What is special about edge dyes...

[TheTrooper]

...and what are the advantages of them ?? As a newbie I asked my the question, why should edge dyes be used ?? Could not a conventional dye also do the job ?

Hope someone of you can help me.

Regards,

Marcel

[abn]

Marcel,

In my opinion, there are two advantages to using an edge dye, like Fiebing's EdgeKote.

1. An edge dye has a thicker consistency and is easier to apply over a long, narrow surface like the edge of a belt. Doing regular dye would take much longer.
   
2. An edge dye not only colors the edge, but it also applies a waxy finish that is smooth to the touch and can be slicked. Using regular dye would require you to put an additional coat of gum tragacanth on top to finish it off (and thus double the time it takes to finish an edge).
   

The only downside is the limited colors... Usually just black and brown. But give it a try to see how you like it.

Regards, Alex

[kseidel]

Marcel

regular dye works well for edges. You must slick the edges and let them dry before applying the dye. Any color you like. You can seal the dye on the edges by burnishing with parifin.

Keith

[TomSwede]

I often use antique dye or saddle tan because, as Alex points out, they are faster to apply and it seems to me that the edge is easier to burnish with this but i do try to water down a bit and apply some gumtrag before slicking the edge.

Tom

[TheTrooper]

THX Guys for the hints,

another question I have, what do you normally apply first ?? The edge dye or the "whatever" dye (spirit, antique, etc.)?? I had the problem with the Fiebings Edge Dye (with applicator), that when I applied the dye some of it has came over the edge onto the tooling side. On this places the oil-dye would not stick anymore. This was the reason why I thought it is better to apply the dye on the tooling side first and then coloring the edges.

In wich way are you doing this ?

Cheers,

M.

Edited March 30, 2008 by adamant-leather

[TomSwede]

When I apply antique to the main leatherpiece (toolingside) I just pass the sponge on the edges aswell, then some gumtrag and edgeslicking and finally top finish/sealer. If I'm dying mainpiece with spiritdye I often apply saddletan to edges with a brush. I turn the edge so it's facing up wards and gently apply with the side of the brush, little hard to explain but with this technique I avoid spilling over the edge and after that I apply gumtrag same way and so on.

Tom

[abn]

another question I have, what do you normally apply first ??

I always dye the leather first, and do the edge dyeing last. To keep things from getting sloppy, I apply the edge dye with a Q-Tip or a small brush.

[TheTrooper]

Dear abn,

THX for the hint. I´ll try it out. I also think, that using a Q-Tip works best, I use them also for applying gum to my edges.

Cheers,

Marcel

[Leerwerker]

Here's how I see the sequence:

1. Dye, resist and antique the tooled side of the leather.

2. Dampen and slick down the edges.

3. Apply dye to the edges, and then seal the edges together with the grainside with a conditioner or whatever;

or

Apply Gum Tragacanth to the edge, slick down again and then coat with Edge Coat (a sliver of an old hard peice of sponge clamped in a clothes peg works great) and then seal the grainside with whatever ....