| Author | Message | ||
| Tim Bishop (Libertymesa)
New member Username: Libertymesa Post Number: 49 Registered: 7-2004 |
I built a customer a pair of light tan French Calf with a really bright blue top, he has been wearing them maybe two months just for dress, He came home one day from town and had been to the grocery store where he bought a bottle of some type of toilet bowl cleaner which was blue, as he was putting it away it slipped and fell to the floor,when it hit the top busted and soaked about half of the foot and just spotted the other foot, but, it stained it to the point that it turned them blue, nothing that has been done has helped, does any one have any ideas? any help will be appreciated. I thought maybe some oxalic acid like you use to bleach skirting leather? | ||
| Ben_nobody (Ben_nobody)
New member Username: Ben_nobody Post Number: 602 Registered: 4-2004 |
Tim, The oxalic acid will work fine.I would saddle soap entire foot then apply oxalic to wet leather and you should get the results your after.When dry apply good cream polish and conditioner as well to restore color and suppleness to leather. Ben | ||
| Suzanne Watson (Suzanne)
New member Username: Suzanne Post Number: 20 Registered: 7-2008 |
Hi Tim, Why do they think that blue looks clean? Once I was using a port-o-let and the $20 I had tucked in my shorts waistband fell in. I fished the bill out with sticks, rinsed it off (it was permanently blue) and used it as soon as possible. Figured it got disinfected down there. Good luck on the boots... I wonder what the dye is. | ||
| Greg Carmack (Carmack)
New member Username: Carmack Post Number: 43 Registered: 6-2004 |
When I picture it in my head, I believe that may be the funniest thing I have ever read on this forum. Thank you, Suzanne, for putting a huge grin on my face. Greg | ||
| Alexander John Edwards (Alex_alexander)
New member Username: Alex_alexander Post Number: 39 Registered: 1-2008 |
Sue...zannnnne Resourceful of you to both rescue and spend that $20 asap. Bet the cashier thought it was RIT dye and not toilet cleaner. An interesting idea . . . OXALIC ACID - it is Wood sorrel salt which is used to remove stains from wood, and is primarily a bleaching and softening agent. Hope you plan to remake that stain on a swatch and see what can be done. Two thoughts . . . how are you going to stop that acid so it doesn't go too far. Water flush might work. And then since wood isn't leather, and is like hair, maybe something that takes hair dye out might work. These products shrink the dye molecule with something so it can be washed out. JerryReddings One-n-Only permanent color remover or some other L'Oreal UnColor products. My teenage daughter had some blue haircolor, and went through alot of product and $$ before she went back to dark brown. Your customer could be very happy with black vamps. Alex | ||
| Tim Bishop (Libertymesa)
New member Username: Libertymesa Post Number: 50 Registered: 7-2004 |
Well i must say that i will never be able to use a port a john again without the image of poor suzanne fishing out a 20 dollar bill,but a smile is a smile. I think Al a mile away Reynolds had the best advice,.. "Tim,Just Flush em away and build a new pair." By the way Al Only a few fortunate ones have indoor plumbing here, It was a new directive from washington that repuires all Pony express stops to provide riders indoor luxuries, you know for the windy days. Hope all is well with every one and thanks for the advice. | ||
| James Ross (James_ross)
New member Username: James_ross Post Number: 216 Registered: 12-2006 |
Tim, I have used oxalic acid quite a bit on saddles and stuff out of skirting that i have built. My boar hides that i took to WF came up with some stains on them and i used the acid to take them off! I just do the WHOLE boot with it after you have dampened the leather and after you feel like you have got the results you want rinse them good with clean water! I did several coats with the acid to get the stains off my boots but i allowed them to completely dry between treatments. then i just oiled them good after i was completely done! Same process i use on skirting leather!! JR | ||
| Tex Robin (Tex_robin)
Member Username: Tex_robin Post Number: 1782 Registered: 1-2004 |
