Fiebings Pro Oil Dye Vs. Fiebing Regular Dye?

[skyblast]

Soon I will be attempting to airbrush my holsters instead to dipping them.

Question: When airbrushing is it better to use pro oil dye or is the regular Fiebings dye ok? Actually for that matter which is a better dye to use....for any application dipping or airbrushing? Does it even matter or is one better than the other for certain things.

Curious. If I do decide to switch.... Feibings professional is so much more expensive!!

Any airbrush advice before I take the plunge? I think that I have all the equipment I need to get started. Now I'm just staring at it kind of nervously trying to work up the nerve to get started.

Thanks

[MMArmoury]

I have no experience with airbrushing so I cannot help you there specifically. But I was told by an expert the differences between the two products. Spirit dye penetrates deeper than oil dye and dries quicker and with a little less odor, but spirit dye can be difficult to control the evenness of coverage especially in browns I noticed. But that is with sponge or daubers, I do not know how it would affect an airbrush in regards to even coverage.

[ABC3]

Skyblast;

I too am getting into Airbrushing, mostly on belts & holsters. I use Fiebings Pro Oil and was wondering if it's ok in an Airbrush. By the way, which compressor did you end up with and do you use a "paint booth".

It should be interesting.

[skyblast]

Skyblast;

I too am getting into Airbrushing, mostly on belts & holsters. I use Fiebings Pro Oil and was wondering if it's ok in an Airbrush. By the way, which compressor did you end up with and do you use a "paint booth".

It should be interesting.

I ended with the $80 Harbor Freight set up...comes with a compressor. I believe the Pro oil is ok as I already know one guy that is using it. I am wondering if the regular stuff is ok? The pro oil is so expensive.

I made a spray booth out of a cardboard box.

Edited June 8, 2010 by skyblast

[particle]

Hi there! Where are you buying the dye from? I think I paid about $20 for a quart - I believe my wife ordered my dyes from Springfield. When you're airbrushing the dye - it will go a long, long way and you'll get a ton of holsters out of it. If I were you, I'd pony up the extra cash for the Pro dyes, but I would also only buy one quart at a time - at least until you're comfortable with the colors you picked and the results you're getting.

[skyblast]

Hi there! Where are you buying the dye from? I think I paid about $20 for a quart - I believe my wife ordered my dyes from Springfield. When you're airbrushing the dye - it will go a long, long way and you'll get a ton of holsters out of it. If I were you, I'd pony up the extra cash for the Pro dyes, but I would also only buy one quart at a time - at least until you're comfortable with the colors you picked and the results you're getting.

Hey!! Is that you? It's Tim here!! I noticed your web address. So yeah, I have my two bottles of spirit (regular) dye all bagged up and ready to return. I buy from McPherson's Leather in Seattle. I called them up and yes, they are around $20. Thanks, man you are so helpful!

[MADMAX22]

I have not started airbrushing my work yet but on my projects have had the best results with the pro oil dyes or the angelus dyes.

I think you would do good by experimenting a little with the different ones, just buy a couple of small containers of each and try them out. I get mine from springfeild.

[skyblast]

I have not started airbrushing my work yet but on my projects have had the best results with the pro oil dyes or the angelus dyes.

I think you would do good by experimenting a little with the different ones, just buy a couple of small containers of each and try them out. I get mine from springfeild.

Good advice. One can't beat experimenting.

On that note I burnished my first edge on a drill press this morning. You know that plastic wheel with the hole in it that a lot of leather stores sell? It has about a three inch diamemter? I hammered a phillips drill bit into it and attached it into my drill. Oh man! That plastic wheel works really well. I was able to get my first glass edge with it!! First I wet the edge, burnish, then I applied some saddle soap mixed with lexol, then burnished again??? I am I doing this right? I also rubbed in some burnishing wax then burnished again. I worry about the dye not being able to penetrate the wax though. I have a feeling my steps are out of wack?

I also noticed that my edge is a bit cracked looking. I started out by going both directions while burnishing....I'm only supposed to go one direction right? How does one know which direction is right?

[MADMAX22]

I think Bob Parks has a great how to down in the holster making section on burnishing edges. Its kind of a trial and error and personal preference thing. I dont have any power tools yet to do the edges so I do them by hand. Some people dye them after burnishing but I usually dye the edge first, get the edge damp or slightly wet, work in some saddle soap then start burnishing with a cocobolo edge burnisher I made. Once it is nice looking and properly formed I come back with a bees/parafin wax mix and rub that in with some canvas. They turn out pretty good for doing it by hand.

I dont know if the direction matters just I tend to once I get a direction going keep to it but not sure if it is really necessary.

Here ya go http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=16609

Edited June 8, 2010 by MADMAX22

[ABC3]

I spoke with Fiebings this morning regarding the regular oil vs Pro oil. I buy the Pro 2 cases (8 gal) at a time. (for whats it worth I pay $48 gal).

He says the Pro is much better than the regular and both can be Airbrushed.