Natural Leather Dye

For all of the Talk that doesn't fit elsewhere.

Moderators: caedmon, Greg

Meganbeyer
Wanderer
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2020 4:03 pm
Location: Mountains in Oklahoma

Natural Leather Dye

Post by Meganbeyer »

I have been experimenting with natural leather dying. So far i have tried walnut hulls, coffee, coffee with hibiscus flowers, and store bought leather dye. I really like the colors from the coffee and coffee hibiscus mix...
Image
Samples out in the sun

Image
Left to right- Chocolate leather dye, 5 min walnut soak, coffee hibiscus top/ coffee bottom, natural leather

Any one ever tried to dye leather naturally? any suggestions? have you found natural dyes to bleed or wear funny?
User avatar
Elleth
êphal ki-*raznahê
Posts: 2932
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:26 am
Location: in the Angle; New England

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by Elleth »

Cool!

We talk about walnut dying here:
http://middleearthrangers.org/forum/vie ... f=5&t=4311

And some vinegaroon here, with a like to a wonderful historical leather pallete thread over on myArmoury:
http://middleearthrangers.org/forum/vie ... 92&p=42852


Neat experiments! :)
Persona: Aerlinneth, Dúnedain of Amon Lendel c. TA 3010.
Meganbeyer
Wanderer
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2020 4:03 pm
Location: Mountains in Oklahoma

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by Meganbeyer »

Elleth wrote:Cool!
Thanks for the links will definitely check them out... I love to work with leather and finding new ways to dye things will be great!
User avatar
theowl
Vendor
Posts: 448
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:15 am
Location: California
Contact:

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by theowl »

Meganbeyer wrote:
Any one ever tried to dye leather naturally? any suggestions? have you found natural dyes to bleed or wear funny?
Coffee and hibiscus is interesting. I'll need to play around with that.

Look into vinegaroon dye. It typically produces a black color, but I've experimented with it a bit and gotten some decent dark browns and grays. It's also very permanent, I've never had any issues with bleeding or fading over time.
User avatar
BrianGrubbs
Silent Watcher over the Peaceful Lands
Posts: 267
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:59 pm
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Contact:

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by BrianGrubbs »

What process did you use for the coffee dying?

Brian
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Meganbeyer
Wanderer
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2020 4:03 pm
Location: Mountains in Oklahoma

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by Meganbeyer »

BrianGrubbs wrote:What process did you use for the coffee dying?

Brian
I made really strong coffee and just dipped the leather bit into it. My coffee mix was half of my jar coffee grounds and then brewed with hot water, let stand till luke warm and used it.
Currently mixing the Hibiscus into a coffee mix to make a nice red brown dye for my saddle bags

EDIT: I am currently working on figuring out my ratios and how the dye is best applied. I will update as i get thing dyed with the natural dyes.
User avatar
BrianGrubbs
Silent Watcher over the Peaceful Lands
Posts: 267
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:59 pm
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Contact:

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by BrianGrubbs »

Thank you, I will give that a try!

Brian
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
User avatar
Elleth
êphal ki-*raznahê
Posts: 2932
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:26 am
Location: in the Angle; New England

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by Elleth »

EDIT:USE WITH CAUTION
There's definately vinegaroon in there. Use SPARINGLY and de-acidify your project before oiling/dubbining/waxing.
With too much, it's easy to go straight past brown to black.




For what it's worth, I just got this stuff:

32 Oz.100% ALL NATURAL BLACK WALNUT CONCENTRATE STAIN / DYE / INK
from eBay user mikeb5891: I'm afraid I forget the DBA/company name it arrived under.
walnut-dye.jpg
walnut-dye.jpg (25.42 KiB) Viewed 16232 times
https://www.ebay.com/itm/32-Oz-100-ALL- ... 2536010495






I haven't used it "for real" but shortly after it arrived I used a dab on a scrap piece and I was shocked how well it worked: almost as well as modern leather dye.

I don't know *why* it works so much better. Maybe there's a carrier or mordant he's added he didn't mention in the product description. Maybe by producing straight from husks he's keeping more of the "juice" and the powder process Starwest uses throws that away.

I'm curious why - but I know even leaving something overnight in a sludge of cooked-down walnut powder I don't get anything like the results from a simple dab of this stuff.



