Questions about "Vinegaroon"

[waterhouse]

Hi,

I recently came across a method of turning vegtan leather black in color called vinegaroon. I'm new to this process and was wondering if anyone could enlighten me on specifically how this method is done? Perhaps point me to a FAQ or another post?

Specifically I am wondering what, roughly, the exact recipe should be. How long to soak, ect...

Thanks in advance,

Peter

www.Waterhouseleather.com

[Sawyer]

I dyed a few items including a couple of motorcycle seats with vinegaroon.

I used steel wool and white vinegar.

you need to degrease the steel wool first, i soaked mine in gasoline and burned it off,(carefully)

put it in a large plastic container ,add vinegar. wait about 4 days, and you're good to go.

Strain the solution before using.

[tashabear]

AFAIK, there is no exact recipe. Add something rusty to a gallon of white vinegar and let it sit till it's nice and dark (think strong tea). Dump in a scrap of the leather you want to use (MUST be veg-tanned!) and watch the chemical magic happen.

I used steel wool, but I haven't tried my mix for quite a while. The first time I tried it, it turned my scraps grey -- not sure if it was the steel wool or the strength of the mix, though. It was a really nice steel grey color, though. I should give it another whirl.

[Leather Bum]

Here's a good topic: Vinegaroon

L'Bum

[ChuckBurrows]

The first time I tried it, it turned my scraps grey

yep - my main reason to do the baking soda "neutralizing" step - while it may not be necessary I find that it helps set the color to black and does the oiling.......

It can also depend on the tannins in the leather since the color in this case is a reaction between the iron and the tannins - if need be give it a good soak in strong black tea to add tannins.........

[MADMAX22]

AFAIK, there is no exact recipe. Add something rusty to a gallon of white vinegar and let it sit till it's nice and dark (think strong tea). Dump in a scrap of the leather you want to use (MUST be veg-tanned!) and watch the chemical magic happen.

I used steel wool, but I haven't tried my mix for quite a while. The first time I tried it, it turned my scraps grey -- not sure if it was the steel wool or the strength of the mix, though. It was a really nice steel grey color, though. I should give it another whirl.

Thats the same method I use but it sounds like you need more steel wool.

I used about 3 or 4 of the steel woolies in a gallon of vineger and I put it all in a big coffee container (plastic one). After a while the steel wool has pretty much all desolved with a few chunkies in the bottom. The solution is a nice black color now and as long as you dont have any wax or anything on the leather (wax acts like a resist) then it will turn my stuff a black to black/navy blue within a minute if not less.

Once out I usually give it a quick shake in some water/baking soda mix. Then it goes under the water for a few secs to get everything cleaned off.

After it dries off formed or not for whatever project your doing, I then have to oil it a few times. The process really pulls the oils out of the leather and gives it a waxy feel on the outside for a while. You really need to get some oil back into it.

Also remember that depending on the tannery and what they use the leather will react differently to the DIP (as I call it).

[Leather Bum]

What finishes do you all use on the leather once it has been blackened this way? Are there any issues with the regular finishes (acrylic or otherwise) not adhering to the leather properly afterwords?

I think what I'd like to achieve is the same or close to the same look as when I dye a piece black and then finish with some Satin Shene, Tan Kote, etc. I did some experimenting a little while back and found the leather seems to turn a lighter gray when it is bent, as opposed to remaining dark black as it does when using dye. Does anyone have an idea why this happens? I can oil the leather to darken it, but I absolutely do not want to over-oil while attempting this.

Basically, I'd like a good-quality, satin black -- not overly-shiny but not flat either. I don't want to have to worry about the finish looking poorly in fold areas or coming off later due to some effect of the vinegaroon process.

Others' comments on finishing vinegarooned leather would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

L'Bum

[calanneh]

I tried and came up with grey as well. I didn't have many rusty items laying around so I was thinking it was a strength issue as well.

I have some walnuts and vinager I am mixing up this morning to try to make a batch of brown.

William

[Leather Bum]

Well see, mine turns the leather pretty black with a couple applications. It's just that when I bend the leather after it dries, the bend area turns a lighter gray.

I don't know, maybe it was not strong enough back then -- I'll have to test it some more now. I want it to be black and stay black even when bent.

L'Bum

[MADMAX22]

Well see, mine turns the leather pretty black with a couple applications. It's just that when I bend the leather after it dries, the bend area turns a lighter gray.

I don't know, maybe it was not strong enough back then -- I'll have to test it some more now. I want it to be black and stay black even when bent.

L'Bum

Try a little more oil. I know that mine will do that and Ill just add some more oil to the areas that bend, I usually bend them and apply some oil and then they are good to go.

Its still trial and error for me but the stregth of my solution is really good and I get a nice black in about 35s to 1min of dipping.

I think the vinagaroon really draws out the oils in the leather. That and I give it a baking soda wash then a rinse so all of these probably really get rid of it. It also depends on the leather, Ive had some that got really tough afterwards and others that were nice and flexible even after all the treatment.