James, I have not had much success with Oxalic acid for cleaning leather...Sure, it will lighten a spot but then you have a light spot...It is a bleach and acts like a bleach. It is good for removing stains from your hands though. If it works for you though use it...TR | ||
| James Ross (James_ross)
New member Username: James_ross Post Number: 218 Registered: 12-2006 |
I got prolly 85% of the stains on my WF boots out and you can take 100% of sweat, salt and iron stains out of veg tan leather Almost all of the time. | ||
| Alexander John Edwards (Alex_alexander)
New member Username: Alex_alexander Post Number: 43 Registered: 1-2008 |
Tim, Are those boot vamps free of the 'blues' yet? Years ago I drove a bus with a port-o in the back. They had some special blue solution to keep the smell down. Trouble was, people missed the pot when the bus was moving. But the bowl was blue as the pacific ocean and then some. Alex | ||
| Tim Bishop (Libertymesa)
New member Username: Libertymesa Post Number: 51 Registered: 7-2004 |
Not yet,Alex, he is in Virginia and has not sent them back yet,Hopefully i will get them before too long and get a look at them. | ||
| Tex Robin (Tex_robin)
Member Username: Tex_robin Post Number: 1784 Registered: 1-2004 |
Tim, Keep us informed. I am curious about this project....TR | ||
| Tim Bishop (Libertymesa)
New member Username: Libertymesa Post Number: 52 Registered: 7-2004 |
Well i just thought i would let everyone know that i have not forgotten to update, But i just recieved the boots in the mail today and while they are stained for sure they are not as bad as i was expeting, I will try to get photos tomorrow and post them, Camera was dead today. My new dilemma is that all the suppliers i have contacted are either out of acid or no langer carry it,If anyone has a idea, i would appreciate a lead.Thanks, Tim | ||
| Al Reynolds (Al_reynolds)
New member Username: Al_reynolds Post Number: 17 Registered: 2-2007 |
Tim, The new name for oxalic acid is SAVOGRAN brand wood bleach. Its at the lumber yard and paint store. Its used to bleach raw wood. Smallest container is 12 oz. and costs $8.49 Mile-away Al | ||
| Tim Bishop (Libertymesa)
New member Username: Libertymesa Post Number: 53 Registered: 7-2004 |
Thanks Al, I will get some Monday the hardware store closed at Noon.Stay up wind from the 2 holer. | ||
| Lonnie Clippard (Ccboots)
New member Username: Ccboots Post Number: 31 Registered: 10-2008 |
All this talk about the $20. bill and the two-holer reminds me of a story told by Mel Tillis. I found grandpa fishing around in the tttoilet hole with a lllong ssstick. When I asked him what in the world he wwwas fffishing for, he said he dddropped his jjjacket down there! Well hhheck, GGGGrandpa, you`re not going to wwwear ttthat jjjacket again, I excccclaimed, and he said, "NNNo, but there was a bbbbiscuit in the ppppocket." | ||
| Emmett Dwyer (Emmett)
New member Username: Emmett Post Number: 88 Registered: 12-2007 |
I think I saw that jacket for sale on eBay. | ||
| Alexander John Edwards (Alex_alexander)
New member Username: Alex_alexander Post Number: 52 Registered: 1-2008 |
Tim, Let us know if this wood stuff works on leather. Dye chemistry is based on some basic principals one of which is that "dye with acid" tends to be permanent on protein/celluose fibers like silk and leather. This is why your grandma added a few teaspoons of vinegar to the RIT dye pack when she wanted drapery in a new color. Happy Holidays! Alex | ||
| Suzanne Watson (Suzanne)
New member Username: Suzanne Post Number: 26 Registered: 7-2008 |
Heck, Tim, Why dont you ask the toilet bowl cleaner company? They should have an MSDS sheet and could probably identify the dye. I'll bet its an acid dye. Do acids remove acids? If nothing else you could get some coupons for free product by inquiring. GOOD LUCK (Im glad its not me) | ||
| Tim Bishop (Libertymesa)
New member Username: Libertymesa Post Number: 57 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hi all I finally got a picture of the OUTHOUSE stained boots,This boot is by far the worst,I have had no luck finding any "leather bleach" but as Al Reynolds suggested, you can find wood bleach which contains? You guessed it oxalic acid,seems the EPA is concerned about the leather workers health but not the wood workers. Go figure,? Government Right.LOL Any way i will get some ordered after the holiday is over, so i will get back with the results. Take Care and HAPPY NEW YEAR..  | ||
