De-activating Vinegaroon

[MADMAX22]

The only reason I soaked my stuff is so that it was black all the way thru. You can cut and trim if you need to and it will still be black. If the leather gets cut or scratched it will not show any natural color underneath.

Another reason is that on some leathers that dont take to being black as easily, soaking will help the overall effect at the end. WandC seems to take it very very well. Some of the tandy stuff I had didnt as well unless I soaked then after oiling it turned out great.

Just my technique. I am pretty sure for anything involving leather work there are atleast 2 to 20 different ways to do it lol.

[tonyc1]

Why is it necessary to neutralise it, smell?

Tony.

[NoahL]

The 7-8oz horsehide I used soaked in it for about 3 minutes, but it didn't get very deep into the leather--enough to save scratches, but trimming still cut into the natural leather color. Next time I do something black with horsehide I will probably let it sit for 10 minutes or so, despite the smell.

Why is it necessary to neutralise it, smell?

Tony.

If your vinegaroon mixture is too acidic, it can damage/eat the leather over time, from what I've heard, so you have to bring the acidity back to a level that the leather "likes" which, as Freedom mentioned, is generally around 4.5 on the pH scale. From some of the posts on here I've read, though, plain cold water neutralizes vinegaroon plenty, even without baking soda in it **shrug**. There are many ways to do any one thing

[Go2Tex]

I have a batch that I made up recently that has turned a very dark purple tea color. I used straight vinegar and lots of steel, a pinch of steel wool, nails, a chunk of steel plate, used saddle tacks and filings from my grinding bench. It took about 2 days of aging to turn leather black with a quick dunk. It was strong. After about a week, I strained off the liquid from the steel and residue and let it sit. It quickly started getting darker and darker.

So, I'm wondering if the proportion of vinegar to iron (steel) in solution makes it stronger and quicker.

[Bree]

I have a batch that I made up recently that has turned a very dark purple tea color. I used straight vinegar and lots of steel, a pinch of steel wool, nails, a chunk of steel plate, used saddle tacks and filings from my grinding bench. It took about 2 days of aging to turn leather black with a quick dunk. It was strong. After about a week, I strained off the liquid from the steel and residue and let it sit. It quickly started getting darker and darker.

So, I'm wondering if the proportion of vinegar to iron (steel) in solution makes it stronger and quicker.

The amount of ferric acetate is what makes it strong. Active vinegar (acetic acid) in the presence of iron (ferrous compound) is going to generate ferric acetate. If you consume all the iron or all the acid, you can add more and get the process going again.

The ferric acetate reacts with the tannins and that's what turns everything black.