Corn cob dye

[Heyyou48307]

Reading Kenneth Roberts " Rabble in Arms" and they mention dying their linen smocks in with boiling brown corn cobs, anyone ever try this?

 

[Bob McBride]

Reading Kenneth Roberts " Rabble in Arms" and they mention dying their linen smocks in with boiling brown corn cobs, anyone ever try this?

Sounds cool. I’d love to see the finished product if you try it out. Corn cobs can be put to all sorts of uses.

 

[appalichian hunter]

that's a different take on knife handles, also do not take this wrong but in a pinch better than a hand full of leaves or a wayward squirrel.

 

[Bob McBride]

that's a different take on knife handles, also do not take this wrong but in a pinch better than a hand full of leaves or a wayward squirrel.

You would think so wouldn't you, not knowing, but however Jack Duprey did these they are hard as iron, light as a feather, and have fantastic grip. Better than wood if you ask me, and easier to whittle. HC use of cobs. They have been used for file handles among other things for a looooong time. Don't forget folks make smoking pipes out of cobs, so yea, a bit better than leaves and squirrels...

And I rarely take stuff the wrong way, especially when it's silly and supplies a never before considered visual.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Reading Kenneth Roberts " Rabble in Arms" and they mention dying their linen smocks in with boiling brown corn cobs, anyone ever try this?

Unfortunately, the book was published in 1933 so was probably penned from 1931-1932. Mr. Roberts either got something wrong, or perhaps his editor did and the change was not noticed until too late. You can get a very very light yellowish color from corn husks..., but no real color from the cobs.

I actually wonder if what Roberts meant to refer to, was sumac "cobs". If I remember right..., sumac berry pods being known as "berries" and not a seed cob akin to corn, was established in common memory in the second half of the 20th century. THAT would make sense as one could get a gray or a brown, depending on the mordant, when using a "sumac cob".

LD

 

[appalichian hunter]

Bob McBride , it would be interesting to know what he treated these with to make them hard, my late uncle was corn cob pipe smoker those pipe bowls were also hard. Think the builder would give up his secret, Those would be very good with a southern poor boy and possible bag set up. Very unique knives. I like them.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Bob. some information --50/50 mix acetone and polyurethane varnish soak dried corn cob in mixture for about 4 days, remove from the mixture place on spikes made from a nail with the head cut off and dry for about a week or a bit longer viola stabilized corn cob handles.

 

[Bob McBride]

Bob. some information --50/50 mix acetone and polyurethane varnish soak dried corn cob in mixture for about 4 days, remove from the mixture place on spikes made from a nail with the head cut off and dry for about a week or a bit longer viola stabilized corn cob handles.

Awesome info. That seems like about what he did before grinding and burnishing to size. I was going to guess some sort of varnish. Thanks. I’m off to try it out. I’m making some sheaths for them to go with my Soddy and East TN rifle. I think they’re cool as can be.

Sorry for hijacking OP, that wasn’t my intent.

 

[Hawk78]

Sounds cool. I’d love to see the finished product if you try it out. Corn cobs can be put to all sorts of uses.

View attachment 41043

very cool