Need Some Simple Dying Advice

[bkm]

I am just starting out with some basic strap projects, like leashes. Although the skills and methods involved are the most basic, I'm trying to use quality materials and techniques. I've made a couple of short hand-stitched leashes with harness leather and linen thread, but found as the straps get longer I will need to level them with a splitter. I was hoping to avoid that expense, but it seems inevitable now, and I think I'm going to buy a Campbell splitter tomorrow. This, of course, means that I'll need to dye the flesh side as well as the edges, and therefore I need to understand the basics of dying. I had hoped to postpone as much by buying drum-dyed leather, but here we go.

All my projects for the time being are vegetable-tanned, drum dyed black, harness leather. I have a small bottle of Fiebing's Edge Kote which I acquired in anticipation of finishing the edges. I have since learned that it may be preferable to dye the leather rather than use a flexible coating. In any event, I don't anticipate using Edge Kote on the flesh side, but would rather have the best advice.

Perusing Fiebing's line, I noticed the Pro Oil dye, which they instruct to finish with Resolene which I understand to be some kind of acrylic. I understand in the alternative category are Spirit-based dyes, and that some other finishes include Super Shene and Neat-Lac. Note that I am not in California.

Initially, I am inclined to try Fiebing's Pro Oil dye, but I am reluctant to use an acrylic finish. I noticed they also sell a Harness Dressing in their finish category, but I don't know what that is. Should I just oil-dye it and use wax? Is there a different dye I should consider? I understand that there are innumerable ways to get leather black. I am hoping to identify a method that is congruent with my effort to produce a quality product.