Homemade wood and leather stains/dyes

[danderson]

Hey gang, I have a knife I recently finished on a rainy day, and would really like to stain it and dye the sheath. I think I made the handle out of pine and the leather was a pre fab vegetable tan. I'd be curious to hear what's been used to make dyes stains such as beets, acorns or other vegetation. Pictures will be posted once its done!    

[stevewills]

walnut hulls are the only thing ive ever used make sure to wear rubber gloves or youll have black hands for several days...now is the time to go get them,and you might want to bring your bow cause the squirrels here are tearing them up...

[kevsuperg]

try potassium permanganate.  you can find it at a hardware store in the plumbing section i belive.    it was used as a skin astringent, so wear gloves.  it comes as a fine black/dk purple powder.  mix it into a very little bit with water and apply to wood, leather.whatever.   goes on purple dries to a golden brown.  i use it exclusively on my wood shafts and selfbows

[TIM B]

I have used bloodroot to stain arrows.  I've simply mashed it up and applied it by rubbing it into the wood with latex gloves.
TIM B

[danderson]

kev could you post a pic? that might be what i'm looking for on the handle, and that bloodroot (if i can find it) might be nice on the leather

[CoilSpring]

KMn04- potassium permanganate is a very strong chemical oxidant that water treatement plants use for taste/odor in surface waters - be very carefull with it as when it is mixed with other certain chemicals...bad things can happen.

It's about the same color as Poke "salad" berries - a nice purple, but darker.  The berries also make a good stain - ask any 'possum     and the berries are safer, too.

I second the walnut hulls, rotten black of course.- It's what I dye my steel traps with (ie.coil springs)

[frank bullitt]

Strong cup of Coffee!