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Black Leather Dye from Iron and Vinegar (Iron Acetate)
Charlie

Created by

Charlie

17. October 2026DE
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Black Leather Dye from Iron and Vinegar (Iron Acetate)

Iron dissolved in vinegar gives a brown solution of iron acetates. Brushed on vegetable-tanned leather (or oak), it reacts with the tannin and turns black, the same reaction that ebonises wood. Put iron in vinegar, leave the lid loose while it works, then strain and bottle it. The picture: our diagram of nails in vinegar and the black stroke on leather.
Beginner
Until the iron has dissolved, then minutes

Instructions

1

Iron in vinegar

Put clean iron nails in a glass jar and cover them with vinegar. Leave the lid loose: the iron gives off hydrogen as it dissolves.

Materials for this step:

Iron NailsIron Nails100 g
VinegarVinegar0.5 liter

Tools needed:

Glass JarGlass Jar
2

Wait for it to darken

Leave it until the nails are eaten away and the liquid has turned brown.

Tools needed:

Glass JarGlass Jar
3

Strain and bottle

Strain through muslin and a funnel into a stoppered bottle, leaving the iron residue behind.

Tools needed:

Muslin Straining ClothMuslin Straining Cloth
Kitchen FunnelKitchen Funnel
Glass Bottles with StoppersGlass Bottles with Stoppers
4

Test, then dye

Brush it on a scrap of vegetable-tanned leather first: the tannin in the leather turns it black. Then dye the work the same way.

Tools needed:

Rubber GlovesRubber Gloves

Materials

2
  • 1
    Iron Nails
    100 g
    Placeholder
  • 1
    Vinegar
    0.5 liter
    Placeholder

Tools Required

5

This blueprint makes

Thumbnail
Placeholder

Leather Dye

Free

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