Oval Eyelet Changing Leather Color

[LeatherCritic]

I have purchased some antique oval leather eyelets and set them when the leather was a little damp.  I am not experienced enough to know if the metal reacts poorly with dye or wet vegtan leather.  I know certain metals don't react well with chrometan leathers, but thought I would be safe here.  Where the top of the eyelet rests on the leather, it has some feet to dig in and clamp.  When bending the leather, I noticed that the leather had turned black.

Fortunately, I'm only working on a prototype, but I was curious if this is poor quality hardware or something boneheaded that I've done as an inexperienced leatherworker such as "don't apply hardware to wet leather".

Edited March 25, 2019 by LeatherCritic

[Matt S]

Are those grommets steel based or brass based? Looks like an iron reaction.

[fredk]

I concur - agree - it looks like iron staining. If you really must use them you can get a clear metal lacquer which is meant for brass to prevent it tarnishing but works well as a barrier on iron things

[Northmount]

Iron reacts with tannin in the vegtan leather to produce blue/black stains.  Check out vinegaroon for more information on how the stain occurs.

The stain can be removed by cleaning with oxalic acid.  Have to keep vegtan and iron separated and dry to prevent it.

Tom

[LeatherCritic]

Thanks for all the responses! You all are so good.

I was familiar with vinegaroon and the effects on leather, but perhaps not the specifics of the process. Yes the grommets were brass — antique brass, I believe.

Thank you all for that feedback. I’ll try to see if I can protect the leather prior to assembly, or to pretreat the grommet. Fortunately, this was only a prototype.

[Matt S]

1 hour ago, LeatherCritic said:

Thanks for all the responses! You all are so good.

I was familiar with vinegaroon and the effects on leather, but perhaps not the specifics of the process. Yes the grommets were brass — antique brass, I believe.

Thank you all for that feedback. I’ll try to see if I can protect the leather prior to assembly, or to pretreat the grommet. Fortunately, this was only a prototype.

Does the eyelet attract a magnet? I've found that many sellers are ignorant about the nuances of brass vs. brass plated steel. Sometimes wilfully and deliberately ignorant.