Windrider

Thanks for the insights everyone, much appreciated. @LatigoAmigoThanks a lot for helping with the pic. @PastorBobThe water based dye was just rubbed on using a sponge. Two coats only as the dye had dried out a bit and was a little viscous (which may also mean that it didn't saturate the fibres deep enough. No finish was applied. Gotta source some NFO before my next project!! Thanks again. WR

Hi all, I am new to the forum, and have newbie question. I am very new to leather crafting and have been reading a lot of posts on this forum but can't seem to find a post that relates exactly the this issue. There are some similar issues but I am not certain they are the same root cause. Basically, I have made a belt from an un-dyed belt blank (double butt, 3.8m thick). I dyed it with a water-based dye. It came out looking great initially. The very smooth and glossy. However, after wearing it two times, some hairline cracks have developed on about 1/2 of the belt (See picks). It's understandable that creases will develop in a belt like this (and to a certain extent it adds to the character of the piece over time), but I'm not sure what has happened here is really desirable. My thoughts are: - Dye didn't penetrate deep enough (not enough dye), so when the fibres are stretched, the lighter un-dyed colour is showing through. - Leather is too dry .This blank was hanging up in an air-conditioned shop andI didn't oil it or treat it at all. - Bad piece of leather. I feel this is less likely. Would really appreciate your insights on what I might have done wrong here and whether it can be remedied in some way. Thanks in advance!!! D32C19C5-8F8F-42E8-B929-82040646927F.heic