First try at dyeing

[NatesLeatherGds]

So, my first shot at dyeing leather. I was very apprehensive. Tandy All-in-One Eco Flo. Acorn. Veg tanned Tandy economy hide. 2 were done with the leather dry (those on the right side -- "reddish" color). 2 were done with the leather soaked through with hot water and patted dry. I quickly have moved to Fiebings Pro Dye. Will post pics of that next. 

 

Edited January 11, 2024 by NatesLeatherGds

[NatesLeatherGds]

Second try : Same leather - veg tanned Tandy economy hide. 

Fiebings Pro Dye - light brown. 2 coats (made it much darker than 'light brown') - Tan Kote top/finish. Final conditioning with Angelus Leather Balm. I'm certainly happier with it. Wish I had started learning dyes years ago. Much easier than I thought and fun, too. 

[Dwight]

Not sure who encouraged the hot water before dying . . . never heard of that idea before.

May God bless,

Dwight

[NatesLeatherGds]

Thanks and hi! No one encouraged it - was a desperation move to try to get the Eco Flo all-in-one to spread more even. 

[DieselTech]

Your belts look good. You did just fine.  When using eco flo all in one dye, you need to apply it thick & heavy in a circular motion, then wipe. If the dye is spotty, repeat the above procedure. 

Here is the same acorn brown eco-flo dye on some craftsman veg tan from tandy. 

Edited January 11, 2024 by DieselTech

[MarshalWill]

You're getting some nice, even dye jobs there. I like to use Fiebings or Lincoln dyes that can be thinned with alcohol. I then spray the piece with alcohol first so the dye takes more evenly. I also have never heard of using hot water. I've heard of people using plain water but not hot water. The whole idea is to slow down the dye from soaking in too fast and getting darker spots in the finish.

The exception to that is if I want to get a patchy finish, then I don't use alcohol first and dab it on with a cotton dauber getting it as textured as I want.

Edited January 18, 2024 by Northmount
copied 3rd party hosted photo and uploaded here

[NatesLeatherGds]

DieseTech - oh wow- that's very nice and even. Will keep trying. Thanks! And MarshalWill - very nice look, thanks. I'm just starting with dyes, so your input is helpful.

[Dwight]

If you are using Feibings oil dyes . . . 24 hrs before using the dye . . . a light coat of neatsfoot oil on the flesh side . . . and laid out flat to absorb the oil evenly . . . will just about guarantee a very very smooth and even dye job.

Also cut the dye 50/50 with thinner . . . 

That is especially with some of the lighter tans . . . saddle tan being one for sure.

Took a long time to catch on to that trick . . . but it is one that virtually every time works.

May God bless,

Dwight

[DeWayne Hayes]

Just to add to your options, I gave up dying with a dauber almost immediately due to streaking and turned to first airbrushes, but later the much simpler Preval air canister. 

https://tandyleather.com/products/preval-power-unit?variant=31977386868867&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA75itBhA6EiwAkho9e4ayMpy0bMgtdKQ1BZLIJiDI4YnGrzmROkU0Ke8gBK-oJLUoiP6_pBoCSP0QAvD_BwE

These will literally screw right into the top of a Fiebings small jar of Pro Dye and you've got an instant air gun with no clean up - use it until it's empty and throw away. 

It's my go-to method for dying now unless I'm doing Black, which I never have any streaking issues with when using a dauber. But that's the only color I do by hand. Anything brown or tan I use the Preval sprayer. 

Hope this helps!

DeWayne

[DieselTech]

12 minutes ago, DeWayne Hayes said:

Just to add to your options, I gave up dying with a dauber almost immediately due to streaking and turned to first airbrushes, but later the much simpler Preval air canister. 

https://tandyleather.com/products/preval-power-unit?variant=31977386868867&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA75itBhA6EiwAkho9e4ayMpy0bMgtdKQ1BZLIJiDI4YnGrzmROkU0Ke8gBK-oJLUoiP6_pBoCSP0QAvD_BwE

These will literally screw right into the top of a Fiebings small jar of Pro Dye and you've got an instant air gun with no clean up - use it until it's empty and throw away. 

It's my go-to method for dying now unless I'm doing Black, which I never have any streaking issues with when using a dauber. But that's the only color I do by hand. Anything brown or tan I use the Preval sprayer. 

Hope this helps!

DeWayne

I forgot about them Preval cartridges for the fiebings dye. Does 1 of them last to spray a full 4oz bottle? 

Thanks.