detanning/re-tanning leather. Possible?

[token tory]

Here's the problem. I have a double belt pouch that I really like, but even just overnight it discolors anything brass it contacts. This makes it impossible to keep the bag loaded so I can grab it & go. I'm guessing the tanning method is at fault as it's a mass-produced mass-market bag so I can't really complain.
Is it possible to somehow leach out the (modern??) tanning materials & re-tan with something more gentle on my powder measure, capper & so on?

I'm not expecting a 100% changeover, but a significant reduction would be nice. Failing that is there something I can do to use the bag as-is?

 

[paulvallandigham]

The discoloration is from salts in the hide. Soak the bag in water to remove the salts, and you will reduce that problem, if not eliminate it altogether. And, of course, you can line the inside of the bag with some fabric, to keep the metal gear from touching the leather.

You can re-tan leather, but you can't "De-tan" leather. Its a one way process. However, re-tanning can get rid of the spottiness you complain about. I don't know that its worth the effort, but that is not for me to decide for YOU. :thumbsup: :bow: :grin:

You might also consider sealing the inside leather of the bag by using one of those " Water-proofing" silicon sprays sold to water proof Suede garments and boots. Use a hair dryer to accelerate the drying of the spray. You may have to renew the coating annually, but it should keep the salts from contacting your metal gear.

 

[token tory]

After soaking is the leather going to need re-waterproofing/oiling or should it be just fine when re-dryed?

Great idea about the spray BTW unfortunately a sleeve isn't practical because of the design of the bag's shape but the soaking/spraying may well be enough to make the problem become a non-issue. :hatsoff:
It's not just a cosmetic issue (although that is a factor), it actually caused my capper's surfaces to become so rough/dry/scaly that it stopped working smoothly till I re-polished the tool & stiffened the slide on my powder measure noticeably.

 

[gearheart]

After soaking give it a good dose of neetsfoot oil. That is how we preserved the leather on our MK5 diving harness. It will probably dry a little stiff if you just let it dry out.

 

[paulvallandigham]

You turn the bag inside out to put in any liner, and you do the same to spray it more easily. When wet, the leather lets you turn it inside out much easier than when dry. There are some intricate pocketed pouches that may require that stitching be removed first to put in a liner, but these are not a "simple Hunting Pouch".

 

[token tory]

Actually turning it inside out won't fix it for me as there are a couple of external "tubes" that hold things like the powder measure. Its not a simple hunting pouch so much as a way over complicated hunting pouch, but I like things that way I guess as all my stuff is over-thought!:blah:

Lining is going to be difficult because of the double-pouch design & made even worse by my (lack of) sewing skills. Let me see if I can get a picture to post here to show the setup.

I'll try the soaking & spraying for sure though as it seems like my best option. How long a soak are we discussing here? Overnight, a couple of hours, a week?

 

[paulvallandigham]

First, You have WAY too much stuff in the pouch, IMHO. I did the same silly thing years ago when I started out. What I now carry in my bag/pouch would embarrass you for its simplicity. And even then, I still think I carry too much STUFF! :shocked2: :hmm: :surrender:

Second, use the Neatsfoot oil, as recommended to condition the leather when you are done. :thumbsup:

I don't understand your comment about lack of sewing skills. If you have to take loops and pockets off the main bag, to clean them, the holes are already there. What kind of skill do you think it takes to match up the holes and then put new thread through them with a needle??? :idunno: :shocked2: :hmm:

 

[BrownBear]

I have a double belt pouch that I really like, but even just overnight it discolors anything brass it contacts.

Back "in the day" when I lived along the border we used to get leather out of Mexico that was famous for this. I made a gun belt with cartridge loops, and a month later you could hardly pull the brass cartridges out of it, the greening was so bad.

Water by itself didn't do a lot for the problem. We dinked around with it and found it best to add a little baking soda to the water, soak it overnight, rinse well, then soak for a couple of hours in fresh water and allow to dry.

Stiffer than stiff once it dried, but neatsfoot oil and some flexing softened it back up well.

Can't guarantee that your leather suffers from the same chemicals, but it's worth a shot.

