Black dye problems/solutions

[Nicolau]

Hi, everyone. I recently died a belt black using three coats, leaving ample time for each coat to dry. About 24 hours after the last coat I brushed on some LexolNF and wiped it off. Everything was going fairly well, though things were a little streaky.

After a few hours I applied some TanKote with a crappy brush used for painting, which was really streaky and left all these tiny little hairs and fibers in the finish. I immediately panicked and tried wiping the TanKote off (or buffing it in). When that didn't work, I used some leather wipes my wife had bought me and wiped the belt down hard. That worked in getting the finish off and removing the fibers, but a ton of black came off onto the wipes, and the belt looked awful. I panicked again and used some black Kiwi shoe polish I had and buffed it in, which made it look a lot better.

I'm wondering if now I need to go back and redye the whole thing as I think some of the black may have rubbed off when I wiped it down. Is it possible to remove the black dye and get down to the veg-tanned leather? I though the dye soaked right into the leather and was impossible to remove.

Also, is the Kiwi polish good enough for a finish coat, or should I start over? Can I start over? Is there something I can use to strip everything off and reapply the dye? Is that a good idea?

Help!!!

Thanks,

Mike

[HorsehairBraider]

I'm sure someone smart will come along and help with a suggestion... but in the meantime, I have never heard of anyway to take all the dye out of a piece of leather until it is light oil again. Search the forum, there is a thread about dyeing black by using vinegar. Maybe that would work better.

Oh yeah, and go through the house and throw out all those crappy brushes!

Edited April 15, 2008 by HorsehairBraider

[Ian]

Mike, I'm not sure the reason for the problems you're having with the black. I've seen some other posts by people having problems with black.

Anyway, I understand your frustration and panic to fix it quickly. What I would do, is to clean the finish off with denatured alcohol and a piece of soft towel- keep rubbing until very little comes off on your rag. Then, re-dye it. You can do it while it is still damp with the alcohol. Let it dry, then go over very lightly with the alcohol, just to take any residue off. Then, when it's dry, apply your top finish with a soft cloth lightly in a couple of coats - don't rub the finish in, just dampen your cloth and do it in one light sweep along the belt. Once it's dry, you can use your Kiwi to polish it. If you use the black polish sparingly and polish it well, it won't come off on your pants. I've done it many times.

[Nicolau]

Thanks, guys. I'm tempted to try that, Ian. So, I don't need to buy Deglazer? This project has cost me enough as it is.

I think I'm going to order some Leather Sheen (or Super Shene); is that something I could apply over the Kiwi wax I have on there now? Or is it better to just start back at the dyeing process? I'm afraid I'm going to over-saturate the leather and ruin it somehow. It's a big belt with lots of tooling in it.

It *looks* really good right now, but I think I definitely need some type of top coat to seal the dye (it keeps rubbing off whenever I wipe it with a cloth). It'd be great if I could put it on over everything else I already have.

Anyone else have advice for the rookie?

Here is my work in progress, if anyone is interested:

The pics with the black strap were taken after the second coat of dye (the plates aren't really attached yet) and before the Tan Kote fiasco.

Edited April 15, 2008 by Nicolau

[kseidel]

Ok, Black dye can present some unique problems. You do not need to start over. You do need to seal the surface so the color does not rub off. The Kiwi polish is a wax finish with black pigment. The wax will dry hard enough to stay color fast, but not permanant. If you buff the polished surface with a brush or soft cloth like you would a pair of boots, that will take most of the residue off. Then you will need to seal the surface. For black, lacquer is best. you can use a spray on or apply with a cloth or woolskin piece. If you spray, you will get a high gloss "painted" looking finish. I prefer Neat-lac and apply with a woolskin for a more controled finish. Two coats of lacquer should seal the black from rubbing off. Work the lacquer into the leather fairly well on the first coat. You can use it fairly liberally. With a woolskin, you can get a gloss, satin or flat finish; depending on how much you work the finish as it is drying. Experiment on scrap for the desired finish. If you work it too much or too long, it will get gummy. Good luck!

Keith