Bhutton Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Hi everybody. Just wondering if anyone has ever used the Sumac plant for dying steel? I used to dye my traps in this (Boiling water & Sumac berries)...It will dye rusty steel to a black color. The rustier the steel the better the dye job. (This holds up great one a good deep color is achieved) Thinking of trying this on some forged pieces here in the very near future. Just wondering what you all think or if anyone has tried this? Thanks...Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 I've never even heard of the finish. (Frosty says shuffling his feet in embarrassment) Got pics? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesteryearforge Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 If it is anything like trap die made from black walnuts its a lot like a black oxide finish kinda sorta like gun bluing / browning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 It's the tannin in the sumac; oak galls or tea are variants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhutton Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share Posted December 31, 2015 Yes it woule be like trap dye or walnut hulls leaving a black oxide finsih. I will be doing this in the future and ill post back to this thread to show the results. I personally like the finish. It just takes a bit of time to complete it. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Special Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 You've reinvented iron gall ink. They used to make it with oak galls, rust, and wine or vinegar for the acid. It's a classic, although it tends to destroy the paper over a couple of hundred years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhutton Posted January 3, 2016 Author Share Posted January 3, 2016 For some reason I always thought Indians make ink from sumac berries? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Special Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 You can from most of the acidic berries. Sumac, pokeberries, blackberries, etc. Usually add vinegar, maybe some salt, etc. Lots of recipies for ink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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