Painting Leather.....

[Lwleather]

Ok. I have a new project I need some advice on. I have just started actually "tooling" leather--I've graduated from my basket stamp.

Here's the deal, I am going to do a rose and a vine and I need to know the best thing to use to either dye or paint them. The rose is going to be yellow and the vine green. I've seen paints out there but have no idea how they hold up. Also I'm going to seal it when I'm done and wonder if the Tan-Kote is the way to go. It's going to be on a pair of leggings, so I want a finish that will hold up fairly well.

Thanks in advance, you all are great about sharing your knowledge!!

[GrampaJoel]

The method I use is.

1. stain the whole background.

2. seal the background.

3. paint what is desired with acrylic paint. ( sold at craft stores)

4. seal the whole project

This is just the way I do it.

I can't say it is the only way to do it, or even the right way.

But it works for me.

Joel

[Chief31794]

Pretty much the same method, with one exception:

1. Stain everything

2. Paint what is required with Cova Paint

3. Seal the whole project.

On some items like rose scenes sometimes I:

1. Paint what is needed with liquid dyes using a brush.

2. Let Dry Thouroughly

3. Seal the painted areas with a brush using two or three coats of sealer.

4. Let Dry Thouroughly

5. Dye project.

6. Seal the whole project.

I'd experiment on scrap good chance to practice the carving and the painting method to determine what works best.

Ken

[BillB]

Before you get into how you do it you should ask yourself several questions:

1. What type of look am I after?

Do I want it to look painted (in most cases the leather grain is gone and you get a smooth enamel like finish)?

Do I want it to look like dyed leather with the grain showing and the surface being leather?

Do I want a combination of these looks?

2. What is the item going to be used for?

For example, if the product is being bent and the pattern will also be bent and flexed, then any surface paint will eventually crack . A dye or stain which soaks into the fibers of the leather will flex with the leather.

Will the item see a lot of rough wear and tear such as surface wear (a motorcycle seat)? If so then a dye or stain would be longer lasting than a paint.

Does the leather need to breath? If yes, than a dye or stain should be used, if not then a paint can be used.

3. What type of base do I want to use: oil, ether, water, acrylic ..? Not all of them can be mixed and matched even after application and drying.

These are some of the question I have asked my self before I begin the coloring process.

Remember leather is skin and will need to be cared for over time (cleaned and oiled) if it is to last.

BillB

[Lwleather]

Before you get into how you do it you should ask yourself several questions:

1. What type of look am I after?

Do I want it to look painted (in most cases the leather grain is gone and you get a smooth enamel like finish)?

Do I want it to look like dyed leather with the grain showing and the surface being leather?

Do I want a combination of these looks?

2. What is the item going to be used for?

For example, if the product is being bent and the pattern will also be bent and flexed, then any surface paint will eventually crack . A dye or stain which soaks into the fibers of the leather will flex with the leather.

Will the item see a lot of rough wear and tear such as surface wear (a motorcycle seat)? If so then a dye or stain would be longer lasting than a paint.

Does the leather need to breath? If yes, than a dye or stain should be used, if not then a paint can be used.

3. What type of base do I want to use: oil, ether, water, acrylic ..? Not all of them can be mixed and matched even after application and drying.

These are some of the question I have asked my self before I begin the coloring process.

Remember leather is skin and will need to be cared for over time (cleaned and oiled) if it is to last.

BillB

Thanks BillB. That gives me more to think about. I never thought about the paint cracking, but it makes sense.