaroon after brewing 1 week. Is it black by then?

I just started my first batch ever yesterday... 1 quart vinegar and an s.o.s pad.

I see tiny bubbles along the steel wool fibers, but no violent fizzing reaction or anything.

pman

The "roon" doesn't necessarily turn black. It isn't a "dye" ...per se. It will become "dirty" as soon as you pour the vinegar to the steel wool, nails, metal filings, etc., This concoction reacts with the tannins in the leather to turn it black thru and thru. It will do this within a few days of mixin' a batch. But for the best effect, I find 2 weeks at a minimum. A couple other pointers. !) It isn't necessary to get the nails, steel wool etc to rust before putting it in the vinegar. The vinegar is gonna do this all by itself anyways. 2) I find boiling the vinegar before pouring it into the metal media works better. (pour it in OUTSIDE) 3) Don't tighten the lid, leave it loose or punch a gas release hole in the top. 4) Read the tutorial in the "How do I do it section". 4) www.cascity.com has some good info on their forum also. Semper-fi Mike

[pman]

yeah, i've read all the tutorials all over the web.

I was just curious because I've seen pictures of tea colored roon, but most of the other pics were of deep black liquid.