Bag dye questions??

[Osprey]

Okay, I'm working on my first real bag (did a practice of cheap suede this winter to learn the stitching) and have a question on dyeing. I mixed the cider vinegar/rusty nail solution in the Albert book, let it sit for a week, but results don't look like the book. It's a good thing, 'cause it looks really old and neat, but wondering why? Possibly the leather (whitetail) or the way I tanned it (Van Dyke's Curatan)?? Just wondering so I can do it again. :v

I'll post full pics when I get 'er done, and it's got a neat story with this one, too.

 

[Swampman]

That's a real nice looking pouch. Natural hides take dyes differently. Did you tan the hide yourself? I think oak tanned cow hide would have come out darker. I use the pulp off the outside of black walnuts for a similar motley look. I bury the item in the wet pulp and let it set for awhile. Once again, great job!

 

[mazo kid]

I guess I don't understand your question....if you are wondering about repeating the look then just do everything the same way again. If you have scraps of other leather, you can try different methods on them. :thumbsup: BTW, very nice looking bag!

 

[XXX]

The example in the book was done on Veg tan leather then darkened up with kiwi shoe polish. He indicated in the page concerning the dye that it would interact with the tanning solution used on the leather. On another page said it would lighten up as it dried, which is probably why he uses the Kiwi. The other point in the book concerning the dye was to make sure you used rusty iron and not steel.

 

[Black Hand]

Okay, I mixed the cider vinegar/rusty nail solution in the Albert book, let it sit for a week, but results don't look like the book.

The rusty iron/vinegar solution only works on veg tan leathers.

 

[Osprey]

Not sure if it was iron or steel, probably steel, pieces of an old rusty wire fence grown into a tree out back. That's three brushed on coats of the solution, just turned it a bit darker each time. It really popped when I rubbed in some mink oil leather polish!

I don't know if I did it right per the book, but I like the outcome and will stick with this for pouches, really makes it look antique.

Yes, tanned the deer hide myself. It's from a young doe a kid I take hunting killed last October, his first. Told him he had his choice of a hair-on hide to lay out in his room or I'd make him a shooting bag for the Hawken he's building, he of course chose the bag. Flap is going to be a piece of sika hair, he liked the way the sika hides I tanned came out. Just gotta finish it tomorrow and he's getting it for his birthday this weekend - 12 years old.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Okay, I mixed the cider vinegar/rusty nail solution in the Albert book, let it sit for a week, but results don't look like the book.

The rusty iron/vinegar solution only works on veg tan leathers.

It's an old time harness die and it will work on other types of leather but veg takes it best. It needs to sit for a month or two and it will take. Alcohol rubbed on the leather prior to application will help. Use one of those applicator mops and scrub it in well.

 

[longcruise]

Looks goodjust as is! :hatsoff:

I used plain old black die on mine. Not enough old iron around my place. The feibing die looked ok to me though.

Another way to get veg tan black is to us aquafortis. I make mine with ferric nitrate crystals for simplicity and safety. Have done several knife sheathes with it and it gives up a nice black. Once it's done it needs to soak in some water/baking soda solution to neutralize it pretty much like doing gun stock. Neither of mine stained the handles or the blades even on carbon steel blades.

 

[ladysmithtrading]

Osprey, one thing to remember, every piece of leather takes dye differently, just because it's oak tan or whatever type leather makes no diff, you can take 2 diff pieces of any leather from the same tannery, lay them out and dye them , bet they wont match perfectly, especially using a home brew, send me a pm, I have a way that you can contact TC Albert his self and ask away, hes more than helpful, Beav

 

[Capt. Jas.]

I think Tim can be reached thru a PM on this board. His handle is "T.C. Albert".
He has always been free with his knowledge transfer.

 

[T.C.Albert]

Hey Osprey...thats a great looking bag...I agree that what ever you did to the finish, it turned out good just like it is...

Im not sure what the VanDykes "curatan" solution is, but if its like the old stuff Im familiar with its a chrome tan...if it is a chrome base tan, then there may not be quite as much if any tannin to react with the iron/vinegar solution...its the reaction between iron and tannin that makes the leather turn black...

Heres a test I think may help you figure out which it is, the leather tanning kit or the vinegar solution, if you want to....take an old iron tool, like a real old pair of beat up pliers or something...dampen a piece of scrap leather left from the same stuff you made the bag from...dampen the scrap and hold the iron tool against it for a half a minute or so, see if the tool left a "black' mark in the leather where it was touching. If not, try another iron tool I suppose, if nothing still, I would guess its a chrome tan you used, if you do get a good black mark...I guess its your vinegar solution just wasnt worked up enough.

Either way, it would be handy to know how you did what you did, and why it happened just so you
can do it again....cause it really did turn out neat..
T.C.Albert

 

[dlpowell]

Tandy leather has a new gel dye in different colors. I think it works great. Take some scrap pieces in to their store. They might let you try it before you buy it.

 

[Osprey]

TC, your book was a big help! I think it's probably the Curatan, I know it's some sort of chemical tan, was a kit I got from Van Dykes taxidermy supply - but it works great with hair on or off pelts. I'm getting ready to do the rest of my whitetails from last season, so I'll see if it repeats.

Here's the finished pouch. Used more of the whitetail leather and some jute strapping for the strap, and the hair is a piece of sika hide. I made this for the 12 year old kid next door - the leather is from the first deer he killed, a young doe last October he got hunting with me, using my old .54 TC Renegade. He saw some of my sika hides and wanted that for a flap, so I finished it up and gave it to him today for his birthday after we got in from the youth turkey hunt. He loved it! As you can see, he wound't even take it off for turkey pics. :thumbsup:

 

[rabjr]

Well that made a pretty darn good lookin bag that he'll cherish for a long time to come. Very Nice! :thumbsup:

 

[T.C.Albert]

Waugh...now that sure do shine! You are a fine craftsman, neighbor, and mentor indeed.
T.C.Albert

 

[David G]

Wonderful, the boys face says it all. :thumbsup:

 

[wirehairman]

That picture says it all. You have my deepest respect for getting your neighbor kid into the outdoors. :hatsoff:

 

[Black Hand]

It needs to sit for a month or two and it will take.

That is odd. The batch I made and applied to veg-tan leather turned it black within a minute, not a month.....

 

[Capt. Jas.]

I was not referring to vegetable tanned leather in that particular part of my comment.
Each batch though has been a little different in reaction even on veg. tan for me.
I think amount of solution, amount of rusty junk and what that junk is composed of might have something to do with it.