What kind of alcohol?

[David]

When cleaning your leather prior to dyeing or antiquing, do you use Isopropal Alcohol or Denatured Alcohol?

David Theobald

[Rawhide]

When cleaning your leather prior to dyeing or antiquing, do you use Isopropal Alcohol or Denatured Alcohol?

David Theobald

Neither, I actually use Oxalic Acid for the leather.

For the table cleanup, I use Isopropyl.

[Ian]

Dave, I use denatured

[badger]

You can use either, both, or Naptha (Lighter fluid). Doesn't make any difference.

Wear gloves. They can all cause liver and kidney damage by through-skin absorption.

Personally I prefer my liver-damaging alcohol applied internally......,

Cheers,

Karl

[Ian]

You can use either, both, or Naptha (Lighter fluid). Doesn't make any difference.

Wear gloves. They can all cause liver and kidney damage by through-skin absorption.

Personally I prefer my liver-damaging alcohol applied internally......,

Cheers,

Karl

I don't drink, but use a lot of alcohol, and unless it's in dye, I never think about wearing gloves. Recently I became pretty woozy after working with alcohol and never put 2 & 2 together until someone told me that rubbing alcohol applied topically can be detected in the liver within 15 minutes.

Then there was that recent story about the guy who died of an alcohol overdose when he was taking alcohol internally in another fashion, but I'll refrain from a full description of THAT!

[Art]

Hi David,

Isopropyl has an affinity for water and will usually stabilize around 25% water, I feel this water opens the pores up and allows better penetration of the dye. If really difficult then one of the ethyl esters would be better, use with plenty of ventilation.

Art

When cleaning your leather prior to dyeing or antiquing, do you use Isopropal Alcohol or Denatured Alcohol?

David Theobald

[SOSHorses]

I have been working leather for a while now and the man who taught me had been doing it for YEARS. He never said anything about using alcohol before dying. Why would you do this? What have I missed?

[badger]

You need to deglaze the leather surface before dyeing in most cases. It picks up waxes and oils for the processing machinery and from handling.

If the leather is very clean, it may not need it. I think it's good policy to deglaze anyway.

Wear gloves.

Karl

[hidepounder]

After years of experimentation with a variety of formulas, I've found that Crown Royal works best for me...but I only use oxolic acid on my leather before I dye or antique....

The only time I use alcohol on my leather is when trying to remove unwanted dye, which usually ends up in a catastrophe.

[frank207]

Hi,

What is the best way to apply the cleaning agent? Do you put it on lightly and scrub? or put on heavy?

It seems I never get an even coat of dye on the item even though I've tried Deglazer & Lemon Juice staight, there are areas that just will not darken up. I'm using Eco-Flo and I just bought some Fiebings Oil Dye and had the same problem on a small wristband.

Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks

Frank