wwii axis reenactment forum

Can anyone please tell me the best way to colour a replica pair of German low boots black?

The orthentic way is to use vinegar and steel wire wool - causing a chemical reaction which turns the leather black. Realistically, nip to your local cobbler/timpsons and pick up a tub or dylon or leather dye, in black, and use that. After that, oil or dubbin, sorted.

I skipped the vinegar and wire wool and went

Dylon;
Polish;
Dubbin

Did the trick!

wire wool and vinegar???
If you want your boots to start rotting away from the acidic qualities of vinegar, have fun buying new footwear.
There is no shortcut to getting a pair of neutral leather boots black, it was done by daily use and lots of dubbing and?or polish.

John Wilson wrote: wire wool and vinegar???
If you want your boots to start rotting away from the acidic qualities of vinegar, have fun buying new footwear.
There is no shortcut to getting a pair of neutral leather boots black, it was done by daily use and lots of dubbing and?or polish.

The Vinegar way is not that good

John Wilson wrote: wire wool and vinegar???
If you want your boots to start rotting away from the acidic qualities of vinegar, have fun buying new footwear.
There is no shortcut to getting a pair of neutral leather boots black, it was done by daily use and lots of dubbing and?or polish.

You underestimate the chemical resitance qualities of leather. Decent leather hide is tough stuff. Hence why it has a history of use for aprons, safety footwear, etc....

It won't rot your leather. Soaking the wirewool in vinegar for some time, then rubbing the leather down with the wire wool is an accepted means of blacking leather. It's not as easy or effective as dye, but it works.

If you want black boots, polish them with black boot polish.

GraemeMac wrote:

John Wilson wrote: wire wool and vinegar???
If you want your boots to start rotting away from the acidic qualities of vinegar, have fun buying new footwear.
There is no shortcut to getting a pair of neutral leather boots black, it was done by daily use and lots of dubbing and?or polish.

You underestimate the chemical resitance qualities of leather. Decent leather hide is tough stuff. Hence why it has a history of use for aprons, safety footwear, etc....

It won't rot your leather. Soaking the wirewool in vinegar for some time, then rubbing the leather down with the wire wool is an accepted means of blacking leather. It's not as easy or effective as dye, but it works.

You're talking nonsense son. vinegar is an acid, it will rot leather.
(I worked as a shoe repairer/cobbler/schüster) for many years.

That's right, i forgot last time I asked for vinegar on my chips at the chippy it took the skin right off my hands!

Yes, vinegar is a weak acid solution, but it will do **** all to the leather on your boots other than discolour it. Someone who's worked with shoes(and presumably leather...), should know/understand the properties of leather.

You're obviously not willing to listen, which is fine. The OP asked how to black boots, I gave two methods. Both work.

http://www.dererstezug.com/blackeningboots.htm

Thanks for the info
Ill leave the Vinegar for my chips!

The vinegar and wire wool / metal shavings method of producing a dye has actually been around for hundreds of years and it was used on wood as well as leather.

wire wool and vinegar???
If you want your boots to start rotting away from the acidic qualities of vinegar, have fun buying new footwear.
There is no shortcut to getting a pair of neutral leather boots black, it was done by daily use and lots of dubbing and?or polish.

In that case why does immersion in peat bogs, an acidic environment, produce perfectly preserved leather? In fact 'tanning' of leather comes from the use of tannic acid in the process of turning hides into leather. Guess what? Tannic acid is an acid.

Using the vinegar/wire wool approach will be authentic and cause no harm to your boots. It also wont colour them as well as black polish.

They had dyes as well as cream/paste and wax polishes in the 1940's.

WW2 was not some archaic pre industrial period, they had blackening compounds and so on. I'd suggest using the dye.

Right ive cleaned this up the OP asked a valid question and deserves an honest and usefull answer not a private argument which if you wish to continue please do it by PM, e-mail or face to face.
And to both combatants i dont care what the trouble is between you and i dont want to know so dont bombard me with PM,s over it because they will be ignored.

Some of these modern vinegar is more acidic than the older stuff and is not that good for the stitching of the boots . And before some one reminds me of Bottys post there are different types of acid I have used over the years the Black leaderfett and my boots look OK . On the first few times you use it I would rub it in with your hands as the warmth of your hands will melt the lederfett and it will soak in to the leather better