Finished Work Too Dark

[jviles]

All of the pieces that I complete come out too dark. I am using good hermann oak leather. I want a lighter brighter look to my finished work. Here is my process:

1. Tool my Work

2. Use any dye needed for background

3. A coat of neatsfoot oil

4. A coat of fiebings tan kote

5. Then i antique with fiebings cardovan

6. Another coat of tan kote

Is there anything that I am doing wrong, and how can I not make the finished products look so dark? I am going for a brighter almost golden finish.

Thanks in advance

[bison]

Hard to say. What kind of dye are you using? Are you thinning it? Spraying or wiping on? I'm no expert, but will be glad to try to help.

Dave

[kseidel]

All of the pieces that I complete come out too dark. I am using good hermann oak leather. I want a lighter brighter look to my finished work. Here is my process:

1. Tool my Work

2. Use any dye needed for background

3. A coat of neatsfoot oil

4. A coat of fiebings tan kote

5. Then i antique with fiebings cardovan

6. Another coat of tan kote

Is there anything that I am doing wrong, and how can I not make the finished products look so dark? I am going for a brighter almost golden finish.

Thanks in advance

Two things you are doing can make your work dark...

1) Oil. how you apply oil and how much you use will greatly affect the color. Try olive oil instead of neatsfoot and apply sparingly with sheepskin pad. Start with small amount of oil on pad and rub into leather. Do not leave pool on surface. Allow at least 12 hours before adding finish.

2) Your first coat of finish before antique must be a resist finish. Lacquer works best. Let dry before applying antique.

Using a lighter color of antique will also help keep a lighter color. Tan Coat is fine for a final finish, but lacquer also works well and can lighten the final finish.

Good luck

Keith

[bustedlifter]

If I want a lighter look I use Fiebing's Snow Proof. After tooling I put the piece in an oven that is cooling to warm it up and the snow proof on a heater vent or in the sun to soften it up a bit. When I'm ready,I put some on a rag and work it into the leather. you won't have to work it much. It melts into the leather giving it some highlights. Repeat as necessary until you like the effect.