Get rid of the Gold

[FV Rago]

I have a real nice pair of buckskin trousers but they are gold. How do I get rid of the gold?

I've picked up a few hints here and there, but just want to get a known way to get the color out.

Thanks,

Frank

 

[blacksmithman64]

well if you have fringe on 'em...might be SOL!
I use a 80 grit sanding disc LIGHTLY on a 4 1/2" angle grinder; a wire wheel brush in an electric drill motor works good,also LIGHTLY! RIT dye remover, but you will have to re-dye so it doesn't look like you took a power tool to them! I use black walnuts-free and easy!

 

[LRB]

I've had fair luck using a file card. It removes the slick side and makes them look more like braintan, but they should be dyed also.

 

[Black Hand]

I have a real nice pair of buckskin trousers but they are gold. How do I get rid of the gold?

I've picked up a few hints here and there, but just want to get a known way to get the color out.

Thanks,

Frank

Soak in a bleach/water mix several times. This took the color out of a very orange hide I had and turned it to a light buckskin color. You may need to do multiple soaks (I went overnight) with rinsing in between. When it is light enough, rinse with plenty of cool water, allow to dry, and then soften by bunching with your hands.

When you say "buckskin", do you mean the commerically chrome-tanned (read gold/orange) leather?

 

[FV Rago]

Had them made with no fringe, and it is commercially tanned leather.

What bleach / H20 mix would you rec.?


Thanks

 

[pichou]

I've had fair luck using a file card. It removes the slick side and makes them look more like braintan, but they should be dyed also.

I use a brass BBQ brush. Makes the gold look a lot more like brain tan. You can also smoke them a bit.

 

[J.D.]

Haven't tried it, but others on the net report that RIT dye remover will remove the gold color.

 

[chipper]

I used boot - water proofing grease. If you spread it around evenly and use a blow dryer it comes out darker. I would practice on another chunk to see if you like it first. Some folks don't like the black greasy leather look.

Regards

 

[shooyer_250]

sorry Frank, i didn't even think to ast her about the leather color...dagnabit...Lee

 

[FV Rago]

Lee,

No biggy. I need to put at least little work into them.

Like I said, everything has a story. I plan on taking the color out of them then smoking them.

 

[Black Hand]

Had them made with no fringe, and it is commercially tanned leather.

What bleach / H20 mix would you rec.?


Thanks

I can't give you an exact amount, but I put at least ~1 to 1.5 cups into a 5 gallon bucket of cool water. This was repeated several times until most of the color was gone. As to the Rit color remover, I have heard that it will turn the leather a Pea-green color rather than remove the color, but I can't personally confirm this.

 

[Birdman]

thats why ya need to redye the skins after useing Rit, it takes the dye color out but then you see the greenish color of the chrome tanning. Bleach probably will work but I would be afraid it would dry out the leather to much if ya get the mix wrong. I'd stick with the rit n redye myself. then wear them to age them, couple weeks useing them to cut grass, weed the garden etc n they will start to look real aged.Get yer hands dirty in the yard n use the pants to wipe them off, sweat in them, kneel in them,prune bushs wearing them,got a brush pile yer gonna burn off, wear the pants n stand in the smoke ya can't hurt em n actual use gives them the best look in the long run etc works every time,

 

[shooyer_250]

Hay Frank, what size rollin' paper you think you'll need to smoke 'em :rotf: :rotf:

 

[Black Hand]

Bleach probably will work but I would be afraid it would dry out the leather to much if ya get the mix wrong.

Bleach (a milder base by comparison) is nothing compared to the lime (stong base) that they use to remove the hair during tanning. So I believe that drying isn't really an issue.

As to the hide I bleached: It bleached over the span of 3-4 days and was then made into winter moccasins that have gotten plenty of use over the last 5-6 years. The moccasins are still going strong....