"Coffee Dye" - some questions and advice?

[bedbugbilly]

O.K. - I've got the "vinegaroon" down - now have some questions as I move on to "Coffee Dye".


My questions are:

1.  Is there a better way than doing it this way?

2.  Does there need to be an "additive" to the solution to help the dye "set" in the leatheer or to keep it from spoilong over time (i.e. - if stored in a container will strange things grow?)   

3.  Which is better - soaking the leather in the solution or applying it to the leather with a swab?

4.  What is a good "follow-up" to using this dye after the leather is dry?  i.e. - leather conditioner, virgin olive oil, paste wax, etc.)

I'm assuming the longer you let the leather soak or the more coats you give, the darker it will get.  Suggestions (if soaking) on lengtj pf time to leave it in for a medium brown and a dark brown.

I know thaqt each piece of leather "dyes" differently - the same as with wood taking stain differently.  If a holster is made out of one hide and the belt is made from another  - can they be "matched" fairly easily?

Thanks for any comments, advice, etc. -- greatly appreciated. 

I'm starting to want to use more "natural dyes" - has anyone experimented with dyes made from boiling up pecan shell husks?  We have a large pecan orchard a mile away and I think I can easily get some crushed shells/hulls - are they worth fooling with?

Thanks!

[Dalton Masterson]

First on the pecans. I think that pecans have been tried before, and that the color was very strong. Look up a post or two by Ace Lungger. I think he had made some from pecans.

I just boil my coffee for an hour or so for a few days, then pour it into a jug and add a little bit of alcohol to inhibit growth. Mine is still fairly liquid in form, and is not concentrated much. It sometimes take several dunkings to get anything near medium to dark brown.

The way I use it is I dip my holster in the dye for a bit, then pull it out and let it dry. When its almost the color I think I will want then I oil with EVO. Most of the time I am just using it to antique my items, so I dont mind dunking it again and again to get an older appearance.
As far as followup, I oil it, Lexol, and then Skidmores or whatever your top finish of choice is.

Not only will each piece of leather take dye differently, each batch of dye may be different too in my experience. 
Tryi it, and experiment with some scrab bin projects.
DM

[bedbugbilly]

Thanks Dalton - I greatly appreciate the info.  I thought I had remembered reading a post on this forum about and additive for the coffee to keep it from growing things - I'll add what you suggested.  I guess it's like anything else - just dive in and give it a try.  I'll experiment some and then when I get something made and dyed with the coffee, I'll post a photo of the results. 

The next time I get over to the pecan grove office, I'll get some pecan hulls and give them a try as well.  I have my bench in the garage here in AZ where we spend the winter.  God bless my dear wife for putting up with my shenagins like making vinegaroon and such.  Somehow though, I think I'll be boiling these new concoctions on the propane grill in the back yard.

Again, many thanks!   

[WaddWatsonEllis]

This is a paste from a reply I did to another post .... but it just might help the situation with your wife if the dye was sored in a cheap crock pot in your garage ....LOL


Howdy, Pardner! Sacramento, Ca here ....


     Re: Left Coast Source for Walnut Powder
« Reply #13 on: Today at 08:00:12 pm »

But I got to thinking about the idea of how iron or steel pots can give a greyish color to brown dyes like walnut and I got this idea ... ceramic container ... able to boil for long times unconcerned sounds like a crock pot to me ...

So I went down to my SalvationArmy Thrift Store and bought two two gallon crockpots, some candles and a candleholder for just under $26.00 ... I thihk they were bought for an office party and never thoroughly cleaned or ever used again .. so after thourough cleaning (Easy Off is now my friend!), They are now heating up two gallons each of water ... and this way i have 1.) dedicated crockpots to use for leather working, and 2.) Something I can use anywere there is a plug.

HINT: Salvation Army may have a no refund policy in your area (it did in mine).
*************************** BE SURE TO HEAT THE CROCKPOTS UP AT THE STORE BEFPORE YOU BUY THEM !!!!!!******

[bedbugbilly]

What a super idea!  We've got some resale shops around here so I'll keep the corck pots on my "want list" when I stop in.  I'd ask my wife if I could use our crock pot . . . but I know what the answer would be!      A 2 gallon one would allow you to submerge the whole holster or a gun belt (loosely coiled) and you could "cook" it in the dye as long as you needed to.  It makes sense to me!  Thanks!   

[Drayton Calhoun]

I made some more walnut dye the other night and just for the helluvit, I filled up a coffee maker filter with coffee and threw that into the mix. Came out great. Will be making a holster soon with it and I'll post pics.

[Bugscuffle]

A small piece of advice onthsat coffee dye........................Let it cool off before you soak your belt in it. Ask me how i know this.

[Boothill Bob]

How do you know that Bugscuffle

[Capt.Virgil Russo]

A small piece of advice onthsat coffee dye........................Let it cool off before you soak your belt in it. Ask me how i know this.

I'm right there with you, pard!

[Bugscuffle]

'cause my belt came out lookin' like a cooked egg noodle and was 8" too short!!!

How do you know that Bugscuffle

[Boothill Bob]

LOL  been there done that 

[Drayton Calhoun]

I was lucky, I tried it on a piece of scrap, yeah, it do shrivel up leather a tad!

[bedbugbilly]

Thanks Bugs - without knowing it, you've saved me some heartache in regards to cooling the coffee dye and not doing it while it's hot . . . .