Hello there! I'm a bit of a lurker on this site, but this is my first post. I would call myself more of a "crafter" than a leatherworker of any sort. I have a bit of experience tooling and sewing leather, as well as dyeing raw leather, but I could use some help with a new project.
I realize there are a ton of variables here and am having a hard time deciding how to proceed, so I wanted to get opinions from those of you who care to share them =)
I purchased an expensive pair of knee-high riding boots for an inexpensive price. The color "natural" turned out to be a hideous light peachy color instead of the naturally tanned color I was expecting. The price was good enough for the quality of the boot that I'm willing to use them as an opportunity to experiment and hopefully end up with a unique pair of boots.
The color right now is very, very light in hue, but appears to have a pretty heavy coat of dye. I plan to strip this as much as possible with a deglazer/preparer. Then, coat with a light coat of oil (olive, most likely, since I have plenty on hand. Also have coconut and mink). This is where I start to have questions:
1. What is the feasibility of developing a natural sun tan at this point since the leather's been treated so much?
2. If natural tanning is not a possibility, what is the best way to achieve a similar color to a natural tan? I'm thinking of using a spirit dye in a light tan, with a high ratio of denatured alcohol to thin. Any suggestions on specific colors with specific brands? I have a Tandy near me.
3. How should I seal and finish these using options #1 or #2? I live in a damp climate and while I wouldn't be using them as rain boots, they would likely become at least a little damp/wet on a regular basis.
Again, I realize there are multitudes of variables in a project like this, and I'm willing to accept that risk. Just wanted some opinions on how you would personally attack this project.
Thanks in advance!
