04-11-2012, 04:45 PM
Re: Black dye from "vinegaroon" (not the scorpion species) - It does a fine job! It takes about two weeks to do its chemistry. I painted it on my veg tan spolas pieces before stitching it together. You have to give the leather a baking soda bath to stop the process when it it black enough for you. I used neat's foot oil on it afterdrying the leather because the leather loses a lot of flexibility doing this technique. It is black as black can get, though. Vinegaroon is said to weaken the leather. I believe this, but since the Amish use it for harness dyeing, it can't be much. The oil treatment (like working a baseball glove) seemed to restore it. Don't let it splash on your clothes. It can spot them. I will post a pic when I have one.
Cheryl Boeckmann