green color around snaps

[old fart]

i have a triple k gun belt, it has a brass buckle and snaps that let you replace the buckle. i was going over my holsters and belt today and around the outside snaps was a green color just around the edges of the snaps. it was on the outside snap nothing on the inside one. what could this be? i took a toothpick and got it off the best i could. the belt has not been wet, i waxed it a while back and thats all i've done. thanks

 

[GJeffB]

OF, I may be talking outta my a... (sorry, I couldn't resist)

but, any metal that has some copper in it may leach some green color. So, that may be the result if the green is coming from/on the metal. I have no knowledge of Triple K, they may be a great company, and I'm not disparaging them. Any metal may ooze an element in various conditions.

it was on the outside snap nothing on the inside one.

Again, just guessing without seeing. I have a magnificent Milt Sparks holster. Very well made. But it's been subject to moisture. And it has green stains. It's mold/mildew, and an organic (hide) is subject to that.

Do either of those conditions match your issue?

-jb

 

[rcmodel]

It is called verdigris, and people have been fighting it on leather since copper & brass were invented.

There is no way to stop it that I know off.

Just keep cleaning it off.

It will eventually eat the brass or copper up over the life of the leather product.

See this old thread about all I know about it.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=644716

rc

 

[old fart]

anything i can do to stop this, other than replacing the snaps over time? thanks

 

[AJumbo]

The metal in the snaps is reacting to the salts and chemicals used in the tanning process. That reaction will occur until roughly Doomsday. Just keep cleaning it off, and DON'T store the revolver in the holster. Those salts and chemicals can do bad things to the bluing.

 

[rcmodel]

anything i can do to stop this, other than replacing the snaps over time?

To the best of my knowledge, No.

People have been fighting Vertrigis since the Bronze Age.

There is no magic way to stop it, or we wouldn't still be fighting it on old collectable leather 5,000 years later.

rc