Howdy Gents

       I know this might be boring for some of you pards , so I'll try to make this as short as possible.

       I thought I would test another piece of scrap leather, in the walnut dye, I used some 8/9 ounce vegi-tan, I left the test sample in the walnut dye for 5 days submerged, you can see the line where the leather left the dye , almost like a line was drawn by a pen, after drying my test sample out , I conditioned with Lexol and let dry for a couple hours, and then I gave it a coat of EVOO and rubbed it in well, then I sat it in the sun for a while , the color didn't come out as dark as the other test piece, but this is because i didn't leave it in the sun as long, but it still produced a beautiful walnut brown, I finished it with Skidmores and buffed it up.
      Bottom line I think I get better results by cooking the fresh GREEN WALNUT HULLS for at least three days, with the lid on and a low simmer, then after cooling , putting my leather work in a smooth bottom plastic container and cover with my walnut dye ( you have to cover or you will have light spots that don't get any dye at all ) after the leather is submerged , put the lid on it and come back in 5 days, it is alright to stir the dye up a little each day if you find you can't keep your hands off it , but leave it in for the 5 days, the longer you wait the more dye pigment gets into the leather. ( IMHO )
     Ace is testing some scrap, where the dye had been cooked for six days , so we'll have to see the results he gets .

             Thanks for stopping by and taking a look, maybe someday one of you might want to give this walnut dye a try too


                                                            tEN wOLVES

I put a light coat of EVOO on my test holster and it came out a bit darker. Just about right, in fact. That was with 24 hours in the dye. As soon as the walnuts are ready around here, I'll gather a batch of hulls and cook up a much larger batch. I'm pleased with the reaults. Not only that, but the holster smells like a walnut orchard. If my gun shoots more accurately, I'll really be sold.

    I can just about guarantee you'll shoot better, because when you,s looks good you does gooder, I think, anyhow good luck on your walnut dye, there are so many variables, in making and using this dye, it makes it fun, SO HAVE FUN 



                                                                 tEN wOLVES 

Well, I'm not too sure about looking good, though. I'll be hanging it on a black belt with a brown bullet pouch. On the other side, I have a brown belt with a black left strong side holster on it. None of the browns match. The two blacks don't either. It'll be a real outlaw rig.

Marshal Will,

"real outlaw rig"   Have youb been hiding something from us??  Now fess up, ya hear!

Some things are better left unknown.    I didn't always wear this badge...

Howdy Marshal Will

       I think the the different colors and shades and tones, is what makes this so authenic, there must have been a lot of mix and match back in the day, and wearing a black holster on a brown belt and visiversa, would have the norm. I like the different colors of brown mixed in with holster and gun belt , I think it looks real and authenic and it's pleaseing to the eye.


                                               Good luck in the outlaw world, i'll try to keep this from gettig out


                                                                      tEN wOLVES 

Quote from: Ten Wolves Fiveshooter on July 23, 2008, 11:26:47 AMI think the the different colors and shades and tones, is what makes this so authenic, there must have been a lot of mix and match back in the day, and wearing a black holster on a brown belt and visiversa, would have the norm. I like the different colors of brown mixed in with holster and gun belt , I think it looks real and authenic and it's pleaseing to the eye.

I agree. I'm tempted to do that on my next rig. Just slight variations of the same color. Two belts, two holsters and a pouch all done that way could look really interesting. That's still undecided, though. An easy way to accomplish it would be to asssemble each piece and dye them one at a time, the same color, leaving them in the dye for a slightly different amount of time.

Quote from: Marshal Will Wingam on July 23, 2008, 12:45:45 PM
I agree. I'm tempted to do that on my next rig. Just slight variations of the same color. Two belts, two holsters and a pouch all done that way could look really interesting. That's still undecided, though. An easy way to accomplish it would be to asssemble each piece and dye them one at a time, the same color, leaving them in the dye for a slightly different amount of time.

         Thats the ticket Will, different times for each piece, or different amount of time in the sun , you can just about come up with what ever color , shade or tone you want, and you're right it will look interesting, and real period.


                                                                        tEN wOLVES 

Go for it Marshall! The one trap we fall into doing reenactment and CAS stuff is looking too perfect. Think of the era and what was available for the money you made. Sure, mismatch that holster! Or even your vest.

OK, so here's the run-down. I shot using my outlaw rig today. Brown and black and brown and black and brown. I came in 5th out of 42 overall and 1st in my category. After the second stage no one made comments on my rig. I may never make another rig again. Yeah, right. The new holster design works great. I'll make a few changes as I was planning and that'll be the basic design for both of them.

Marshall, I wouldn't take it personal against yer rig. It may very well be the flashy wild rag yer wearin'. Everbody's busy lookin' at yer rag!!! 

X Horse Pen

Quote from: HorsePen Henry on July 27, 2008, 09:52:27 PMMarshall, I wouldn't take it personal against yer rig. It may very well be the flashy wild rag yer wearin'. Everbody's busy lookin' at yer rag!!! 

Marshal,

Now I looked all over this site and unless my glasses are dirtier than I think they are I did not see your rig pictured any where.

I don't think your pards here will give you a hard time and I am sure we would all like to see the "Outlaw Rig" that you shot in.

You know you won't get any ribbin from us.


Johnny Dingus

OK, here's a pic. Don't pay too much attention to the details. This is mostly a collection of some old stuff that I really wouldn't want out there with my name on 'em. The new rig will certainly be as correct as I can make them.

Johnny,

Is that ribbin" or ribbon? I 'spect he'll get plenty of the former but none a the latter.

X Horse Pen

I stand to be corrected by myself...Marshall there ain't nothin' wrong with them holsters or belts. I'll give ya a ribbon. Nice stuff. Keep it coming.

X Horse Pen

That is a respectable rig to shoot in.  Doubt any cowboy from that period would have a complaint unless you had just outdrawn him and his number was coming at him.

Looks good Marshal.

Johnny Dingus

Thanks pards. I can't say I think it looks good, but it was fun to have something on that was not the normal CAS rig. Of course, I never have that anyway, this was just a step further away from it. I did find that I liked the test holster design so I'll make my next rig based on that. Now all I have to do is choose a historically correct cartridge pouch to go with it. I have a couple designs that I'm considering. It'll probably depend on my mood when the time comes.

Ok gents. I boiled green walnuts most of Friday, Sat, and Sun. I got 2 nice peanut butter jars full of black walnut juice. I put a carved holster into 2 gallon size ziplock bags, and poured both jars into the bags. It is in the fridge where a kitty cat wont mistake the bag of dye for a midnight snack. 
Now we sit and wait. Will pull it out tomorrow night and have a look see, but it seems to be getting darker already.

As a side experiment, have any of you ever boiled leather? It turns rock hard, and kind of curls up. I am still trying to figure out a use for that. Also cracks when flexed.

DM