 

[token tory]

Thanks, that was the information I was looking for. :hatsoff:

 

[token tory]

First, You have WAY too much stuff in the pouch, IMHO.

Maybe, but for 10 days in the woods with a couple of trips to the range this works for me.

One of the reasons I went with the double-pouch design is that I have the shooting supplies in the easier to access inner pocket. Just caps in a capper, balls in a ball bag, felt wads in a tin & powder in a separate flask.

The less easily accessed pocket has all the cleaning & maintenance tools I just can't live without. :v

 

[token tory]

Water by itself didn't do a lot for the problem. We dinked around with it and found it best to add a little baking soda to the water, soak it overnight, rinse well, then soak for a couple of hours in fresh water and allow to dry.

Well I soaked it in warm water & baking soda & got a whole bunch of something purple/magenta out of the brown leather. :idunno: It seemed to be removing something so I followed this up with 2 quick fresh clean water rinses, both of which discolored darn near instantly, & then a longer rinse in clean water. This also discolored, but nowhere near as strongly, even after a good long soak.

The pouch is currently air-drying, stuffed with paper towels to keep the shape & absorb more fluid from the leather. These are the second set to be used as the first ones wetted & discolored (purple again/still) fairly fast. I kind of expected this bearing in mind the shape of the double pouch with all it's nooks & crannies! These new ones will hopefully last till it's all dry & ready for a little oil if needed. :v

 

[BrownBear]

Did I fail to mention the purple? :rotf: I truly forgot about it.

That sure sounds like the same leather we used to get. You'll see some color change once it dries and you oil it, but I liked it better, as a matter of fact.

BTW- I was in the Anchorage Tandy store yesterday, and down on the bottom shelf they had some sides and shoulders labeled as product of Mexico. It wasn't dyed, but I kinda sidled right on by, pretending I didn't see them. Nostalgia only goes so far with me, and I bought my leather from the pile of good stuff on the top shelf! :thumbsup:

 

[token tory]

I guess this is "normal" then :blah:

Last time I saw anything that color it was leeching out of a peat bog in South Wales. :rotf:

 

[BrownBear]

Yummmm. Single malt leather! :grin:

 

[token tory]

Funny that your thoughts went there. In reality it actually was about 20 miles North of here that I was thinking of. http://www.south-wales.org/2010/penderyn-distillery/

Oh Lordy, the evenings I (mis)spent my Youth at the Lamb in Penderyn. :shake: :nono:

 

[token tory]

Thanks to all those who suggested things I could do :hatsoff:

I got the leather soaked, washed, rinsed, dried & re-oiled as you suggested. I used a silicone spray (from the inside) to re-soften the leather & once the carrier had evaporated fully I put 3 test pieces of brass into the 2 big compartments & one more in the loop on the outside.

After 36 hours no tarnish, none at all that I can find. I'll let them sit a while longer but this is already a stunning improvement. :thumbsup:

 

[BrownBear]

Cool!

I had to laugh last night. I've got a Cabelas brass-frame revolver that's been sitting in a cheap holster for over a year. When I pulled it out in preparation for making a new holster, everywhere the frame had been touching the leather was green!

Timely discussion for me, too! :haha:

 

[token tory]

Glad I was able to *help* :bull:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Obviously, without knowing what you plan to do in the woods for ten days, I can't give more detailed advice. I used to carry a ball bag in my pouch that held at least 50 balls( .50 cal.) Even for the club monthly shoots, I rarely fired more than 20 shots. My powder horn carried enough powder for a hundred shots!

Today, my ball bag stays in my range box, and I use ball blocks to carry pre-lubed PRBs for hunting, in the pouch. If I am only deer hunting, and I have one tag, I may carry enough balls in blocks to have one shot per day, but that will usually mean I bring back at least 5 of them. I have smaller horns now to take into the woods, and usually use pre-measured powder charges in separate containers when hunting deer- no more than 3, and I have only once used all three charges- shooting wild boar.

The more "trekking" you do, the more things you will discover you really don't need. Then that pouch will become lighter to carry. Its part of the fun of learning how to do a traditional MLing hunt.

Best Wishes to you. It sounds like you have got a handle on that stained leather, and the advice you have received will eliminate the "bleeding" of the dyes. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: