is there a way to fully cover a belt (1 1/2" wide), a belt bag and leather belt cover on a ligther shade?

[whinewine]

Great, Patrice! I'm happy that everything turned out well! Russ

[Patrice]

Then I just dunk/dip the item (holster, in my instance) in the container. Pull it out, let the dye soak in, and then most often will dip it in again. I've learned how many "dips" it takes to bring the leather to the shade I want.

Great tip BUT, how do you hold the article you dunk in the dye solution? Did you drop the item or do you hold it, dip it and get it out? I can't figure... Perhaps because of an exhausive day at work, and because english is my second language Anyway, could you explain it a bit more to me?

[K-Man]

It depends on what I'm making. Basically every piece is held by its edges. This prevents any extra dye accumulating on the piece itself by the placing of my fingertips on the main portion of it.

If I'm doing a holster I place it in the dye so that it's completely covered/submerged. I usually will hold it there for a couple of seconds and move/swish it around. This will ensure to catch any areas where an air pocket area has been created from the molding of the holster. Then I pull it out and let it drip dry for a moment. If I'm just doing one dip, then I wipe off any excess with a rag. If I'm doing a second dip, then I just repeat the above steps.

If I'm doing a belt, I will take and run/pull the belt through the dye, starting at one end and until I get to the opposite end. Sometimes doing the belt is a two-person job because of the length. The second person will be on a step-stool/ladder right next to me, and as I run the belt through the dye, I will hand off the end to them to raise it up. I can usually do a belt that's less than 50" by myself, but I've had a couple that have been 70"+.

Hope this info helps.

[Patrice]

So, basically, you put on latex gloves, hold the piece by the edges then either dip-it or submerge the whole piece?

But, what about the leather where your fingers was? It must leave a blank spot? Do you change side and dip the part you where holding the moment ago?

Sorry for being so stupid, but i can't figure it

[K-Man]

Correct, I put on powder free latex gloves, grasp the piece by the edges, and dunk/submerge it in the dye. I don't necessarily have a really tight grip on the piece, as not much is needed. I've not had any spots on the edges where the dye has not taken. Part of that may be contributed to by the ability of the leather itself to absorb the dye. In addition, I use either oil based dyes or what's referred to by the company as professional grade dyes. On rare occasion I'll use spirit-based dyes.

[Patrice]

Thank you for your patience! I will try to dye my leather the way you do.

So, you mix you dye/reducer in a large pan, put non-powder latex gloves, take the leather piece by the side( the one that wll be sicked or cover by edge coat), dip or dunk in leather, take it out, wipped the leather of the dye surplus, then let-it dry.

Once again, thank you very much for your help! This will improve my dying skills

[Art]

Hi Patrice,

Don't make this any harder than it is. Wear kitchen gloves, use a spirit dye, "oil" dyes are spirit based. Get a tupperware tub (or Rubbermaid) and fill it an inch or two deep with dye thinned to the desired color. It is not necessary to apply the "grip of death" to the piece. Hold it (the leather) lightly in your hand and have a t-shirt rag ready, it will get full of dye in the next operation. Put the leather in the dye and flop it around and take the leather and rub (splash) dye all over the piece for like 10-15 seconds, drip off excess and wipe with rag. If not dark enough, go at it again. If you have the dye thinned out a bit with DEA you won't get the darkness you are fearing. After you have rubbed off the excess, hang to dry overnight (less in Arizona). It is easier to apply more dye than to take excess off. After piece has dryed, rub it vigirously with a clean cloth to get excess dye off. This is important as dyes are usually saturated and will have dye particles in suspension which will settle on the leather and will bleed under a finish if not removed. I spray most everything now but still do holsters this way.

If you use a sprayer that will blow heavier finishes (spirit dyes are very lightweight and even an airbrush can spray them) and you use a standard color, you can apply the dye to a neetsfoot oil or blend and this gives a beautiful one step finish. Some of the one-step dye finishes (made for non-professional use) are water based and not as durable as two step although they are enviromentally safer.

Probably more than you wanted to know,

Art

So, basically, you put on latex gloves, hold the piece by the edges then either dip-it or submerge the whole piece?

But, what about the leather where your fingers was? It must leave a blank spot? Do you change side and dip the part you where holding the moment ago?

Sorry for being so stupid, but i can't figure it

[K-Man]

Another suggestion would be to take some small scrap pieces of the same type of leather you're going to be using. Take one piece and dip it once; take another piece and dip it twice; etc. Once they dry you'll see what the different "shades" are based on the amount of times dipped.

My experience has been that you're not going to be able to tell right after you dip it what the final shade is going to be. This is because the leather is wet from the dye and actually appears darker.

I use the non-powder latex gloves because they're easily put on/taken off and easily disposed of. A box of 50 costs around $5.

Best of luck to you.