(edited to resize picture)
Last edited by Elleth on Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:39 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Persona: Aerlinneth, Dúnedain of Amon Lendel c. TA 3010.
User avatar
Manveruon
Thangailhir
Posts: 2582
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:11 am
Location: Littleton, CO
Contact:

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by Manveruon »

HOLY COW THAT’S AMAZING!!! I’ve been looking for a good source of natural walnut dye FOR EV ER.
Now, pardon my ignorance here, but... it says “black walnut dye,” so does that just mean dye made from black walnuts (and presumably the dye itself is a brownish color)? Or does that mean BLACK dye, made from walnuts?
Maerondir Perianseron, also called “Mickel,” Halfling Friend - Ranger of the Misty Mountains
User avatar
Elleth
êphal ki-*raznahê
Posts: 2932
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:26 am
Location: in the Angle; New England

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by Elleth »

It is brown, but it's quite a dark and somewhat flat brown.
My *suspicion* is that the maker cut it with a bit of vinegaroon so it works more quickly, though I've not confirmed with him.

That's great if that's what you're going for. It does seem significantly easier to use than the regular stuff, especially when you don't have a hot summer day outside.
If I wanted more the deep dark amber/chestnutty brown I have on other things - say my quiver - it's not what I'd use. On the other hand, there have absolutely been lots of times I've been extremely frustrated with a regular soak in walnut powder not getting anywhere near dark as I want, so this stuff (or a light vinegaroon wash) absolutely has a place.
Persona: Aerlinneth, Dúnedain of Amon Lendel c. TA 3010.
User avatar
theowl
Vendor
Posts: 448
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:15 am
Location: California
Contact:

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by theowl »

I got a bottle of it and used it to dye the brain tanned bag I made. I had to do two passes to even it out a bit, but I think it turned out pretty good.

Image
User avatar
Manveruon
Thangailhir
Posts: 2582
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:11 am
Location: Littleton, CO
Contact:

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by Manveruon »

That is absolutely great info, thanks guys!

Also worth asking: since this is a dye made from largely or entirely natural materials, would you say it has an expiration date? If I were to buy this, do you think I would need to be worried about it going off/getting moldy after a relatively short period of time?
Maerondir Perianseron, also called “Mickel,” Halfling Friend - Ranger of the Misty Mountains
User avatar
Elleth
êphal ki-*raznahê
Posts: 2932
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:26 am
Location: in the Angle; New England

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by Elleth »

Hunh. Now that you mention it - I don't know.

The stuff I brew at home aboslutely goes moldy after a week or so.
This hasn't so far: maybe he has some alcohol in it? Maybe the bottle itself is just less susceptible to contaimination?

Dunno.

Anyhow, I'd plan on it not keeping terribly long, and be happily surprised if it doesn't go off.

For what it's worth, I've heard of craftsfolk who don't worry about mold - they just keep a pot out back, toss in their stuff scum or no, and carry on. I don't think I've heard of problems from it, but it skill gives me the skeevies. I once used a questionable batch with some leather straps, and they just never seemed to smell right after. Can't recall if the smell faded or I just tossed them: I'm thinking maybe the latter?
Persona: Aerlinneth, Dúnedain of Amon Lendel c. TA 3010.
User avatar
Manveruon
Thangailhir
Posts: 2582
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:11 am
Location: Littleton, CO
Contact:

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by Manveruon »

Yeah, makes sense. For what it’s worth, I feel largely the same as you regarding moldy stains/dyes and such. One way or the other though, I’m still tempted by this one. Maybe I can see if another local who wants to do more natural/historical leather work wants to go in on one so we’re both not stuck with the entire container.

Also, if they did cut it with a bit of vinegaroon, as you theorized above, the vinegar in that mixture could act as a slight preservative.
Maerondir Perianseron, also called “Mickel,” Halfling Friend - Ranger of the Misty Mountains
User avatar
wulfgar
Amrod Rhandir
Posts: 431
Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:53 am
Location: Dardanelle, Arkansas
Contact:

Re: Natural Leather Dye

Post by wulfgar »

I have done the vinegaroon dye, steel wool soaked in vinegar, and find that it rots the leather even if it is promptly oiled after the drying process. Anyone else have that issue?
You can't take the sky from me.
Post Reply