Brown Dye??

[RoaringBull]

Is there a durable brown dye that can be easily used on veg-tan leather? While I love the black that vinegaroon gives me, some folks I know were wanting a brown bag just like the black ones.

[mike e]

Walnut hulls make a brown dye. 
 1. Collect 8-10 green hull walnuts.
 2. Pell and cut up the hulls.
 3. Boil hulls in a gallon of water for 1 1/2  hours. Add water as needed.
 4. Strain and collect in a jar.
 5. Paint on leather and let dry. Repeat as needed.

These instructions are from a recent Backwoodsman magazine. I have not tried it but hope to soon.

[Rickd]

I`ve used Potassium permanganaten on leather and it gives it a brown aged look....

[RoaringBull]

Where do you get the stuff Rick?

[LRB]

  Fiebings leather dye.

[RoaringBull]

  Fiebings leather dye.

Cool I know where to find that...just ordered two bottles of institutional leather dye...since I should probably be institutionalized anyway

[Mark Elliott]

I am curious,  is there a shelf life for stain from walnut hulls?   I was thinking of making up a batch and keeping it with my other finishes which last for years.

Mark E

[RoaringBull]

What about using like really strong coffee or tea?

[mike e]

I saved the dregs from the coffee pot for several days and boiled it down till it was half gone. Tried it on veg tan and it barely got any darker at all. Plain oil makes it darker than coffee.
 
The article doesn't say how long the walnut stain keeps but the author keeps it in his refrigerator. The article is in the March/April 2010 Backwoodsman. Everyone should get the Backwoodsman.

[John SMOthermon]

I don't think there is a shelf life for walnut dye.I have some that i made up several years ago and it's still good. I made mine from the black hulls after they fell of the tree. I just boiled them in water for awhile then strained out the chunks of hulls through some cheese cloth. I agree with mike e everyone should get Backwoodsman mag. I also get Backwoodsman Home . Both have great info in them.

[Chuck Burrows]

Coffee does work, but you need to use fresh not dregs, boil it STRONG and the best is French roast. Also it is not a wipe on dye - you must soak the piece in it for up to several hous much like you do with walnut.

Mark - Walnut can and will grow mold, but two ways to prevent that: add some alcohol or freeze it in smaller containers and use as needed.

Another option besides those noted, for those wanting to use brown or chestnut is to buy it pre-dyed from Wickett & Craing who will also split the leather to what ever thickness you like for free.

[Longknife]

"I`ve used Potassium permanganaten on leather and it gives it a brown aged look...."


I used pot-per on a belgium gunstock refinish back in about '85. It looked real nice, a deep chestnut brown, but it faded very badly. I still have it and it is a very light almost blonde color today!!!!!!

[BrownBear]

I'm real interested in "natural" or homemade dyes, but so far have had the most predictable and durable results with Fiebings.

[Clark Badgett]

Anyone ever tried Hickory nut hulls? I got some big shag bark hickory nuts I collected at Ft. Knox that I am intending to try, just for grins sometime soon.

[Pete G.]

 Fiebings Chocolate. Dark brown almost antique looking right off the bat.