Do-It-Yourself Drum Dyeing Method?

[braden]

hi guys,

i'm familiar with different techniques for applying dies to smaller pieces of leather.

for thinner leathers and larger pieces (let's say a couple of square feet) dip dyeing becomes pretty impractical.

has anyone tried, or does anyone know of, a do-it-yourself drum dying technique?

before i go mcgyvering myself, just fishing for any links, instructions, if anyone else has tried this, etc.

thanks a lot,

braden

[camano ridge]

If you do a search you will find this has been discussed before. Most people don,t have the equipment to do it. Unless you are doing several hydes the cost of the amount of dye to put into a vat or drum would be expensive and probably out weight the cost of just buying drum dyed sides. I think it was David L on these forums that was looking into growing his own hydes on the hoof and then drum dying hydes. Not sure howe far he has gotten with any of it.

[braden]

when you say equipment; what kind of equipment would you need?

i was thinking along the lines of putting some dye into a bucket, along with the hide, and rolling it around for a while.

i'm thinking of a deer hide, not cow hide which would be a lot bigger and thicker.

i agree about buying the drum dyed sides but what if you're after an uncommon color like blue or green?

thanks,

braden

[Troy I]

Sounds like your talking about dip dying...when I dye most of my holsters and slings, I dip them in a large container of dye then set them out flat to dry.

[DavidL]

drum dyeing requires a rotating drum. I believe drum dyeing and tanning are done in the same process? Someone else may know..

The benefits of drum dyeing are that the hide has a consistent tanned colour all the way through and when done right will not bleed colour.

If you want to go from start to finish, raw hide to leather, it would be easiest to buy leather in wet blue or delimed. A specialist will be able to set up a drum dyeing system for you for a fee.

Edited July 28, 2015 by DavidL