Black Walnut for dye

[ChuckBurrows]

FYI - most of the commercial walnut is made from the shell not the soft husk. It has less of the need be ingredients, but it does work - just use more and then boil it down to intensify.

I get a supply every year from a friend back east and cook it up whole husks and whole shells. After wards I grind up the shells and meat and re-use in the next batch.

[wolflobo76]

I believe that the husk and hull are the same thing. The outermost part of the Black Walnut not the shell.

[wolflobo76]

  Here are some pics of my gloves that I wore putting together some bags of dry and wet Black Walnut husks for Slickshot. You can see on the back of the gloves what the original collor is.

[Slickshot]

Wolflobo 76,

Boy, sure did a number on your gloves - looks almost black.


Thanks again for your help and kindness,

Slickshot

[wolflobo76]

Wolflobo 76,

Boy, sure did a number on your gloves - looks almost black.


Thanks again for your help and kindness,

Slickshot

You are most welcome. The box should be getting there the end o the week. Let me know when it gets there and if what I sent is satisfactory.

[Slickshot]

I will let you know when it arrives and I a sure it will be fine.  Got to find a old pot to cook this stuff in or do the crock pot suggestion.


Can't wait to try this out...I wonder - I have read that if you really want a dark black from vinegaroon, you can soak your leather in Black tee water first...I am wondering if that would work for this brown color using the walnut hull/shells?


Slickshot

[ChuckBurrows]

I am wondering if that would work for this brown color using the walnut hull/shells?

Nope the reason to add tea is to increase the tannins in the leather to react with the iron in the vinegaroon and walnut dye is already strong in tannins - in fact if you want a darker black than dye walnut first and then use the vinegar black.....

[Slickshot]

Thank you ChuckBurrows

[ChuckBurrows]

You're welcome and you can also make an aged black - lots of old stuff gets a rusty black look to it so dye with walnut first and get a good med-dark brown, then add a thin quick wash of watered down vinegar black - I swipe it on with a sponge barely wet, re-do as or if need until you get the "right" look.....

here's a couple of examples of aged black:


and another - the belt only


note: compare to the original blackened harness piece in the lower photo which is from the 1880's...

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That's beautiful work, Chuck. Those look so authentic I want to tell you to be careful with them. 

[Slickshot]

Chuck,

I absolutely love the work you do, spectacular!  I so very authentic looking; looks like you go back in time and have them made or something....So cool!!!

Thanks for the info - this site is great for info!

Slickshot

[ChuckBurrows]

That's beautiful work, Chuck. Those look so authentic I want to tell you to be careful with them.  

That would be up to the owner's/caretakers. While making things like this for me is a sort of "birthing" I also follow my Dad's dictum that one must cut the apron strings and so once out of my hands it becomes the property and responsibility of the new owner/caretaker- fortunately most folks understand that and for those that don't - well stressing over it is counter productive and since like most I've got enoough other stresses in my life (and currently more than my share it feels like) I have learned to "let it go". It was in many ways a hard lesson to learn and there are still those times, but.........

Slickshot- this type work has been my passion now for 51 years and the best part is when
1) I inspire others to reach for the gold ring
2) to give folks pleasure and a "feel good place"
sort of quick story - way back in the old daze I used to paint and do pen and ink - Charlie Russell was and still is in many ways my mentor/guiding light and like him I'd worked as a real sure enuff cowhand for a bit. In about 1971 I was invited to present my work at a show of western art in Santa Barbara, Ca. The day had gone Ok, but after 8 hours of folks mostly "just looking" I was a bit burnt out and ready to head back to the bunkhouse. Then about 15 minutes or so before closing an old time vaquero type - a type I recognized as the real McCoy, bow legs and all, wearing a real sure enough Stetson hat, California pants, and a pair of Paul Bond boots (one of the top 5 makers then and now) - showed up and I watched closely as he perused the gallery and worked his way towards me. He finally got to my work and I just sat and watched as he looked at my work for several minutes, while rolling a Bull Durham smoke one handed. After about 10 minutes he looked me up and down ( I was dressed similarly) and I waited with bated breath. He then cracked a smile offered me the smoke he'd just rolled, and then said, "Wa'll I reckon you been there and done that, shore enuff." He then turned and strode off and I darned near cryed..........one of the hi-lites of my life,  not because it stroked my ego, but because I'd put a smile on that man's face.......doing that for me is like winning the lottery.........

[Major 2]

Great story ....made your day..... defined your passion

I have had a similar moment, on a Film on which I was Production Designer.

I still say I'd buy the Coffee table book of just your photos 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That's really a fine story, Chuck. Thanks for sharing it.

[wolflobo76]

  Chuck those are some fine looking rigs and some fine advice with the vinegaroon after the Black Walnut dye.   Sometimes just putting a smile on someones face makes all the hard work a person does  all the more rewarding.

[Slickshot]

Great story Chuck,

I too would buy the coffee table book with your work in it...


This is indeed a great site with loads of information and advice no matter the skill level everyone possesses..JMHO!!!

Thank you,

Slickshot

[theshoer]

Well Gentlemen my Mom has a black walnut tree on her property, so I called her the other day to ask her to let me know when the walnut start to drop so I can go pick them up for both of us. When we were talking about the nuts she ask me what I wanted them for, so I told her for leather dye and a wood stain. She then tells me my Great Grandpa use to use walnut  husk to dye his hair.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Interesting idea to use the walnut stain for hair. It would be interesting to know how he did it without getting it on his skin.

[theshoer]

I will give my Mom a call in a couple of days and see if she knows 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks. That will be interesting.