Old time dyes: a How_to

[Cliff Fendley]

I completely assemble the rig and then throw it in warm dye for a couple hours. Then hang in the sun to dry. As it is drying I will sometimes rub some residue from the husk on areas I want to darken for an aged look. After a couple days go at it with pure neatsfoot oil then bag kote.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That rig is beautiful, Cliff. Your finish is outstanding. Very good work. 

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

       Very nice Cliff, looks like you have the hang of it, well done on the rig also, it looks fantastic.


                 tEN wOLVES 

[Boothill Bob]

Hmmmm, this was NOT nice 
I have made me some Black walnut dye from the powder stuf. I had my holster in for 24h and it looks like
shit....... The color, what color??? is dirt brownish, not brown redish as some of the one I´ve seen here.
Maybe it will penetrates better if I warm the dye and lowers the holster???
Looks like I may be reduce it down a LOT 

[Dalton Masterson]

Did you oil it yet? It kind of looks like mine when it is unoiled.
DM

[Boothill Bob]

Yea Dalton, i´ve oil it with EVOO, It was even pailer before 

[Boothill Bob]

Howdy..
Now I´ve oiled it five times with EVOO, it come out better... Is this what I have to do? Will have it
darker from the start, so I have to reduce the dye a little I think or warm it before I put the work in it..

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy..
Now I´ve oiled it five times with EVOO, it come out better... Is this what I have to do? Will have it
darker from the start, so I have to reduce the dye a little I think or warm it before I put the work in it..

   Bob it all depends on how strong your dye is, I had it from strong to weaker, when it is weaker, I just left it in my dye longer, some times I left my work in the dye for up to seven days, the last batch I made is very strong, and I get great color after 15 to 20 min. of submergence, the more color you get from your dye, the less oil you will need to darken it to bring out the great color of these dyes.

                 After you have work with these natural dyes for a while you will learn how to use them for best results


                                                     tEN wOLVES 

[Boothill Bob]

Thanx TW. My problem is that I cant get black hulls in Sweden, so I have to order the powder stuff
from US, and Its not for free

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

   Howdy Bob, I know what you are saying, but I also buy the powder Black walnuts too, and you have to remember each hide will take it differently, there are a lot of variables in this, but once to get the hang of it, it will be very rewarding, and your dye will last as long as you want it to, I have dye that is four years old now, that's not bad, so when you figure the cost of other dyes, it is still the cheapest way to go, and there isn't any rub off,  the colors can be varied for tone and depth and are much easier to use, IMHO, so keep at it and you will master this process in time, it's worth it.

           tEN wOLVES 

[Cliff Fendley]

That's the right color, if you want it to look more red hang it in the sun while it dries.
Also pure neatsfoot brings the color out, I never cared for the look with Evoo over walnut stain.

All of these were done with the same dye, it's how you let it dry and how you oil it after to get the look you want.

[Drayton Calhoun]

Bob, just a personal opinion, but I actually lke the color, much the same as Tandy Buckskin. Of course age and finish make a world of difference.

[Boothill Bob]

Thanx Drayton.

[Drayton Calhoun]

Bob, I just finished my first batch of walnut dye...it needs to be reduced a lot! Actually, I started with too much water to begin with. The instructions I read said start with water about one inch above the walnut shells...I started out with about five inches. What I came out with was even lighter than yours. I am making another batch which I will reduce by at least 75% and add that to my current batch. Hopefully, this will darken it quite a bit. It is all a learning experience, part of the fun of leatherwork.

[Cliff Fendley]

Use the batch you have and cook it again or even better cook it over with new husk and will make it darker.

[Drayton Calhoun]

Already added the alcohol, shouldn't affect it though, should it?

[Drayton Calhoun]

Just finished re-processing my walnut dye, made another small batch and threw the first batch in once it reduced, added some coffee too, just for the helluvit, came out with a real nice medium brown. Reduced the whole batch by another 75% did the trick. Will have a holster on soon with the end result.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Eureka!!!

I started thinking about dyes ....

Lessee; something I can boil it in but has ceramic sides so that I get no greyish tinge from the metal sides of the container reacting with the dyes ....

So I want down to my local Salvation army and for less than $25.   I bought three crockpots; one for each kind of dye  so now I have vinagaroon and walnut dye at the ready, and will soon make up a crockpot of coffee dye.


BUT; if you decide that this makes sense, be sure to check out each heating element at the store; most thrift store do not warranty their stuff  ....

[Django]

A CROCKPOT, !!!!A brilliant  idea, it can be stewed for days in the garage without the wife complaining!!!!!
Django

[Boothill Bob]

A CROCKPOT, !!!!A brilliant  idea, it can be stewed for days in the garage without the wife complaining!!!!!
Django

LOL