Oxalic acid question

[TwinOaks]

Hi all,

I have some powdered oxalic acid in a Tandy bag. It is unhelpfully devoid of instructions. Will someone please provide the uses and directions for using crystallized oxalic acid?

[Rawhide]

I don't think I can help you with that, I think you're supposed to dissolve a teaspoon in a pint of warm water, but don't quote me on that. However, I would love to know where you got it from. As a matter of fact, does anyone know where I would be able to acquire crystallized oxalic acid?

Marlon

[HorsehairBraider]

Here's one place to buy it: Oxalic Acid Crystals

I have used it in dyeing fiber, but I don't know why a leather person would want it. Here is a Wikipedia article about it, and it lists a lot of uses. Perhaps someone who has used it will chime in and enlighten us all.

[Mike Craw]

If you've been working a long time (days) on a really large (saddle part) hunk of leather stamping, you can use oxalic acid solution to take black mold marks off leather. Make sure you are totally don with your tooling, 'cause it makes the leather really hard.

Mike

[tonyc1]

I don't think I can help you with that, I think you're supposed to dissolve a teaspoon in a pint of warm water, but don't quote me on that. However, I would love to know where you got it from. As a matter of fact, does anyone know where I would be able to acquire crystallized oxalic acid?

Marlon

I get mine from from my local pharmacist. It lasts ages.

[Hidemechanic]

Also helps in removing oils and smudges you've left on leather from you hands. GH

[ericluther]

Ive read its used as a cleaner before dyeing, the ratio I read is 1 tablespoon crystals to 1 quart water. In higher concentrations they say it will bleach the leather.

[bruce johnson]

When I was using it, I bought it at about any hardware and lumber yards. It is sold as "Wood Bleach" crystals. And yes, the mix I used was 1 tbsp to 1qt. add the acid to the water and wear glasses, standard safety deal. It was recommended on another list a while back that once the action has happened to apply saddle soap to neutralize the acid. Haven't tried that, since I haven't used oxalic acid for a while.

[cjbleather]

Twin Oaks, Yes the mix is one teaspoon to a pint of warm water. I use a pint Mason jar with a canning lid. In this way, you can get a new lid when the other starts eating away. I only do the pint bit because you don't use much if you are a casual hobbiest like I am. I can imagine that with the quantity of things that Bruce makes, a quart would be better. I bought my can of crystals from a pharmacist.

When using this, make sure that you neutralize or wask it off. Because it can effect the dying. Many people recommend using Real Lemon juice because it is not as acidic and will easily wipe off. I still use the oxalic acid because I am too lazy to keep going back and forth to my fridge where I keep Real Lemon. However, I do dilute it with water on my sponge before applying. It has worked for me. Carlb

[Cecil]

Al Stohlman says to use 1 teaspoon of oxalic acid crystals in a pint of water on page 3 of How to Color Leather. It is used to clean the leather before dying. Hope this is useful.