Long overdue maintenance on a 1907 sling...

[Fred]

http://www.jouster.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.png Long overdue maintenance on a sling...
This is a lot of verdigris that has built up over 85 years or so between the brass claws and the leather sling tips until it pulled the brass rivets out of the claw holes. I'm going to clean it all up and reassemble it. The leather is in excellent shape and everything should fit together nicely again. More pictures to come...

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0023_zps1j3k2mcv.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0023_zps1j3k2mcv.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0025_zpshhmh94a7.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0025_zpshhmh94a7.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0024_zpsohk3w2cm.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0024_zpsohk3w2cm.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0056_zpsedw4srmv.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0056_zpsedw4srmv.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0057_zpsgruylbss.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0057_zpsgruylbss.jpg.html)

[Fred]

Look how much vertigris I removed from under the two claws...

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0058_zps4s6ynicr.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0058_zps4s6ynicr.jpg.html)

The first claw reattached to the end of the sling with the original rivets, each in their original holes...

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0059_zpswrvbppzj.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0059_zpswrvbppzj.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0060_zpszbbijolt.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0060_zpszbbijolt.jpg.html)

[Fred]

Here are both brass claws reattached to the ends of the sling. In these photo's, I've more securely set each of the original rivets within their original holes.
The sling is good for another three generations now!

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0061_zpsvdtz2i8g.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0061_zpsvdtz2i8g.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0062_zpsi4eixbod.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0062_zpsi4eixbod.jpg.html)

[Fred]

The tools that I used...

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0063_zpszbyqab4m.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0063_zpszbyqab4m.jpg.html)

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

Fred:

Excellent job!!!

Doesn't appear you need my help after all. The work is outstanding to say the least. It is difficult to get the original rivets to set again since they tend to have compressed to their limit when they were originally set. I usually peen the holes on the back side of the frogs and they will hold a little better. Wish you lived a little closer, I would put you to work.

Regards,

Richard

[Fred]

Hey, Thanks Richard!! LOL
It's always a risky thing to take things apart and put them together again isn't it? Ya never know for sure how it'll work out till it's a done deal. I guess it worked out for me this time. Using a bronze punch and a bronze anvil sure helped. It's all pretty fun to work with isn't it!

Fred

[dave]

Unless all the acid has leached out of the leather, it will come back!

[Fred]

Yea, but not for awhile I hope.

[fogerty]

Great work. Thanks for the posts.

[Fred]

My pleasure!

[Tom Doniphon]

Awesome job, Fred.

A question for Richard Turner, or anyone else: Short of re-blackening the brass hardware, have you found anything that stops or inhibits the occurrence of verdigris?

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

Awesome job, Fred.

A question for Richard Turner, or anyone else: Short of re-blackening the brass hardware, have you found anything that stops or inhibits the occurrence of verdigris?

Tom:

The verdigris is a reaction between the brass and the tannic acid (tannins) in leather. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to stop or avoid the verdigris. Higher humidity environments seem to promote more reaction, therefore, a reduction in the humidity level can slow the process somewhat; however, keep in mind that the reverse can also occur if leather is stored in an environment that is too dry as well. Leather itself should have a moisture content of 16 to 20 % and if the moisture content falls below this level, dry rot or red rot begins to form. It has always been believed that the verdigris is actually formed to protect the leather from the brass or non-ferrous metals corrosion and is a byproduct of this chemical reaction. There is also a chemical reaction between steel and the tannins as well, but the rust from the steel or iron actually destroys or burns the leather fibers and exhibits more of a burned appearance around rivets and hardware which in turn rots the leather fibers.

For cleaning around the edge and surface of hardware, I make a scraper out of square toothpicks or for a larger scraper, I use bamboo skewers. I take a sharp knife and slice a chisel point on one end of the toothpick or skewer and work this around the edge of hardware and rivets where I can get to. The edges of the scraper will become worn and dull with use, so just cut another point on the toothpick or skewer as needed.

Nothing on vertigris, but some good information from C&D Jarnagin's page on leather equipment. Jarnagin is a manufacturer of Civil War era accoutrements and has several great articles on preservation and prevention. http://www.jarnaginco.com/Leather%20&%20equipment%20articles.htm

Richard

[dave]

How do Mexicans tan hides? I understand they do not use tannic acid their leather does not form verdigris. I have had it form on cartridge's when left in a cartridge belt loops for a time also.

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

How do Mexicans tan hides? I understand they do not use tannic acid their leather does not form verdigris. I have had it form on cartridge's when left in a cartridge belt loops for a time also.

All vegetable tanned leather will contain some amount of tannic acid, otherwise, it wouldn't be considered vegetable tanned leather. The vegetable tanning process, tree bark mainly from oak trees, is where the largest concentration of tannic acid is found. The tannic acid is what causes the tanning process and where the word tanning originally comes from. Tannic acid is poison in large amounts, even acorns contain tannic acid, but you can make flour once the tannic acid has been leached out.

Another process is called chrome tanned, wherein chromium salts are used. Chrome tanned leathers are generally upholstery, shoe/boot, ball gloves and garment type leathers. It is not suitable for holsters or scabbards for firearms or knives as it will rust metal very quickly. Chrome tanned leathers are also used for various lace and tie down straps for saddlery. Alum tanned leather is also used for shoe/boot laces as well as laces for ball gloves.

Tanning in Mexico and Argentina has come a long way over the past 20 years. Several tanneries and leather supply houses here in the States have their own tanneries in Mexico and Argentina and ship U.S. Native Steer Hides south of the border to have the tanning done since the EPA has put most of the U.S. Tanneries out of business. At this time there are only two large tanneries remaining here in the U.S. When I started back in 1988 there were more than fifteen major tanneries, but slowly with increased regulations, it became more and more expensive for the tanneries to upgrade/rebuild in order to keep up to date with the new govt regulations. Years ago, leather tanned south of the border had a distinct foul odor when wet and became known a "Piss Tanned", in which urine was one of the acidic agents that could be used in tanning hides.

Here is a video of the leather tanning process at Chahin Industries in Orizaba, Mexico, for Weaver Leather in Mt. Hope, OH.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT4HaFcH0-Y

Another process that the Native Americans and Mountain Men used for tanning hides was Brain Tanning, where they would make a solution of animal brains and water and tan the hide. It is said that every animal except a buffalo has just enough brains to preserve its own hide.

Richard