sun discoloration

[Timbo]

So I got a really good deal on some single shoulders.....thing is that some of them are discolored around the edges from being in the sun. What can I do to get around this problem?? Short of sunburning the whole thing is there anything that will equalize the color for me?? I have one piece that I am wanting to use but part of the sunburn will be on the project. Will casing help get rid of it?? I'm not even sure if dying it will lessen it. Anybody got any experience with this problem??

Timbo

[Studio-N]

Remember the Leatherworkers motto: "You can always dye it black".

[steveh]

You have really anserwed your own question.Put the whole hide in the sun and let it even out. Yes it will be a shade darker, but it will be an even color through out and be useable piece of leather.

[ClayB]

If you put the whole thing out in the sun, wouldn't the parts that are already dark get darker?

[Johanna]

If you put the whole thing out in the sun, wouldn't the parts that are already dark get darker?

Yes, and sunlight has a burnishing effect on leather. Where the leather has darkened may not take water or dye the same way the pale places do. At Tandy we cut those hides up and sold them as pieces.

Johanna

[Timbo]

Thank all for the info. I will not dye it black either. Don't do black anymore. I guess I'll try to work around it and not use the burned sections. Then I'll experiment with a piece and see what happens. Sunlight also ain't something that is gonna happen around here anytime soon either. Currently it is snowing........but it sure beats ice!!!!

Tim

[MaxxEmpire]

I have found that such leather will not even take black well either. What I do is use brown and intentionaly mottle the dye thus using the different varients in color absorbtion to create abstact patterns.