Oils And Order Of Operation

[SonOfLiberty]

Hello!

Infrequent poster, but frequent browser of the site.

I have a question about coloring, dying and finishing a project. I’ve been practicing leather crafting now since June. My carving is coming along quite well, in fact it seems almost natural to me at this point, and I’ve learned a lot of the basics of the craft, though I have a long way to go on the more detailed nuances.

One thing I’ve had an issue with is the water based stains, dyes and finished. They just don’t give me what I’m looking for most of the time, and the few times things come out even and right it seems more a matter of chance than of skill on my part. I’ve read enough comments on this board to know that the generic (not pro) eco-flow product line is kind of entry level stuff that produces irregular results (at least for beginners).

That being said, I’m looking to move more into oil(s) and airbrushing. I’ve read a lot of questions here about specific segments of various processes, but nothing that really summarizes everything together at once. So, I guess, my question is what is a decent flowchart to use when starting/using oils on leather.

I’m thinking (guessing) based on what I’ve read thus far:

1. Cut, carve, stamp leather to pattern/specs/art you wish

2. EVOO/Neetsfoot oil the project (not with airbrush I assume, I haven’t used one before, sorry), let dry 24 hours, or set in sun (in summer) to tan it darker. How do I tan/make it darker in winter in Ohio without buying a $2500 tanning bed?

3. Apply oil dyes (you thin an oil dye with what precisely please?) to color your project if desired (make the flowers reds and the bumblebees yellow and black, etc), using airbrush (?)

4. Thin coat EEVO/Neetsfoot again (?? Not sure if this applies here, may not be a necessary step)

5. Seal with…50/50 MopNGlo-water mixture followed by a warm, thin application of kiwi neutral polish, then buff (or perhaps use Carnuba instead, depending on the sheen I want?)

6. Weather proof/water resist it.

7. Stitch it up

8.

9. Profit!

I’m wondering where antiquing falls in the order here, if the order is correct, and further, is this where you use some kind of antiquing paste, assuming you use antiquing paste with EVOO/oil dyed leather? Also, what precisely is “curing” after a project is done, what is needed to make it happen (anything?) and how long does it take normally (hours? Days? Weeks?)

Sorry if this seems like a rudimentary silly set of questions, and in fact I may be utterly 100% wrong on everything I just outlined (and please, correct me if I am, I need help learning). My pencil and paper artistic skills are quite passable and I’m not overly fond of seeing what looks like a nice post-carving project that I spent a significant amount of time creating on paper and transfering/carving on leather, turn out splotchy, amateurish or colored in a manner I didn’t intend.

Thanks in advance for any advice offered!

Slainte!

SoL