Fiebing Leather Colors review

[tazzmann]

Well, after waiting most of this month, I finally got my shipment in from Zack White. I took out everything and scattered it while looking for the new dye. While I am NOT at all impressed with Zack White on the time it took or the way they packaged the box for shipping, not a single drop of dye spilled or leaked. (The peanut brittle colored Iguana skin I got from them was disappointing as it had all kinds of marks and little holes in it making it almost worthless to use for anything. )

So, I took some scrap pieces of leather and threw some of the new dye on them. My first impression was that the dye smelled a little odd. Since I was so in a rush to try them out, I forgot to look at the label and assumed that they were some sort of water based dye... Nope. A big "Flammable" label was right there on the front, so they were obviously still some sort of spirit based dye.

Once I had the scrap piece colored the way that I wanted, it was time to test. I soaked the leather under the faucet and as expected, it did not run at all. I then let that piece dry while I tested a few different finishes including Super Sheen, Leather Balm, Tan Kote and olive oil. While still getting a little rub off like most dyes, it was just like working with their regular line. AND being low VOC, it now means Californians have an option!

My only suggestion is if you are in a rush and don't mind the possibility of getting dye on anything else in the box, DON'T order from Zack White. I am sure more companies will start carrying this dye and I personally will wait for someone else to carry it before I order more. But as I run out of my regular dye, I will be replacing with the Leather Colors.

[abn]

Thanks for the review! At your convenience, I'd love to see some pics to get an idea of the shades available...

[tazzmann]

I am going to be using one of them on a credit card case tonight or tomorrow. I will be sure to snap a few pics.

I forgot to mention that these are the current available colors:

Black, Light Brown, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Chocolate, Saddle Tan, Cordovan, Mahogany, Red, Yellow, Green & Royal Blue.

Edited April 23, 2008 by tazzmann

[craftsman827]

I've ordered from Zack White many times over the past 15 years.

I never had a problem with there shipping. I live in New Jersey, & use to live in New York.

They always ship fast, I get my order within the week, & they have a great selection of products.

I just posted this to be fair to the company, I have NO vested intrest in Zack White.

Just that I've been buying from them for many years, I like the company. Thats my 2 cents worth. LOL!!!!

[tazzmann]

To be fair, I DO usually give a company more than one shot and I WILL be contacting Zack White about this shipment and the skin, and since they are the only ones I can find that carries this dye so far, I will probably give them another go round. But sometimes your first impression is your lasting impression, and they didn't impress me AT ALL on their first try.

[Regis]

tazzman,

Thanks for the review and it has the opposite result of what I got with eco-flo. I posted about eco-flo coal black and how it ran off the leather down the drain. I will say that eco-flo holds up real well AFTER you get a top coat on it like shene or resolene.

Thanks

[rdb]

Sorry to hear about your problems, but I want to stick up for Zack White's too. I live near them, and do a lot of business there. I haven't used their mail order, but one thing I have learned in dealing with ANY of the suppliers is to CALL. Call the order in, Call when it's late, etc. don't wait until the order has arrived, and you're mad. We are all in this together, makers, and suppliers. there are fewer and fewer sources for us, we need them all to stay in business.

There is only 5 people who work at Zack's...two ladies, two boys, and Tim. That's not a whole pecking order to get to someone who can help.

I've said before on this board, because I'm so close, anyone can ask me to check things out there for them, and i'll be glad to do it. I go about every 1-2 weeks.

[tazzmann]

I contacted Zack White through their online contact system. Hopefully something can be worked out with the Iguana skin. For the rest, mistakes DO happen and I understand that which is why I usually give a company more than one chance. But it is still that first impression that can really bite ya. Luckily I wasn't in a rush, so it was no big deal or I probably would have been on the phone with them a lot sooner. Then the packaging. Sometimes you get this kind of packaging from folks one time and not the next, so it was disappointing to see. I made some suggestions to them about how to package things that could possibly leak so as to avoid that issue and what I do to package my leather and skins to protect them when I ship them out. So we will see.

I am generally a really calm, tolerant guy but I also don't have a problem speaking up to let others know about MY particular experience with a company, so that THEY may not be too surprised if the same thing happens to them.

Now back to the topic at hand... the Dye is excellent!

[cdm]

I am used to working with Fiebings products but live in California so not able to purchase. Not all that happy with Eco-Flo products they rub off, smear etc. Looking for some info on the Fiebing Leather Colors CA approved. any opinion? Or suggestions.