Mesquite dye

[GunClick Rick]

I am reading a book on different native american tribes,one tribe was in the southern,Ca. area in the desert,one paragraph reads,they ate mesquite beans and made dye from the plant,don't know if it was used on leather or not,anybody ever heard about dye being made from mesquite?Goes on to say mesquite provided wood for building,fibers for basket weaving and a black dye...Plants of the area were chapperal,mesquite,sage and oak,the language was shoshone~

[Mogorilla]

I have not heard of it, but I do know the wood will stain your hands as you work it, much the way walnut wood will.   

[santee]

I'm intrigued. May have to try this.

[GunClick Rick]

Can ya find mesquite anymore?

[dusty texian]

Hey Rick, If Ya have trouble finding some I have a few thousand mesquite tree's I could spare . I use them to cook with or make knife handel's and such.When they get injured they make a very dark sap . So they may make a really good dye. It is a beautiful wood near the trunk and root.And very hard,when seasoned,,,,,,,,,,Dusty

[GunClick Rick]

Might have to order some chunks Merry Christmas~

[dusty texian]

Merry Christmas Rick,,,,,,,

[GunClick Rick]

I never knew that till i read about it always thought of it as useless except hearing about eatin the beans,never even seen one that i know of,i do remember watching a western once where a cowboy complained,Mesquite beans again!!

[Major 2]

Mesquite makes a great BBQ wood... kinda peppery taste I like.

Can't find it here much anymore    though

[santee]

Grows like weeds out here in AZ

[GunClick Rick]

I've hear a screwball but never screwbean!

http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/oct/papr/oct99_lil.html

[Mogorilla]

I have used some of the wood sold as smoker wood for projects.   I have pulled pieces big enough for a knife handle, etc.  This is a bone flask I capped in mesquite.  I have seen some pistol grips made with it, as well as some percussion/flint pistol stock blanks being sold in mesquite.  If I had the talent for that, it would be my first choice of wood.
Can see the grain here

[GunClick Rick]

I guess you use the sap somehow,i'm searching for a recipe,I have a very old small box of gum made in the 20s i think,has a pick of an indian on the box.I never knew that mesquite was so big,i always thought it was like manzinita..

http://www.mesquiteworks.com/mesquitefacts.asp