Tandy Eco Flo dye

[celticleather]

I feel for you guys and gals in the US, who are unable to get decent spirit-based dyes from Tandy. I don't use Tandy here in the UK, because their prices are way too high, and I can buy Fiebings Professional dyes from a number of suppliers.

I guess they have fallen foul of 'elf'n'safety' legislation in some parts of the US. I don't think you'll achieve much by just stopping buying the Eco-Flo dyes - although Tandy may notice the drop in sales. I think you need to let them know why you are not buying the product, so that they can work on improving it or coming up with an alternative.

Just my observation!

[Ancientwolf]

Its all about the profit for them, and lots of it. If you think its crap, they already knew its crap. Back when we first had these introduced to us before they were made public we saw this coming. A portion of their managers will tell you up front theres little confidence in it, the rest will goat you into "working differently" with it, and some may even blame a bad batch or your lack of skill (buy more, practice more!).

The stuff is awsome in a controlled environment. Just dont subject it to light, water, perspiration or the scrutiny of a perfectionist and you'll be fine, otherwise the other dye companies mentioned are your best bet.

[ClayB]

This whole issue really bothers me. You need to understand, I really like Tandy. The name floods me with childhood memories of my Dad and leatherwork that he did. Most of us here like Tandy. The store managers are almost all great. I have a local store that I love to go to. Here is the trouble, they sell mainly crap. For 50+ years they sold dye that people like that worked well and lasted, now they decide to sell low quality junk that most people are not satisfied with the quality of. This is true with so many of their product lines. Look at what horid things they have done with Craft tools... the list goes on and on. They have a loyal customer base that they are trashing. I know they feel there is really no other choice so they can force crap on us, but at some point they need to sell what we want, what we will gladly stand in line to get.

OK, I am going to stop ranting for now.

This isn't aimed directly at electrathon. I've been reading more and more people trashing Tandy and the products they sell for awhile now, and it's been really bothering me too.

Have any of you tried any of the new Craftools that Tandy has been putting out? I sat in on a beginner class earlier this year in a Tandy store and was handed a pack of tools and told to play along. When I used the cams and the veiners I was pleasantly surprised. They left crisp clear impressions. Then when I used the smooth pear shaders and bevelers, they walked really nice, no chatter marks with the beveler. I asked if these were the new tools Tandy was putting out and was told they were. I was really impressed with how well they worked. I don't know how many of the tools Tandy has redesigned up to this date, but they are working on improving the quality of thier products. I hear so many people complaining about the quality of their leather and their dyes, but I have been using them if you take a little time to figure out what works, I get along fine with them. I get so tired of hearing people call everything Tandy sells "crap". Tandy got most of us started. Tandy has some very talented, dedicated leather artisans working for them. They have added some better quality leather to thier line, they are working on improving the quality of the Craftool line of tools. When it sounded like we weren't going to be able to get spirit based dyes much longer, they got started on a new line right away so that we'd have something to use in it's place. Seems like so many people tried it once, and when it didn't work just the same as the old stuff they gave up on it and call it "junk". Getting good at the art of working with leather requires dedication, practice, experimentation. So many people seem to want instant gratification and unfortunately, that's not gonna happen for most people when it comes to this medium. Then they want to blame the leather, the tools, the finishes, or anything else.

I know I'll probably regret posting this, but I have a lot of friends that work for Tandy and I know that they aren't trying to "trash" thier customer base. I know that a lot of them are the most dedicated leather carvers you're going to find anywhere and I think it's wrong for people here to throw insults at them. Maybe some of these people that keep complaining should go out and start thier own leather supply company and offer us all the "perfect" leather, tools, finishes, and supplies for rock bottom prices if it's so easy.

[CitizenKate]

Thanks for speaking up, Clay. Not that I'm such a big fan of Tandy (or anyone I do business with, for that matter), and I don't mind if people discuss what they do or don't like about any product, but this is starting to become a "trash Tandy" bandwagon, and some of the claims I'm reading here simply aren't true. Let's keep the discussion focused on facts.

Kate

[Vickie]

I agree with Clay. I find it totally amazing that "artists" can make anything work for them, but leather artists can't. I have a lot of students come in and only learn to use the new EF items and have no problem with it what so ever and older more experienced artists come in and can't grasp the concept of water verus alcohol....and these are the people we depend on for guidance. Give me an open mind and the ability to experiment any day over the old this is the way I do it and I refuse to change attitude. Thank goodness the early age leather artists had the guts to try to develop new ideas instead of depending on old ones or we would all still be using tree bark and vegetable plants to color our work.

[Tina]

I agree with Clay. I find it totally amazing that "artists" can make anything work for them, but leather artists can't. I have a lot of students come in and only learn to use the new EF items and have no problem with it what so ever and older more experienced artists come in and can't grasp the concept of water verus alcohol....and these are the people we depend on for guidance. Give me an open mind and the ability to experiment any day over the old this is the way I do it and I refuse to change attitude. Thank goodness the early age leather artists had the guts to try to develop new ideas instead of depending on old ones or we would all still be using tree bark and vegetable plants to color our work.

Just a wee bit of a twist from an artist mind...

As an artist and a leather artist I can only say that I want the best on the market to work with.

Sure I can learn to work with anything but why? Why would I want to use second/third kind of material in the first place? I invest loads of time making patterns, loads of time carving and tooling and now for the rest of the project I want it to shine...So I'm looking for that number one product that can help me as an artist to put the item "over the top", not to make it mediocre.

I have not seen one item in person (leather shows) that "shines" with EF, my oppinion. Some items is actually rather good but the product itself does not seams to have that right "starlook" for my use, to "dull/not vibrant enough" in lack of better description. Just my 2 cents...

[Rayban]

I'm sure I could make EF work for me if I had to, but fortunetly, I have better options at my disposal

[Cowboy316]

ok ok now you guys and gals got me scared of eco flow dyes i just bought some for a wallet im shippin out to cali on friday but now not use i wanna try to use it LOL

maybe ill try to mix a feibings batch some what close to a light coffee color

thanks for the infi everybody

Cowboy316

[hivemind]

I missed something somewhere, probably because I don't ever go into a Tandy store (nearest one is an hour away and I have a local guy ten mins from my house). Tandy stores aren't carrying Fiebing's dyes? Are people having a problem getting them, or just a problem getting them from Tandy stores? Why did Tandy stop carrying them?

[crissy]

I believe Tandy is trying to make a living while also trying to make things available to more than those who can afford to buy $25.00+ carving tools to get the job done. also I believe the reason the ecoflo line was created was an environmental effect decision from pressure at state levels. not an expert here but Tandy employees are always willing to share, teach, and alert me of deals saving me lot-o-cash. I am not knocking the expensive tools they are worth the green backs required for owning them and the machines to make turned wood or metal and so on are certainly not cheap. then there is the time required to make it "whatever it is" so as all artist or craft persons have done since creating paint or the wheel is to use whats available, figure it out improve it if possible and don't buy it if you don't like it. I don't know the Tandy owners maybe this is all BS but I always start with a positive note nothing about the day is easy any more unless you begin with a take it easy attitude. ecoflo products are good for something sand not so good for others. shoot you could probably make your own dye if you wanted to. I use ecoflo and fiebings and eventually going to try staining with oil paints eventually.

the best of luck

crissy