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Dye from Black walnuts (question)

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ricktrojanowski:
I've heard about using the husks from black walnuts to make a dye for buckskins.  They are starting to fall around here and was wondering if anyone knows of some info on the process.

stickbender:


Not really sure, but I believe you just boil the green husks, or after they have split, and fallen off.

                                                     Stick Bender

El Destructo:
I you are going to collect the Nuts to use or eat....the Husk them....Put the husks in a fabric bag or nylon stocking that will act as a strainer. Add just enough water to cover the husks and soak 3 days. Boil the green Husks for an hour or two.... remove them from the heat and let them soak overnight..... The next day.... drain the liquid from the husks into another container and throw the husks away....... strain the liquid to remove any solids..... When you are ready to dye your material...., dampen them in clear water and then immerse them into the warm dye...... Stir the pot frequently.... Let the material  steep until the color is deep enough..... When you are finished pour the dye into a storage container....... The dye is strong enough to eat through plastic containers if stored long term..... so use glass.....Stain can be poured into a spray bottle and sprayed or painted onto a finished project too..... The dye can sometimes get moldy..... Vinegar can be added to the dye to stop mold growth..... Keep the dye in the freezer to eliminate the problem of mold if possible.

If you do not have access to fresh nuts or simply want to avoid the mess and work of extracting the dye from the husks you can purchase dried walnut hull powder from any Reloading Magazine....they use them for polishing Brass.....thats the easiest way for me to do it....

Eric Krewson:
I use walnut dye for arrow shafts. I collected some walnuts off the ground, let them dry out in my shop then knocked the hulls off the nuts with a hammer. I pounded the hulls to a course powder with a hammer, put them in a qt jar and added hot water. This made a nice, dark stain in a few days. I didn't strain the mix, use pulp and all when wiping it on shafts. After about 3 months mould started growing in my bottle of stain so I dumped off half the liquid and replaced it with denatured alcohol. I added the alcohol 3 years ago and haven't had any mould in my stain since.

ricktrojanowski:
Thanks for the info,  I've been seeing so many nuts, I thought I would give it a try.  Now if we could get a good wind storm, maybe a little black walnut bow wood. ;D

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