Dyo Chemicals and LCI Chemicals

[esantoro]

Does anyone have experience with these two Texas companies, which have merged: Dyo Chemicals and LCI Chemicals. They seem to duplicate many of the edge finishes and leather dressings and conditioners that Fiebings and other companies have. I'm wondering if their products might be better. Their edge finishes certainly seem to be able to provide that rubberized edge look and feel some of us have been looking for.

Ed

[skipj]

We used Dyo oil in John Bianchi's holster class in Wickenburg. He uses it.

SkipJ

[David Genadek]

Does anyone have experience with these two Texas companies, which have merged: Dyo Chemicals and LCI Chemicals. They seem to duplicate many of the edge finishes and leather dressings and conditioners that Fiebings and other companies have. I'm wondering if their products might be better. Their edge finishes certainly seem to be able to provide that rubberized edge look and feel some of us have been looking for.

Ed

Ed,

I was national sales director for Dyo so I'm very familier with the products. Dyo is one of the oldest names in shoe refinishing. They have always targeted the shoe market and the manufacturing market. The products are professional level and are way better than what is available at Tandy. I went to work for them to so we could create consumer packageing to get the quaility products to the individual craftsman. Bob Beard, Rob Barr, Bill Gomer, Kat Kuzak and others helped me in this effort but Tandy would not take a look at it.

The guy that started Dyo sold to John Mills. The chemist that worked for Dyo did not get along with

Mills so he quit and started Leather Coatings Inc. It was a very unfriendly relationship. In time the chemist died and LCI is now run by a very reasonable person. The lines are very similer. When Dyo blew up Mills went to LCI and licensed the Dyo name to keep it alive. It is my understanding that Mills has now just sold the name to LCI. I just got about 20 gals of dye and finish from LCi and am pleased with the product. Their water based dye blows the other products on the market out of the water. The finishes are so much better than products you have available on a retail basis it isn't even funny.

David Genadek

[skipj]

David,

DYO blew up??

SkipJ

[David Genadek]

David,

DYO blew up??

SkipJ

Yep here is a link to the story. Dyo fire

I talked to John a few weeks after the fire. No one got hurt but it was a total loss. He was able to recover the hard drive that had the formulas though and LCI has all that info now.

David Genadek

[esantoro]

Ed,

I was national sales director for Dyo so I'm very familier with the products. Dyo is one of the oldest names in shoe refinishing. They have always targeted the shoe market and the manufacturing market. The products are professional level and are way better than what is available at Tandy. I went to work for them to so we could create consumer packageing to get the quaility products to the individual craftsman. Bob Beard, Rob Barr, Bill Gomer, Kat Kuzak and others helped me in this effort but Tandy would not take a look at it.

The guy that started Dyo sold to John Mills. The chemist that worked for Dyo did not get along with

Mills so he quit and started Leather Coatings Inc. It was a very unfriendly relationship. In time the chemist died and LCI is now run by a very reasonable person. The lines are very similer. When Dyo blew up Mills went to LCI and licensed the Dyo name to keep it alive. It is my understanding that Mills has now just sold the name to LCI. I just got about 20 gals of dye and finish from LCi and am pleased with the product. Their water based dye blows the other products on the market out of the water. The finishes are so much better than products you have available on a retail basis it isn't even funny.

David Genadek

David,

I'm putting in an order for the Dyo Edge Finish tomorrow. Carlos at LCI told me that this has a honey-like consistency, and the only real difference between this and the Edge Ink is that the Edge Finish has a matte finish, whereas the Edge Ink is glossier.

Carlos also told me that they can custom match colors and that colors could be mixed for desired shades. I need black, brown, mahogany, chestnut, and tan, and perhaps shades in between these colors. Do you think it's best to buy the individual colors or is there a good method to mixing certain colors to get a variety of browns?

Since this edge finish seems to be thicker than Fiebings Edge Kote, do you have any idea how long 4 oz would last? I'm asking because the 4 oz bottle of Edge Kote I have seems like it would last quite a while. I'm guessing that the Dyo Edge Finish will last half as long, due to it being thicker.

Thanks for your rundown on this company and its products. It was extremely helpful.

Ed

[abn]

Ed, when you receive and start using this stuff, please be sure to post your impressions. I don't think many people here have heard of LCI, and we'd be curious to hear how their dyes and edge finishes work as compared to the regular Tandy and Fiebings stuff....

Thanks! Alex

[David Genadek]

David,

I'm putting in an order for the Dyo Edge Finish tomorrow. Carlos at LCI told me that this has a honey-like consistency, and the only real difference between this and the Edge Ink is that the Edge Finish has a matte finish, whereas the Edge Ink is glossier.

Carlos also told me that they can custom match colors and that colors could be mixed for desired shades. I need black, brown, mahogany, chestnut, and tan, and perhaps shades in between these colors. Do you think it's best to buy the individual colors or is there a good method to mixing certain colors to get a variety of browns?

