Older 'rooned holster rubbing black on clothing. Solutions maybe?

[Tallbald]

Moderators I hope you'll allow this question, which yes, is only sorta related to the old ways. Sometimes I CCW my .38/.357 Blackhawk in an in the waistband holster of my own making. I love 'rooning for black color and use it often. After 'rooning, I soak the holster in a baking soda/warm water mix until it stops bubbling. The water always turns purple but I don't know what causes this. I guess it's normal.Then I rinse rinse rinse in clear water. After drying, I treat with pure neatsfoot oil and a 50/50 mix topcoat of neatsfoot oil and pure beeswax. Beautiful finish, supple leather and durable.
  Fast forward to last evening when I found that the yellow polo shirt draped over my weapon while at the grocery store had black marks rubbed on it where it touched my holster. I don't remember this happening before and would hate to cause ruin to someone's clothing. Did I miss something? Thanks as always. Don

[Camano Ridge]

Don, I have used the roon for a long time and never had rub off. THe main reason for no rub off is that the roon is not a dye it causes a chemical reaction that changes the leather. I have never heard of anyone putting a rooned item in a baking soda bath as long as you seem to (not that Iam saying it is wrong. However it is possible to damage the leather with to strong a soda bath. I do not knw if that may cause some of the surface of the leather to actualy rub off. Mine is a dunk in the soda bath then rinse with cold water. Question are you sure it was discoloration from the roon and not your finish? Sometimes when items are over oiled, the oil can weep later on and get onto clothing.

[Trailrider]

Have you tried an application of BagKote? I use this to stop black or black/tan alcohol-based dyes from rubbing off of leather onto fabrics, hands, etc.

[Tallbald]

Camino i started using 'roon 3 years ago and on the forums (I think here honestly) i saw to soak in the baking soda bathe to neutralize the acid in the roon and prevent bluing damage. I like the old topcoats but if Bagcote is an answer, I'll try that. Is it a finish that cracks like some of the acrylic finishes I have read about? Don.

[Camano Ridge]

Don, you are right you do neutralize the roon, It just that what you are describing sounds like a long time to keep it in a sode bath and depending on the strength of the Baking soda solution you could damage the leather.