Spirt Dye Cracked My Leather

[jayjay]

Hello all,

I used a apirit dye for the first time and I think I really screwed it up, here is what happen and I would love some feedback on what I did wrong.

Dye was Fiebing's Navy Blue.

I was making a key fob and when I applyied the dye with a dauber the color turned out a shiny purple. I think I applyied to much dye????? After I ruined the piece i tryed using a scrap piece of leather and just barely applied the dye and it was in fact blue. After the dye dried on the key fob I noticed that when I bent the leather it cracked really bad.

Any help would be great

thanks in advance

[Art]

Hi JayJay,

I usually flood the area and wipe, I use a sponge wrapped in a T-Shirt to flood the dye over the piece and rub flooding until I get the color I want. I do dilute my dye 50% with DEA, as Fiebing's is pretty strong straight, if you want more color, just apply again. When you have the color you want, rub down with another T-Shirt and let it dry overnight. When completely dry, buff with a horsehair brush, a T-Shirt or something to remove any leftover dye (important). This is the time to add some oil or Pecard's to put a little oil back into the grain. Again let dry and put on whatever finish you may want. If you are wanting to do serious bending on anything over 4oz or so, you are going to risk cracking the grain if you don't relieve the flesh side, it is the nature of the beast. When making something and you want to put a radical bend in, let's say, the buckle end of a belt, wet it pretty well before bending.

Art

Hello all,

I used a apirit dye for the first time and I think I really screwed it up, here is what happen and I would love some feedback on what I did wrong.

Dye was Fiebing's Navy Blue.

I was making a key fob and when I applyied the dye with a dauber the color turned out a shiny purple. I think I applyied to much dye????? After I ruined the piece i tryed using a scrap piece of leather and just barely applied the dye and it was in fact blue. After the dye dried on the key fob I noticed that when I bent the leather it cracked really bad.

Any help would be great

thanks in advance

[Johnny B]

I have never had this happen to me. After I dye I rub some neatsfoot oil into the leather before my final finish.

[jayjay]

I have never had this happen to me. After I dye I rub some neatsfoot oil into the leather before my final finish.

Thanks Art i give your method a try next time. Also you mentioned reducing the dye with DEA. What is DEA I'm still alittle green at this leather stuff, but I love it!