Advice On Belts, Straps, Etc

[WoodyTX]

Howdy from the heart of Texas!

I've made a few pieces, mostly belts and straps for renaissance wear, and I've run into a few issues.

I'm using Tandy veg-tan leather, cutting it myself, deglazing it with 25% alcohol and water, dying both sides with Fiebing's oil dye, rubbing it aggressively with an old towel to remove the excess, then applying neatsfoot oil, and finishing with edge dressing and leather sheen spray (with time between each step for drying).

The issues: The color is very dark; medium brown is coming out as almost black. Also, I'm still getting color rubbing off, and I think I'm overdoing the neatsfoot oil.

Can y'all advise another way to do belts, straps, and such? I'd also like to make knife and sword sheaths, so any advice in that direction would be helpful, too!

Thanks in advance!

[pete]

For starters I would oil it first. Dye tends to really dry out the leather and won't let the oil really penetrate.

Lighten your dye, cut it with alcohol .

Let it really dry between coats.

Try a light coat and let it sit in the sun a few days.

pete

[busted]

Howdy from the heart of Texas!

I've made a few pieces, mostly belts and straps for renaissance wear, and I've run into a few issues.

I'm using Tandy veg-tan leather, cutting it myself, deglazing it with 25% alcohol and water, dying both sides with Fiebing's oil dye, rubbing it aggressively with an old towel to remove the excess, then applying neatsfoot oil, and finishing with edge dressing and leather sheen spray (with time between each step for drying).

The issues: The color is very dark; medium brown is coming out as almost black. Also, I'm still getting color rubbing off, and I think I'm overdoing the neatsfoot oil.

Can y'all advise another way to do belts, straps, and such? I'd also like to make knife and sword sheaths, so any advice in that direction would be helpful, too!

Thanks in advance!

It is not necessary to deglaze the leather, you are removing the tannery finish when

you do that. Stop putting oil on the belt it is changing the color to an almost black.

I use the Febings Professional Dye and not the oil dye. Keep doing the edge finish.

You need a bottle of Resolene to finish the belt with it seals the belt keeping in the bye

and keeping out the water. If you use the Resolene do not use the spray stuff. The

Resolene is the last step in making the belt.

I hope this will help.

[MADMAX22]

It is not necessary to deglaze the leather, you are removing the tannery finish when

you do that. Stop putting oil on the belt it is changing the color to an almost black.

I use the Febings Professional Dye and not the oil dye. Keep doing the edge finish.

You need a bottle of Resolene to finish the belt with it seals the belt keeping in the bye

and keeping out the water. If you use the Resolene do not use the spray stuff. The

Resolene is the last step in making the belt.

I hope this will help.

I must say I do not really agree with you, there needs to be some kind of oil or atleast conditioner applied to the leather. Also feibings pro oil dye is very good. You just have to know how to apply it. Once the dye is buffed out you shouldnt be able to get much rub off anyways even before you seal it.

I think along the lines with Petes statement. Lightly oil it and then go back if you need more and lightly oil it again. Make sure you let it sit overnight after oiling it.