Since this edge finish seems to be thicker than Fiebings Edge Kote, do you have any idea how long 4 oz would last? I'm asking because the 4 oz bottle of Edge Kote I have seems like it would last quite a while. I'm guessing that the Dyo Edge Finish will last half as long, due to it being thicker.

Thanks for your rundown on this company and its products. It was extremely helpful.

Ed

I'm not real familier with the Fiebings product so it would be hard for me to compare. I doubt you will be able to get less than a quart and will probable need to get a gallon. That is the down side of dealing with companies that are used to deaing with manufacturers. I generaly order five gallons of everything. You would have to ask Carlos the question because I'm not sure which products are which any more. I used to take the shoe finishing paint color cote and mix it with the edge cote base to create any color I wanted. The shoe paint is availabe in smaller amounts. So I would check into getting a gallon of neutral and ask what colors are compatible. I work primarily with veg tanned leathers and I prefer to dye the edge then rub it and finish with polycote which is a product designed for creating a patent leather look in shoe refinishing.That product goes a long ways.There are a lot of edge finishes and companies like LCI are used to custom formulating to a manufacturers needs.

David Genadek

[Leather Bum]

Ed,

I was national sales director for Dyo so I'm very familier with the products. Dyo is one of the oldest names in shoe refinishing. They have always targeted the shoe market and the manufacturing market. The products are professional level and are way better than what is available at Tandy. I went to work for them to so we could create consumer packageing to get the quaility products to the individual craftsman. Bob Beard, Rob Barr, Bill Gomer, Kat Kuzak and others helped me in this effort but Tandy would not take a look at it.

David Genadek

Wow, so is there any way for anyone to get a hold of these LCI products? It seems like someone could somehow arrange to become a dealer to smaller businesses and individuals. . . maybe? Why wouldn't Tandy work something out?

L'Bum

[esantoro]

I've now had this product for several days. It seems that this edge coating is quite economical and that 4 ounces will go longer than Feibing's Edge Kote will.

It dries fast and three coats will make a very flexible, long-lasting finish. I'll try to post samples of two-layered edges this weekend.

Ed

David,

I'm putting in an order for the Dyo Edge Finish tomorrow. Carlos at LCI told me that this has a honey-like consistency, and the only real difference between this and the Edge Ink is that the Edge Finish has a matte finish, whereas the Edge Ink is glossier.

Carlos also told me that they can custom match colors and that colors could be mixed for desired shades. I need black, brown, mahogany, chestnut, and tan, and perhaps shades in between these colors. Do you think it's best to buy the individual colors or is there a good method to mixing certain colors to get a variety of browns?

Since this edge finish seems to be thicker than Fiebings Edge Kote, do you have any idea how long 4 oz would last? I'm asking because the 4 oz bottle of Edge Kote I have seems like it would last quite a while. I'm guessing that the Dyo Edge Finish will last half as long, due to it being thicker.

Thanks for your rundown on this company and its products. It was extremely helpful.

Ed

[rustynail]

So where do I buy this stuff??? The edge kote at Tandy isn't very durable and is very thin....

[wolvenstien]

Sounds like we need a contact for them, see if they will do samples.... and if we like the samples, maybe see about doing a group buy....

This John Mills.... wouldnt be the son of Olan Mills would he?

Edited August 19, 2008 by wolvenstien

[abn]

I'm sure Ed will jump in soon, but I seem to remember him mentioning a $100 minimum order. Then, they gave him shoddy customer service.

My impression at the time was that LCI is set up to deal with major manufacturers, not hobbyists or craftspeople... (But I've never dealt with them, so I may be wrong...)

[esantoro]

I'm sure Ed will jump in soon, but I seem to remember him mentioning a $100 minimum order. Then, they gave him shoddy customer service.

My impression at the time was that LCI is set up to deal with major manufacturers, not hobbyists or craftspeople... (But I've never dealt with them, so I may be wrong...)

My requirements are maybe 10 gallons a year. If I had not asked LCI too many questions about getting my desired color, I would have been fine. If I had known of this tacit policy of not expecting customer service, I would have kept my mouth shut and just kept what they had sent me, but as they say, hindsight is 20/20. I was told in very direct language by Carlos, the owner, that they don't want to waste their time on my ten gallons a year and he told me to go shop elsewhere.

I hope everyone is having a pleasant summer.

Ed (who will return from vacation and be back in the workshop and back full steam in the forum this Saturday)

[Luke Hatley]

Hey Ed... Please dont make them too Mad. I have been useing the edge coating

AND I REALLY LIKE IT. ONE FINE PRODUCT.

enjoy you trip..........

[esantoro]

Hey Ed... Please dont make them too Mad. I have been useing the edge coating

AND I REALLY LIKE IT. ONE FINE PRODUCT.

enjoy you trip..........

I got home from vacation the other day and immediately went to my new Weaver catalog. Weaver has something they call Edge Paint. I'm going to email or call them and see if I can get the skinny on the product.

ed