Case Before Dying?

[marine mp]

Hello All,

I'm getting ready to dye a holster oxblood red. Do I lightly case the leather before dying???? Also, I'm using oxblood red and the other holster I've done have turned out great without diluting the dye. What say you????? To dilute or not. Thanks for a great forum. Semper-fi Mike

[Fredo]

I'm by no means an old hand at working leather. However I tend to go with what works.

You said the last one turned out 'GREAT' ,Just saying......

[marine mp]

I'm by no means an old hand at working leather. However I tend to go with what works.

You said the last one turned out 'GREAT' ,Just saying......

Fredo, Thanks for at least one reply. I know my other holsters turned well for a beginner, but was hoping for some more insght. I see that there were about 68 "views" on the subject and only one answer...yours. I was thinking that casing the leather lightly before dying may improve the overall dying process and even it out some. I was trying to get some imput on how to do it the "right" way, but like you said...if it works. Maybe someone will reply with how they do theirs. Also, about diluting the dye...I read a lot about that also. I really want to progress and will have my daughter or wife post some pictures of the ones I've made so far. Just family holsters. Anyways...Semper-Fi Mike

[Fredo]

Mike, I''ve tried both ways. I find that if the leather is even slightly damp it can "fog" my dye. For me a dry leather is easier to dye evenly then any type of moisture.

I have tried to lightly case my leather when dying with water based dyes and it didn't seem to help at all.

You might have to set up a small lab and do a little testing with a few scrap pieces.

Good luck.

[Frank]

Mike,

I don't dye many of my items. When I do dye though, I oil the leather about 24 hrs in advance and let it settle. This will open up the pores and get it ready for any dying that you need to do. It should help you even out the dye a bit better.

Frank

[pete]

Mike- I agree totally. Oil your piece and let it sit overnight. It will open the pores and will even out the dye as much as it can. I've never "dipped" a piece but always do this when brush dye-ing. Made a big difference.pete

[particle]

I've never dampened the leather before dying, but I have accidentally dyed too soon after water-burnishing the edges and the dye bled into the top/bottom too much (I was dying the edges....). I say don't case the leather prior to dying, but only because the instructions on the bottle don't say anything about needing to case the leather first, so I never thought to try it...

Regarding diluting the dye - it really just depends on the color you're after. If you like the results you got last time, then great - don't dilute it. If you want more control of the intensity of the dye, then try airbrushing it.

[marine mp]

I've never dampened the leather before dying, but I have accidentally dyed too soon after water-burnishing the edges and the dye bled into the top/bottom too much (I was dying the edges....). I say don't case the leather prior to dying, but only because the instructions on the bottle don't say anything about needing to case the leather first, so I never thought to try it...

Regarding diluting the dye - it really just depends on the color you're after. If you like the results you got last time, then great - don't dilute it. If you want more control of the intensity of the dye, then try airbrushing it.

Thanks for the replys. Every little bit helps when your just a novice. Seeing the stuff ya'll do tends to be a bit intimidating, I look forward every day to seeing new posts and projects and trying to glean every bit of it. Then when I get to my workbench, my mind goes blank and I have to return to the forum and re-group!!!! Oh well, to many knocks up-side the head, I guess!!!! Semper-fi Mike