The best thing about Angelus dye...

[Rawhide]

Tina. Right now I use fiebings dye reducer. It works well with other spirit dyes I've used.

[MADMAX22]

Not sure but I have been using denatured alcohol that I got at lowes with my feibings dyes (the non oil dyes) and I mixed some with the angelus dyes and it worked well from what I can tell.

I dont know if anything works better then denatured alcohol but Ill give anything else a shot its just this stuff is cheap.

[Shorts]

Not sure but I have been using denatured alcohol that I got at lowes with my feibings dyes (the non oil dyes) and I mixed some with the angelus dyes and it worked well from what I can tell.

I dont know if anything works better then denatured alcohol but Ill give anything else a shot its just this stuff is cheap.

I'll grab some next trip to HD or Lowe's. Try it out.

I need to mix up my brown but have to decide how much to mix

[brinyar]

Ian-the light brown was undiluted. I would like to try the airbrush just to maintain consistency of the color from holster to holster. I am happy with the even color of the light brown holster pictured, but have had a previous holster turn out slightly blotchy. That one ended up black....

I really appreciate the comments on the stitching. I had never touched a stitching or sewing machine until I got mine. I still struggle to keep everything even, particularly when when overlapping the starting stitches with the final stitches.

After thinking about it, I'm not sure I will bother with using a reducer to get different shades of color. I might just stick with factory colors to keep it quick and easy without having to mix up a unique color every time I buy dye. That could change, though, if it would be possible to save a significant amount of money by cutting the dye with a cheaper reducer.

[Shorts]

Color consistency has been my concern in regards to diluting for a shade. I suppose it'd stay close if parts were measured even and only filled in the dipping container when it was at a certain minimal level.

Your stitching looks great. I'm struggling too getting the end and beginning of stitches to 1. be secure and 2. look good. I'm tempted to leave thread tails and handstitch the backstitches for a good lock. But by doing that I will never get better with the machine and it will still be slower. Granted its only a couple stitches but sometimes it takes me forever to get the needle threaded LOL

[Tina]

I have found that having the leather slightly damp when dyeing (diluted or not) helps getting it more even and less worrie for big bleeding in small painted details.

...I'd Love to have an airgun (one of these days *S*)

[CitizenKate]

I've considered trying it, but have yet to get an answer to the question: How well does the color hold up in sunlight?

I discontinued using spirit dyes because they fade in sunlight, and it doesn't have to be direct sunlight, either. They look great when you put them on, but how are they five years later after being exposed to normal indoor lighting conditions?

By the way, beautiful work on those holsters, Scott. I'm not into holsters, but I always appreciate fine workmanship.

Kate

[zbean]

Brinyar,

Those are beautiful holsters! May I ask where you procured the snaps you used on them? I really like the look of them.

-Beans

[MADMAX22]

I've considered trying it, but have yet to get an answer to the question: How well does the color hold up in sunlight?

I discontinued using spirit dyes because they fade in sunlight, and it doesn't have to be direct sunlight, either. They look great when you put them on, but how are they five years later after being exposed to normal indoor lighting conditions?

By the way, beautiful work on those holsters, Scott. I'm not into holsters, but I always appreciate fine workmanship.

Kate

I didnt realize that. Do the oil dyes hold up longer then the spirit dyes do? Have not been doing this long enough to get a good grip on what last and what doesnt.

[Tina]

I can only go back a year and a half...

The stuff I made back then is still just as when I painted/dyes them and some of them is just 2 feet away from a window. They seam to keep up really well.