Dye Struck Versus Drum Dyed?

[GrampaJoel]

Will someone be so kind as to explain to me the difference between Dye struck colored leather and Drum Dyed leather?

Advantages of one over the other?

Thanks

GrampaJoel

[TroyWest]

Grampa Joel,

Drum Dyed leather is leather dyed in the large drums at the tanneries. Done so that the leather is dyed all the way through, and not just on the surface.

The term dye struck I have not heard of when referring to leather, but die struck is a term used in metals. A lot of conchos are die struck, as are coins. A die is made of harder metal than the concho or coin and under great pressure tranfers the image to the softer metal.

There are leathers dyed only on the surface. I have been to a tannery where they had veg tan skirting hanging on hooks while they were spraying the leather brown to make harness leather. The disadvantage to a surface dye is if it is scratched the leather underneath is a different color.

Hope that helps,

Troy

[bruce johnson]

Maybe Steve Siegel or one of the leather guys will respond. From my understanding from the boot and chap makers, they use the term dye struck or struck through for the leathers that are dyed all the way through. For overlays the gray center isn't showing on a cut edge. Also scratches don't show. I don't know if drum dyeing is the technique they for getting them all dye struck, but it seems to me a soak would get better penetration than a spray on dye.

[TroyWest]

Grampa Joel and Bruce,

You were both right. I was wrong.

Steve Siegel called me today and I asked him if there was such a thing as dye struck leather. He said of course. Basically what Bruce said was accurate.

Steve said,

Most all leathers dyed at a tannery are drum dyed. The dye is put into the drum to dye the leather. However if they are trying to save money or need to use the drum for something else, they may remove the leather before the dye has time to penetrate through the middle. This is drum dyed leather.

Dye struck leather means the dye is given the time to soak all the way through the center of the leather. Both leathers are drum dyed, but dye struck will mean all the way through.

I guess I was wrong all the way.

Please forgive my ignorance,

Troy

[gtwister09]

Troy,

Many years ago when I did a few pair of chaps, I misunderstood that designation as well. I had it exactly backwards about which one had the dye completely through the leather. The sewing machine I used had a broken part that was being delivered by a slow herd of wild turtles so I went to an upholsterer's shop to use his machine. It was then that the old upholster taught me the difference and straightened me out. As you already know "dye struck" is leather with dye fully struck through the leather. The "struck all the way through" designation is what has stuck with me through the years.

Regards,

Ben

[GrampaJoel]

Thanks guys!

I find it amazing how much there is to learn . Even after a good long time of working leather apparently.

Thanks you all again for taking the time to share with us newbe's at this forum.

Joel