My project highjacked by Eco-flo

[lael]

Hello All,

While Im not a newby to leathercraft I am a newby to using dyes.

In addition, I have poured through this forum looking for answers to my soon to be presented problem. While I have discovered much info concerning what I SHOULD have done or SHOULD have used... Ive not found an answer to my problem.

By recommendation of the folks at Tandy I purchased the Eco-flo dye/sealer and Satin Sheen. I informed them that this knife sheath would see a great deal of weather and I didnt want the dye to bleed when Im in the field durring rain. They assured me that these were the products I wanted.

I did 2 applications of the dye with 1 day dry time and buffing between coats. I then let it dry for a good 24 hours. Im in New Mexico and things dry very fast here but I let it go longer than what was even recomended to me. I applied the Satin Sheen this morning. After about 3 hours (told that 2 would be fine) I checked it and felt and by all means felt dry. I began to lightly buff with a Tshirt. I soon found that the dye was coming off slightly and that the dye was also coming off on my sweaty fingers.

So the million dollor question is where do I go from here. I dont need to know what I should have done...I got that. But what can I do now that the piece is presentable but not yet functional? Do I need to wash it until it washes free of dye and start over with alternative dye, sealer and finish? Can I do somthing to this that will truley "seal" it from bleeding (such as snow seal or Bee natural wax etc...)?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and hopefully offer a solution.

[CitizenKate]

So the million dollor question is where do I go from here. I dont need to know what I should have done...I got that. But what can I do now that the piece is presentable but not yet functional? Do I need to wash it until it washes free of dye and start over with alternative dye, sealer and finish? Can I do somthing to this that will truley "seal" it from bleeding (such as snow seal or Bee natural wax etc...)?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and hopefully offer a solution.

Lael, welcome to Leatherworker!

The sheen will come off easily with water, along with a fair amount of the dye. Not all the dye will come off, but the main thing is to get the finish cleaned off. Maybe follow that with deglazer or acetone to get the finish thoroughly cleaned off.

You can add more of the same dye you used, or switch to a spirit dye if you wish. If you change colors, the new color will blend with whatever is left of the old (regardless of whether it's spirit dye or water-based, assuming the first dye is dry when you apply the second dye).

The finishes that do the best job of sealing water-based dyes is either wax or lacquer. I've been using Bee-Natural for years now. I get a small amount of dye rub-off when I'm buffing the finish for the first time, but it seems to "cure" and I have not seen any problems after that. Even pouring water on it. There are other treatments you can use that are made for waterproofing boots, that will add more protection to an article that is going to be exposed to a lot of "the elements". Not sure of the exact products for that, but it has been mentioned in other threads.

Hope this helps...

Kate

Kate

[Rayban]

Solution, Fiebings Professional Oil Dye, does the job, smells even better..........screw that eco-friendly tree-hugging quiche eating card carrying still living with Mom movement.

Hope this helps.

[lael]

Thank Thank Thank You both! I will post results and some of my work. Thanks a million for answering my million dollar question!

[TwinOaks]

You might try resolene if you want an acrylic finish. Just out of curiosity, what color are you trying to dye it?

[Russ]

LOL!

Solution, Fiebings Professional Oil Dye, does the job, smells even better..........screw that eco-friendly tree-hugging quiche eating card carrying still living with Mom movement.

Hope this helps.

[David Fields]

Solution, Fiebings Professional Oil Dye, does the job, smells even better..........screw that eco-friendly tree-hugging quiche eating card carrying still living with Mom movement.

Hope this helps.

Hilarious!

[lael]

It is black. It is for a client and they insisted on black. Ive spent far more time on this mess than I spent hand stitching the piece.

Ok so before I wash this and start at square one again...can I put an acrylic finish over the satin sheen or do I need to strip all the ecoflo off first?

Thanks

[lael]

Taking the eco-flo products back to Tandy tomorrow and cursing myself today for having used them. The red flag should have sprung when the salesman said "water based"...I know better than to think a water based product is going to hold up in wet environment.

[Rayban]

I think I would try USMC black over the eco flo, then satin sheen it.