Oxalic acid question

[Rawhide]

A couple more questions:

1) Someone recommends neutralizing the leather afteer you clean it with an oxalic acid wash. How do you do that?

2) How do you apply the oxalic acid wash to the leather? Can you use a sponge or paper towel?

3) Is the wash (1 tsp/pint or whatever the mixture posted above was) safe to handle with bare hands or should you use gloves?

1. Use saddlesoap to clean the leather after the acid wash

2. a sponge works well, use circular motions.

3. Wear nitrile gloves. Even though it is a mild acid, it still should be treated as an acid.

Take care.

[hidepounder]

I use oxalic acid on all my projects. I put the acid solution in a spray bottle (1 tablespoon/quart of water) and with a fine spray, apply it directly onto the piece and scrub lightly with a piece of scrap woolskin. I do this after I dye my background. If I were going to dye the complete background I think I would use the acid first. I think it is important to keep the level of saturation equal so that no light spots are created. I usually do not try to wash again with water as is recommended per the instructions. Once it is dry I oil and then finish in my normal manner. I have found it not to effect the color of my antique finish. The spray bottle is handy, and I sometimes find myself spraying directly onto my woolskin rather than to the leather. I think I'll start wearing a latex glove though...

Edited January 10, 2009 by hidepounder