Vinagroon Questions

[RobDude30]

I've got a batch of vinegaroon that has been cooking for a couple of weeks and should be about ready. I've got a couple of questions for you guys that have been successfully working with it if I may.

It looks like 'rooning after molding is the general consensus. Does the 'rooning process change the color of natural thread? Should I sew before or after I apply the vinegaroon?

For the 'rooning process, how do you apply it? Dip the item, dauber it on, brush it on, etc? Could the vinegaroon be kept in a spray bottle and sprayed on the item?

Thanks!

Rob

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Hmmm, thought this was going to be a discussion about the other vinegaroon

http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg365.html

[ChuckBurrows]

It looks like 'rooning after molding is the general consensus. Does the 'rooning process change the color of natural thread? Should I sew before or after I apply the vinegaroon?

For the 'rooning process, how do you apply it? Dip the item, dauber it on, brush it on, etc? Could the vinegaroon be kept in a spray bottle and sprayed on the item?

Thanks!

Rob

1) Does the 'rooning process change the color of natural thread? No

2) Should I sew before or after I apply the vinegaroon? either way - your choice

3) For the 'rooning process, how do you apply it? Dip the item, dauber it on, brush it on, etc? Could the vinegaroon be kept in a spray bottle and sprayed on the item? all of the above - which ever way works best for you and the item you are working on. I prefer dIp dying since it is simply the easiest for me, but I also brush it on for larger pieces - a spray bottle should work fine, but you would need to filter it good to prevent any clogging

As Emeral would say - "this ain't rocket science"

[RobDude30]

1) Does the 'rooning process change the color of natural thread? No

2) Should I sew before or after I apply the vinegaroon? either way - your choice

3) For the 'rooning process, how do you apply it? Dip the item, dauber it on, brush it on, etc? Could the vinegaroon be kept in a spray bottle and sprayed on the item? all of the above - which ever way works best for you and the item you are working on. I prefer dIp dying since it is simply the easiest for me, but I also brush it on for larger pieces - a spray bottle should work fine, but you would need to filter it good to prevent any clogging

As Emeral would say - "this ain't rocket science"

Thanks Chuck. Planning to try it out tonight on a belt.

Edited August 11, 2010 by RobDude30

[ChuckBurrows]

You're welcome......

[RobDude30]

You guys weren't lying. I finally got around to vinegarooning some scraps to test my mixture and all I can say is WOW! That is the smoothest and blackest black I have ever been able to get on any of the leather I've played around with.

I followed Chuck's recipe pretty much. I added 2 pieces of fine steel wool to 64 ounces of apple cider vinegar. Let it cook in the sun for about 2 weeks until all the steel wool was dissolved, and filtered it through a coffee filter into plastic bottles. I also made some strong tea and put it in another bottle. I applied the tea to the leather scrap, let it soak in for a few minutes, applied the vinegaroon with a dauber and let it soak in for a few minutes, then rinsed with baking soda and then clear water. Worked like a charm! Thanks again Chuck!

[Skald]

A stupid question here: If I use vinegroon to dye leather, should I make the carving/tooling before or after the dye process? I have some doubts the tooling will remain "intact" after sinking into first the dye liquid, and then baking soda solution to neutralize the vinegroon.

[Vikefan]

A stupid question here: If I use vinegroon to dye leather, should I make the carving/tooling before or after the dye process? I have some doubts the tooling will remain "intact" after sinking into first the dye liquid, and then baking soda solution to neutralize the vinegroon.

Not a stupid question at all. I came across this recently (past week) and I think you should look it over. I have never done this type of tooling on a holster before, just did the vinegroon thing a couple times. Check this out and let me know what you think. From seeing this I would gather you could do all your tooling first. http://www.willghormley-maker.com/MakingHOGRig.html

Vikefan

[ChuckBurrows]

I do all my tooling first then use the vinegar black - you can also case the leather with the vinegar black and then do your tooling - eiher way works fine..........e

Edited December 4, 2010 by ChuckBurrows

[Skald]

Thank you folks. I am actually about to set a 'groon (noticed that people seem to spell it in a lot of different ways!) batch today and try out both ways, of course just on small scrap bits for a starter.

Because my name is "overkill", I think about adding some strong coffee and strong tea to the batch, I heard that more tannins make the 'groon work more effectively. Of course there are tannins in the leather itself, but a little help might be good, besides it should add some color too. And if I am happy, it ends up having a little aroma of tea and coffe, and and not only vinegar. LOL