Fiebings Leather Dye Overlap Blending?

[Sandman0077]

I'm using Brittish Tan color to make some pouches and every time I overlap a line of dye, it becomes a super dark, completely obvious line where the strokes touched. I've heard that mixing Fiebings dye with water will help retard the super fast dry time that causes the strokes to not blend. Any truth to this? Fiebings is the only brand I've had this problem with and I think it's because it is alcohol based, not water based so it dries quicker.

[katsass]

I'm using Brittish Tan color to make some pouches and every time I overlap a line of dye, it becomes a super dark, completely obvious line where the strokes touched. I've heard that mixing Fiebings dye with water will help retard the super fast dry time that causes the strokes to not blend. Any truth to this? Fiebings is the only brand I've had this problem with and I think it's because it is alcohol based, not water based so it dries quicker.

FWIW from the grumpy old guy; Mixing water into Fiebing's dye will only make one hell of a mess. If you are going to dilute the stuff use denatured alcohol. I dilute most all Fiebing's dye all the way from a one to one (50/50) mix down to a 30 to one ratio of denatured alcohol to dye ... but always with DA. I don't know what part of the country you're from, but the dye isn't dry as fast as you think, even where I live in the desert, but once it hits the leather --- it's there, immediately and permanently. There is nothing you can do to slow that process to my knowledge. However, it actually takes a while to fully dry, I wait at least overnight prior to applying a finish just to be sure.. It ain't a paint that can (sometimes) be wiped off an object, including your hands. Wear gloves. Mike

Edited April 26, 2012 by katsass

[Mudruck]

FWIW from the grumpy old guy; Mixing water into Fiebing's dye will only make one hell of a mess. If you are going to dilute the stuff use denatured alcohol.

That right there! I learned my lesson on mixing spirit based and water based dyes.... and it was exactly that.... a big mess! USMC Black + Cova White does not make grey! It does make a funky lumpy white Cova with black lumps in it though! Stick with what katsass said and you will do good.