Vinigeroon Or Black Dye Belts Thoughts And Experiences

[Greystone]

I'm making a batch of black belts and trying to decide if I should Dye w/ feibings oil black or usmc

or use vinigeroon

main concerns are dye transfer to clothes

and a consistent color

and having to wait for the vinigeroon to dry smell is low on the list

thanks David

[camano ridge]

Vinigeroon is not a dye it is a chemical reaction so there will be no rub off or color transfer. My color with vinigeroon is consistent. Some pieces of leather take vinigeroon differently. If you are determined to use dye then I would go with Feibings oil dye. It will need to be rubbed out to remove loose pigment to help limit color transfer. USMC black you will rub forever and may still get some color transfer.

[Greystone]

Thanks I was leaning towards the vinigeroon as I've had a couple issues with belt dye rub off or transfer,

The drying time should offset the rubbing and cleaning time of the dyes on the blanks.

thanks for the input, I've not used vinigeroon enough to determine how and when it should be used best

LAST QUESTION?

when using vinigeroon on holsters or tooled work do you change the process,,ie?

vinigeroon then wet mold or stamp ? or vinigeroon and dry cut out/pattern and build holster normal ?

or build holster then vInigeroon ?

I've noticed a little less mold ability in the vinigeroon treated leather or am I just ????

[mlapaglia]

I apply the 'roon last, after its tooled, stamped, molded. It does make it harder to stamp/tool/mold/ after its applied/ I use a dip method to get good coverage. Make sure to oil it after it dries. Also make sure to neutralize the 'roon with a baking soda wash. I wait about 5 minutes after applying the 'roon then dip in a baking soda/water bath. Then let it dry over night and give it a light coat of neetsfoot oil. The color deepens to a rich black with the oil and it needs it after all the dipping in 'roon and baking soda.

[DoubleC]

there's no contest, vinegaroon for your belts if you're worried about rub off. Black dye is the worst. Cheryl

[chiefjason]

I get no rub off with oil dye. And if you don't get the groon neutralized it will continue to work on the leather and eventually rot it. Over time I have had some grooned leather do some weird things. I've been very happy with oil black.

Edited June 28, 2015 by chiefjason

[OLDNSLOW]

If no one minds another question? I let a batch cook out in the sun for the last 2 weeks, strained it twice to make sure to remove all of the metal, however the roon has a very faint smell of vinegar, but does smell, metallic in nature and this is my first batch of roon and have obviously never used it. I have read I think everything I can find on it but might have missed something, the roon itself right now is like a very dark tea, and I mean very dark. I am currently letting it off gas the last little bit of vinegar odor, but is this what is to be expected? Will the baking soda also kill the odor, thanks for letting me but in and ask a question.

O n S

[camano ridge]

It usually takes a minimum of two weeks to mature, I usually like to wait 4 weeks before I disturb it. Most all of the metal should be dissolved. You may have a bit of sludge to be filtered off. The color can range from putrid gray/brown to brown to blackish. The true test is to dip a piece of scrap in the roon (you should see a color change, anywhere from gray/gray blue, to black),pull it out, wait about 5 minutes then do a quick dip in soda bath rinse and let sit. After it has started to dry a bit oil it good. If it has not already turned black the oil should bring up a nice black. Check and see how the odor level is.

Edited June 29, 2015 by camano ridge

[OLDNSLOW]

I have done most of that, I have dipped then rinsed real quick in water, but not with baking soda, and others are telling me they can still smell the vinegar but it has a metalic odor to it. Will adding the baking soda remove the odor

[DoubleC]

You should have done the baking sod bath right after you dipped it while it was still wet. It is still reacting with the leather as we speak. I would let it soak in the bath for a couple of minutes. The metallic odor is common and will fade with time, same as the vinegar odor. The soda will help but just airing it helps the most. Doesn't take long for the odor to leave, maybe a week. Adding neatsfoot and buffing it up will help too. Cheryl