Blackberries to Dye Leather

[redsquid2]

I guess the color isn't for everyone.

I have used blackberries a couple of times. I squish the blackberries directly into the leather, and rub it in real good. That takes maybe 10 minutes. To rinse, I put it in a big pot of warm water, rubbing it some more. I probably spend 6-8 minutes on the rinse phase. It has been a while since I did it. I can't remember if I allowed it to sit between "dying" and rinsing.

Anybody else have experience with this? There is a chance that acidity from the berry will affect the strength of the leather, but I don't think so.

 

[quint]

I would have to dig it up but Chuck Burrows had some links and other stuff for natural leather dyes using various stuff and the effect or colors you get from it. Personally I really like vinegaroon and there is also a boiled walnut shell slurry.

I cant for the life of me remember if vegtan is naturally slightly acid or not. I think it is just a tad. If your worried about the acids could always give it a quick baking soda bath. But quick followed by a good rinse. Dont want to swing the other way to far.

 

[kc custom]

Never used blackberries but I've used elderberries, walnut hulls, and the
stamens out of certain lily flowers. The elderberries, and flower stamens
were the most potent.
Ken.

 

[Lone Fortress]

Have several blackberry bushes around my area and would be interested in giving this a try as it seems to produce a unique color. How durable is the color and would there be any way to neutralize any odor it might produce?

 

[redsquid2]

Have several blackberry bushes around my area and would be interested in giving this a try as it seems to produce a unique color. How durable is the color and would there be any way to neutralize any odor it might produce?

I've never had any problem with odor. As far as the permanence of the color: I have only done this twice. The one sheath stays in the chest of drawers most of the time, so it hardly ever sees sunlight. The other one - pictured above - I sold with that knife a couple of years ago. The customer has not complained about fading of color, but then I don't know how much he is using it.