malabar Report post Posted October 6, 2011 New guy with a question here. I've followed the instructions for making vinegaroon posted on the site and have used it on maybe two dozen holsters, mostly with excellent results. But I've had a couple where parts of the leather just don't turn black completely -- I get a little of the natural tan showing through in a blotchy kinds of way. Repeated applications of vinegaroon didn't fix the blotchy areas. I've fixed it by touching it up with black dye, so I can't post any pictures. But I'm wondering what would cause the problem. I vaccuum-formed the holster before staining it, and the area seemed kid of shiny. But I've had similar shiny places on other holsters that have taken the stain uniformly. BTW: This site is amazing. I've learned a huge amount from everything that you folks post here. tk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mlapaglia Report post Posted October 7, 2011 Where did you purchase the leather and what size was it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted October 8, 2011 Oil from hands, or possibly residue from glue can cause that. Remember to clean the leather first and keep your hands clean while working. Then, there's just some leather that doesn't react well to it. You can increase the amount of tannins available for reaction by giving the leather a quick bath in plain black tea (lipton, luzianne, etc) before introducing the vinegaroon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steelhawk Report post Posted October 8, 2011 What Twinoaks said is right on. I had this problem with some Tandy stuff, but never with the Hermann Oak that I've been getting from Springfield Leather. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MADMAX22 Report post Posted October 8, 2011 Depending on where you get it if it has been in a retail environment the chances of the leather getting something on it is likely. Ive only had this issue with tandy and waterhouse vegtan. I had a cheaper side from tandy a long time ago that looked like it had been sprayed with something. There were spots all over that wouldnt take it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted October 8, 2011 The nice thing about vinegaroon is that you can soak it through from the back side in most cases. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markush Report post Posted October 8, 2011 Oil from hands, or possibly residue from glue can cause that. Remember to clean the leather first and keep your hands clean while working. Then, there's just some leather that doesn't react well to it. You can increase the amount of tannins available for reaction by giving the leather a quick bath in plain black tea (lipton, luzianne, etc) before introducing the vinegaroon. If you opted to use the tea bath...should you let it dry before the applying the vinegaroon? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
malabar Report post Posted October 9, 2011 Folks, thanks for all the insight. Yeah, this was Tandy leather. I'm going to have to check out the better stuff from Herman Oak and W&C. tk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChuckBurrows Report post Posted October 10, 2011 If you opted to use the tea bath...should you let it dry before the applying the vinegaroon? Nope - do it while it's still wet....... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CodaWolf Report post Posted October 10, 2011 Nope - do it while it's still wet....... I'll second this. I had some tandy leather that did this and I was able to give it a tea bath after my first vinegarooning. The second treatment evened it right out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
malabar Report post Posted October 15, 2011 I'll second this. I had some tandy leather that did this and I was able to give it a tea bath after my first vinegarooning. The second treatment evened it right out. That's good advice. THANKS! tk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
