Vinegroon AKA vinegar black leather die

I am proud of my first few attempts at leatherworking. However, one thing I really didn't like was dealing with the leather dies, like Fiebings USMC Black. It gets all over everything, even if you wear gloves, tends to haze over during application and slough off, and can rub off on clothing.

I was reading about vinegroon, or iron acetate, on my favorite forum. This solution chemically reacts with the tannins in veg-tan leather to darken it from dull gray to very black, depending on the exposure time (about 5 seconds = jet black). This reaction is similar to that produced in Oak and other high-tannin lumber when fumed with ammonia. Furthermore, this color change can completely penetrate the leather with longer exposure time.

This solution can be easily made using common household white vinegar and steel wool. Although it has a somewhat unpleasant smell, it is relatively safe and non-flammable.

When using vinegroon, you should neutralize the reaction in a bath of baking soda and water (1/8-1/4 cup per gallon of water), then allow the leather to dry until the smell is gone (up to 2 weeks) before finishing.

Once oiled, sealed and conditioned, this technique results in a deep black finish that will NEVER wear off.

A batch should cost less than $10, including the vinegar, steel wool, and baking soda.

How:

1. Fill a large container, such as a mason jar, with approximately 2 quarts of white vinegar.
2. Put 1-2 rolls of 0000 steel wool into the jar, seal it an shake well. I let mine rust for a week in water first.
3. Loosen the top to allow off-gases to escape. Periodically seal and shake. Don't forget to loosen the top afterward.
4. Keep the mixture in a warm place, lake the laundry room for 2 weeks.
5. Once most of the steel wool has dissolved, filter the mixture through a coffee filter into a clean jar. It may remain a bit murky, but the black sediment will eventually settle or dissolve.