First holsters try

[Navy Six]

Thanks for the information about vinegaroon as most of my leather is black and does rub off a little. I will give it a try but geezookers I HATE the smell of vinegar!

[Marshal Will]

Thanks for the information about vinegaroon as most of my leather is black and does rub off a little. I will give it a try but geezookers I HATE the smell of vinegar!

Perhaps, but it's only while you treat the leather. After that, there shouldn't be any vinegar smell. Try it on a scrap first so you're satisfied. If it leaves a residual smell, you can always dump the stuff. It isn't expensive, 35 cents worth of vinegar and the cost of a large steel wool pad.

[Miguel Loco]

I need to try this stuff. I do black more often than I like....and no matter what dye....it always rubs off. I use Angelus dye for everything else with good results and a great color selection. But the black still rubs off.

There are some spray dyes that don't rub off, learned this from a saddle maker mentor of mine. But it is rather expensive. https://www.amazon.com/TRG-Super-Leather-Canvas-Colors/dp/B01N1YYLZZ/ref=sxts_rp_s_a_1_0?content-id=amzn1.sym.eff26b9b-e255-411b-a40d-eccb21f93fe4%3Aamzn1.sym.eff26b9b-e255-411b-a40d-eccb21f93fe4&crid=1LQTNBRFG8ER1&cv_ct_cx=leather+spray+dye&keywords=leather+spray+dye&pd_rd_i=B01N1YYLZZ&pd_rd_r=72e1352f-0908-4f01-97dd-66953d96e5de&pd_rd_w=eK8dz&pd_rd_wg=llOX9&pf_rd_p=eff26b9b-e255-411b-a40d-eccb21f93fe4&pf_rd_r=PST63D1QCZ9QWXF5T50G&qid=1677175798&sprefix=leather+spray+dye%2Caps%2C149&sr=1-1-5985efba-8948-4f09-9122-d605505c9d1e

So Marshall Will......about how many ounces of vinegar to a steel wool pad? Do you make up the baking powder solution in a tub to dip the entire holster? Then do a plain water dip?

[Marshal Will]

I need to try this stuff. I do black more often than I like....and no matter what dye....it always rubs off. I use Angelus dye for everything else with good results and a great color selection. But the black still rubs off.

There are some spray dyes that don't rub off, learned this from a saddle maker mentor of mine. But it is rather expensive. https://www.amazon.com/TRG-Super-Leather-Canvas-Colors/dp/B01N1YYLZZ/ref=sxts_rp_s_a_1_0?content-id=amzn1.sym.eff26b9b-e255-411b-a40d-eccb21f93fe4%3Aamzn1.sym.eff26b9b-e255-411b-a40d-eccb21f93fe4&crid=1LQTNBRFG8ER1&cv_ct_cx=leather+spray+dye&keywords=leather+spray+dye&pd_rd_i=B01N1YYLZZ&pd_rd_r=72e1352f-0908-4f01-97dd-66953d96e5de&pd_rd_w=eK8dz&pd_rd_wg=llOX9&pf_rd_p=eff26b9b-e255-411b-a40d-eccb21f93fe4&pf_rd_r=PST63D1QCZ9QWXF5T50G&qid=1677175798&sprefix=leather+spray+dye%2Caps%2C149&sr=1-1-5985efba-8948-4f09-9122-d605505c9d1e

So Marshall Will......about how many ounces of vinegar to a steel wool pad? Do you make up the baking powder solution in a tub to dip the entire holster? Then do a plain water dip?

I use one large steel wool pad in just under a quart of vinegar. I wipe the baking powder solution on just like the vinegaroon and rinse it as soon as it's soaked in. I generally rinse it under the tap. I do all this prior to assembling the holster although there's no reason not to dip a completed holster. It just takes more vinegaroon and neutralizing solution.

One maker I know keeps a 55 gallon barrel full of water with steel shavings, horseshoes and scraps in the bottom. He just dips the completed project in the rusty water and the job is done in one step. No vinegar or baking soda needed. You do need a barrel kept somewhere. I think he said it took a year or so to get the water rusty enough to work.

[mike116]

In my experience dipping the entire project produces the best results.   When I tried wiping it on I had spotty results.  Dipping was always more consistent.   Probably because I was using various grades of leather,  the quality of the veg-tan can affect how well the vinagroon works.  As Marshal explained, a barrel or tank is needed to dip larger pieces.    The vinagroon containers were known as "pickle tanks".   I bought a 5 gallon bucket of vinegar and threw an entire package of steel wool in it. 

[Marshal Will]

In my experience dipping the entire project produces the best results.   When I tried wiping it on I had spotty results.  Dipping was always more consistent.   Probably because I was using various grades of leather,  the quality of the veg-tan can affect how well the vinagroon works.  As Marshal explained, a barrel or tank is needed to dip larger pieces.    The vinagroon containers were known as "pickle tanks".   I bought a 5 gallon bucket of vinegar and threw an entire package of steel wool in it.

I like this idea. Since white vinegar is so inexpensive, it's definitely a good solution.

[mike116]

I bought the 5 gallon bucket of vinegar at Costco years ago.    I bet they still sell it that way.

[Miguel Loco]

Thanks for the info! I'll have to give it  try.

[Marshal Will]

I bought the 5 gallon bucket of vinegar at Costco years ago.    I bet they still sell it that way.

In our area, it's sold in boxes of two 1 gallon jugs. Last time I got any it was something like $1.15/gal. A couple of those and a 5-gallon pail from Home Depot and you're in business.

[ShotgunDave]

Awesome job on the holsters Navy Six! Welcome to the wonderful world of leather craft!

If it's any help, I have used Marshal's recipe to make my own vinagroon several times, and it works perfectly. It turns leather a beautiful deep black. I do dunk my leather though. It's just faster and easier for me.

There is also another plus to using vingaroon. It doesn't turn your fingers black. It's just vinegar, so there's no mess on your hands. it will however turn some wood black.

[Marshal Will]

The sheath for the round knife in this pic was done with vinegaroon. So was the wooden handle. Sometimes the wood reacts nicely to get a beautiful mellow brown color.



Here's the knife before the handle was treated with vinegaroon.

[Miguel Loco]

LOL..... that's almost as many band aids as I need when using the round knife.

[Marshal Will]

LOL..... that's almost as many band aids as I need when using the round knife.

I hear ya. That photo was staged, of course, but I was rocking the knife one day making a lot of small cuts. I felt it touch my wrist lightly with each cut but didn't think much about it until I found I was leaking all over the work bench out of a good dozen nicks. The backs of those points are darn sharp. I considered cutting one side of the knife off after that but there are times when the whole thing is useful. That inspired the photo, though.

[Miguel Loco]

Yes indeed...It gave me a good laugh cuz I've been there

[Marshal Will]

I'm sure most of us have.