Red leather

[Aart]

Morning everybody and a very happy new year,

Would anybody know how to 'stain' natural leather to obtain an overall red finish.

'Stain' is probably not the exact word I should use, I'm thinking along the lines of vinagroon, but with red outcome.

When I tried last time, the colored layer was just on top of the leather, did break and come off rather easy.

The idea is to make a bell harness for next winter.

Best

Aart.

[TomSwede]

Happy new year!!

Seems like you wanna use spirit dyes perhaps. Can be a very tricky to dye it evenly. I use 3-4 cottonballs that is wrapped into a soft linnencloth (use a string or rubberband to it it together at the top). Applyin some onto the "ball" and putting it on in a circular motion. You can dillute the dye with denatured alcohol if you don

t want it to dark and I usually have my leather a bit wet wich helps the dye to spread and make a more even outcome.

Try on scraps first, dyes are not easy to work with.

Good luck with it!!

[abn]

Aart, I've found achieving a nice, even red is easy with Eco-Flo dyes. Scarlet is a true red, while Cranberry is a bit darker. The following projects were done with Scarlet:

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=5048

I hope this information helps!

[Aart]

Thanks Gentlemen, will try. But a complete (pair) harness is a bit 'long' to do with what we call 'bâtonnets Ouates' or 'coton tips'

Aart.

[Alihs]

Hi Aart,

Why don't you just airbrush the whole lot?

Quick, easy, and you can do a large area in very little time.

My 2 € cents :-)

Kim

[swinewerx]

Happy new year!!

Seems like you wanna use spirit dyes perhaps. Can be a very tricky to dye it evenly. I use 3-4 cottonballs that is wrapped into a soft linnencloth (use a string or rubberband to it it together at the top). Applyin some onto the "ball" and putting it on in a circular motion. You can dillute the dye with denatured alcohol if you don

t want it to dark and I usually have my leather a bit wet wich helps the dye to spread and make a more even outcome.

Try on scraps first, dyes are not easy to work with.

Good luck with it!!

Great info I have not dyed like this yet, the wetness of the leather is very crucial to get it more even I am sure, thanx

[JLSleather]

Airbrush it. Nice even tone, consistent. I only use spirit dyes (never did like that sit-on-the-top stuff) and, when you test it on scrap, use a piece of scrap FROM THE SAME HIDE. A scrap from another hide may not dye the same.

[barra]

Why not dispense with the need to dye and use some red patent leather.

Barra

[Aart]

Thanks Gentlemen,

Airbrush ?? Never done that. Will Try and let you know.

Barra, thanks for your idea, but

I know that it is 'difficult' to keep your head down with a bell sleigh and a flaming red harness with 'plumes'.

I 've used some patent black for accents on light show harnesses and did not like that.

But red? I'm afraid that is a bit over the top and too much 'circus' if you know what I mean.

My calvinistic side would not dare to get on the box

Thank you anyway.

Aart.

[jeffroberts]

Morning everybody and a very happy new year,

Would anybody know how to 'stain' natural leather to obtain an overall red finish.

'Stain' is probably not the exact word I should use, I'm thinking along the lines of vinagroon, but with red outcome.

When I tried last time, the colored layer was just on top of the leather, did break and come off rather easy.

The idea is to make a bell harness for next winter.

Best

Aart.

Art;

Years ago I started mixing a pkg of RITT dye in a bottle of rubbing alcohol to stain wood arrows and lately tried it on my spur strap projects and it works great and doesn't run. I used the black, green, yellow and red. cheap to make and can use coats!

Jeff