swivelsphinx Report post Posted April 7, 2010 Hey folks! I received such cool suggestions and observations about stingray when I asked about cutting, I thought I'd post another related topic, this time about cleaning and dye screw ups. I do leather as a "serious sideline" at this point. I sell my work, but my production line is *very* small. So, while I love exotics, I tend to look for seconds and runoffs. Sometimes the coloring on seconds and runoffs is a little on the craptastic side. Occasionally, it's not a matter of poor color, but improper storage that's left the item dusty or somewhat dirtified. I bought a buncha nice "stingray seconds", and one of them was a cheap and cheery lookin' red. I thought it looked a little funny, so I decided to clean it off. I used rubbing alcohol. BIG MISTAKE. I realized too late that the little white spots breaking up the pattern of the 'ray were *not* in fact, little shreds of shop towel. They were breaks in the finish and color, probably caused by the isopr. alcohol. I've never had that happen before- I use rubbing alcohol to clean up my snake skins occasionally. While I *could* cut my losses and use the little cherry red hide as is, I intend to continue messing with it of course! I'd love to get some opinions on the options I am considering... or get some new ones from you all! Op #1: Apply some antiquing and call it a day. Op #2 Get a paint brush, and strategically apply some red spirit or oil dye. Op #3 Really get aggressive with some deglazer, and redress the skin with dye, antique and finish. I'll letcha know what the state the 'ray ends up in the future! -swivelsphinx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Garrity Report post Posted July 16, 2010 (edited) I round the edges of my stingray holsters and accent pieces with a sanding wheel, belt or disc sander, and dremel tool, along with some hand sanding for a smooth rounded edge. All of this takes the hide down to the white. I have had no problem dying the edges back to their original color, and no complaints about dye wearing off. My personal stingray wallet is over ten years old and has been worn down to white and re-dyed black about every other year, so I think you could dye it to match with no problem. (I use Angelus dyes exclusively so can't speak for Fiebings, Tandy, or others). A word of caution when sanding it: I was advised by a custom bootmaker (who has forgotten more about working with exotics than most prople will ever learn in their lifetime) to wear some type of filter mask when working with it. The beads are calcium deposits, and therefore organic, and if too much of the dust is inhaled can make you sick; (potential for selmonella, respiratory problems, and probably a host of other illnesses). Good luck, Mark Hey folks! I received such cool suggestions and observations about stingray when I asked about cutting, I thought I'd post another related topic, this time about cleaning and dye screw ups. I do leather as a "serious sideline" at this point. I sell my work, but my production line is *very* small. So, while I love exotics, I tend to look for seconds and runoffs. Sometimes the coloring on seconds and runoffs is a little on the craptastic side. Occasionally, it's not a matter of poor color, but improper storage that's left the item dusty or somewhat dirtified. I bought a buncha nice "stingray seconds", and one of them was a cheap and cheery lookin' red. I thought it looked a little funny, so I decided to clean it off. I used rubbing alcohol. BIG MISTAKE. I realized too late that the little white spots breaking up the pattern of the 'ray were *not* in fact, little shreds of shop towel. They were breaks in the finish and color, probably caused by the isopr. alcohol. I've never had that happen before- I use rubbing alcohol to clean up my snake skins occasionally. While I *could* cut my losses and use the little cherry red hide as is, I intend to continue messing with it of course! I'd love to get some opinions on the options I am considering... or get some new ones from you all! Op #1: Apply some antiquing and call it a day. Op #2 Get a paint brush, and strategically apply some red spirit or oil dye. Op #3 Really get aggressive with some deglazer, and redress the skin with dye, antique and finish. I'll letcha know what the state the 'ray ends up in the future! -swivelsphinx Edited July 16, 2010 by Mark Garrity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
