Members OdinUK Posted January 11, 2010 Members Report Posted January 11, 2010 Does anyone know what to add to Fiebings dyes to make them lighter? In particular Id like to the make the Mahogony dye lighter. I thought about adding isopropyl alcohol but im not sure if this would work. Does anyone have any ideas? Quote Lord Of Leather
Hilly Posted January 11, 2010 Report Posted January 11, 2010 Yes, I have heard that adding rubbing alcohol to thin works with spirit based dyes. Quote
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted January 11, 2010 Contributing Member Report Posted January 11, 2010 There is a reducer made for that. Made by Fiebing's, though I doubt it matters. Here's a link for Tandy, but I"m sure it's sold at any of the suppliers. Some of my colors are like 35:1 mix ... http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/home/department/Liquids/Dyes/2103-115.aspx?feature=Product_5 Quote "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Members celticleather Posted January 12, 2010 Members Report Posted January 12, 2010 I find that methylated spirit (denatured alcohol in the US) works fine. Smells better than the Fiebings reducer, and much cheaper! Quote When everyone is somebody, then no one's anybody
TimKleffner Posted January 12, 2010 Report Posted January 12, 2010 Odin, I used isopropyl [rubbing alcohol ] to thin dye... ONCE>>>> I ruined the project. I spoke with several senior leather workers who told me DON"T use the stuff. They all recommended de-natured alcohol for thinning dyes. Happy tooling Tim Quote It's hard to fail, but worse never to have tried to succeed.Theodore Roosevelt
Members CitizenKate Posted January 12, 2010 Members Report Posted January 12, 2010 Denatured alcohol is the perfect thinner for spirit dyes. Kate Quote
Members OdinUK Posted January 12, 2010 Author Members Report Posted January 12, 2010 I thought that Denatured was the same as isopropyl. Im glad I asked!. Thanks for the tips. Quote Lord Of Leather
Members OdinUK Posted January 12, 2010 Author Members Report Posted January 12, 2010 I asked the metalurgist at work and he's going to give me some denatured alcohol to try. I learn something new every day:) Quote Lord Of Leather
BearMan Posted January 14, 2010 Report Posted January 14, 2010 Hi Tim & Odin, I may hate to say this but I've been using Rubbing Alcohol for about 30 years now, to thin my Spirit dyes. Tim when you say it ruined something,,, what happened? I've never had any problems at all,,, now you've got me wondering. Here are a few things I've done using Rubbing Alcohol thinned Spirit dyes. Ed the"BearMan" Quote Ed the"BearMan" polarb1717@aol.com Beary: BearMauls@yahoo.com http://tinyurl.com/BearMauls "The Best tooling mauls available today!"
Members CitizenKate Posted January 15, 2010 Members Report Posted January 15, 2010 I may hate to say this but I've been using Rubbing Alcohol for about 30 years now, to thin my Spirit dyes. Why would you hate to say that, Ed? I'll probably keep using the denatured stuff, since that's what's in the dye, but it's great to know there is more than one thing that will reduce it. Knowing that may come in handy in a pinch. Thanks for speaking up. Kate Quote
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