| Tex Robin (Tex_robin)
Member Username: Tex_robin Post Number: 1798 Registered: 1-2004 |
Tim, Would you show us the boot when you are finished with it?...TR | ||
| Suzanne Watson (Suzanne)
New member Username: Suzanne Post Number: 27 Registered: 7-2008 |
Tim, If you test an area with bleach and it doesnt work, perhaps you could fix it with an art brush, a little paper cup and some meltonian nu-life color spray... spray colors into the cup to match leather (golden brown and ?) ) and dot the color onto spots with the art brush. The nu-life blends into leather pretty well. | ||
| Alexander John Edwards (Alex_alexander)
New member Username: Alex_alexander Post Number: 53 Registered: 1-2008 |
Tim, Maybe you have already invested in a 00 or 0 camel hair brush for painting details. Those spots . . . But a dark brown or a dark blue navy vamp would sure be mighty pretty. Alex | ||
| Tim Bishop (Libertymesa)
New member Username: Libertymesa Post Number: 60 Registered: 7-2004 |
Tex,I will keep all informed,i am just a little slow. I have thought of air brushing them but am afraid over time it will bleed through.If this does not work we will deglaze them and dye them a darker brown. Which is what he usually orders any way. He claims this is what he gets for trying something new. | ||
| Al Reynolds (Al_reynolds)
New member Username: Al_reynolds Post Number: 18 Registered: 2-2007 |
Tim, Add more blue spots and air-brush fiebing dark brown dye and you will have caribou,or plain black.Or invent tan toilet water.Al | ||
| Tex Robin (Tex_robin)
Member Username: Tex_robin Post Number: 1800 Registered: 1-2004 |
Tim, That looks like calf or some kind of side leather...If so it is open grained. If they were kangaroo I wonder if they would even stained, or that bad...TR | ||
| Tim Bishop (Libertymesa)
New member Username: Libertymesa Post Number: 61 Registered: 7-2004 |
Tex, it's French calf, I wonder about the Roo? I never have thought about weather it will stain,Certainly raises a good question, Before this the worst stain i had ever had to deal with was on a pair of boots i built myself,I was filling my pickup with Diesel and it burped back on a pair of Benedictine French Calf and soaked the left boot and half of the right.it was the first time i had worn them. I sure thought they were ruined but as time went by it got to where you couldn't even tell. i oiled them about 4-5 days after it happened and within a week to ten days it was virtually gone. | ||
| Tex Robin (Tex_robin)
Member Username: Tex_robin Post Number: 1801 Registered: 1-2004 |
Tim, I don't use French calf much any more because of the cracking. I only have some Hardtke FC left in choc and black. But Calf is notoious for absorbing stains. Spill some ink on a pair aof light colored boots and it is there to stay. I have no faith in the oxalic acid either for removal. And I have tried it to no good results. If you can remove the stain from the FC with oxalic acid and restore it to it's original color then I will sing praises to oxalic acid. I am really open minded about it and not looking to be argumenative...TR | ||
| Tim Bishop (Libertymesa)
New member Username: Libertymesa Post Number: 62 Registered: 7-2004 |
Tex i know what you mean i too have a love hate feeling about the french calf and have had my share of it that really tested my air, I was ready to quit it but it really seems to be popular out here, i have also been fortunate enough to get some really good FC from Jeff Farmer at Sun City leather that has a lot better feel to it than alot of the older more stiff stuff. So maybe it will continue to be a staple for us.But i must admit the older i get the better i like the Roo, Ostrich and buffalo type leather. As for the oxalic acid it was the only thing i could think of that would maybe produce a good result, The only application where i have used it was on skirting leather when we built saddles, and it worked fantastic, but of course it is a different tannage. but nothing to loose and everything to gain so keep your fingers crossed. More to come next week, We are taking the weekend and going to chase some Pheasant.Take care Tim | ||
| Mark W. Fletcher (Bronbo)
Member Username: Bronbo Post Number: 977 Registered: 1-2004 |
It may be too late for Tim's project, but I now remember that Duck M. told me of a method for removing stains. You out there Duck? Mark |