Coffee as dye

[MADMAX22]

Hey guys I was wondering if anyone thats into natural dyes tried coffee. I have played with a few pieces and sorry I dont have any pictures to post but have gotten a very very nice either really mild coffee color kind of like the baskins robbins icrcream (coffee flavored) to a much darker british tan/ saddle tan color once oiled.

So far I have just boiled some coffee then strained it and let a couple of pieces sit over night to see what colors Id get. I dont have any projects that I can use it on right now though. Maybe in a week or so.

Anyways I know holster makers are allways trying to find a streak free dye and usually in a natural color, if you are this is a cheap possibility for ya.

[gavingear]

I've wondered the same thing about red wine...

[Johanna]

I don't know about leather, but coffee is an excellent dye/darkener for bone beads. It will "antique" the white choker beads to look more natural. The beads will take color differently, so it's best to do them all at once for the best match of color.

Johanna

[NuVikingKnives]

I have also used tea. Sometimes mixing some strong herbal and regular cheap orange peckoe make some intersting stains.

Another intersting story related to this. Years ago I read a story about Henry Ford. He didnt like smoking employeies at the car plant. But employeis that chewed tobbacco would work finishing wood. Much of the wood was stained with spit from chewing tobacco. It does bring out the grain in wood and I had tryed it in the past but didnt get as nice of results as I did from tea.

[BradB]

Coffee works great for painting with also, it is on the order of watercolor paint.

[Hilly]

Onion skins also make some nice browns.

[MADMAX22]

Onion skins also make some nice browns.

I read about that. I was wondering is it just the dry flaky portion of the onion skin? I wouldnt want my project smelling like onion lol.

[tashabear]

I read about that. I was wondering is it just the dry flaky portion of the onion skin? I wouldnt want my project smelling like onion lol.

Just the top papery layer. You can get a nice yellow on fabric by boiling them, too.

[Lobo]

I have used both coffee and tea, brewed up strong, soak the leather piece overnight. Good dying effect without hiding the natural "grain" structure of the leather. If doing several pieces to match you must use the same brew solution. Coloring is in the light to medium tan range, enhanced by application of neatsfoot oil.

[Scott1952]

Just did a holster in black tea last night, setting in the sun today to tan. Will post photos when complete.

Scott