luvthegun Report post Posted May 17, 2011 Searched but didn't see the answer I was looking for. Never used oil based dye. Tryed water based didn't like them. I now use alchohol based. With good results. There are some oil based colors I would like to try. To seal holster I use super sheen which works well. With oil you have to use resolene. Or so I have read. Is there a benefit to oil based dyes and what do you do differently to use oil. Thank you Luvthegun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billymac814 Report post Posted May 17, 2011 I'm pretty sure the pro oil dyes are still a spirit based dye, I use the same finish for either. I recently switched to the oil dyes after trying them, I find the end result to be about the same BUT with way less effort to get there. I used to buff black dye for ever to remove the excess and I don't buff at all with the pro oil dye. I always used the regular spirit dyes because of cost but after trying out the pro oil dyes it's easy to justify the extra cost since I make it up in shorter labor, it's well worth a few extra bucks a quart. I also think the leather remains softer and more natural feeling with the pro oil dyes. I dip dye almost all of my holsters. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoelR Report post Posted May 17, 2011 Started with spirit based dyes, and once I tried oil, I never looked back. Oil stays wetter longer and seems to soak in better. As pointed out above, not as much surface dye to rub off. USMC black acts as a water resist so trying to case after dying was more difficult than it needed to be. Oils also seems to "layer" better. All spirit based browns always came out about the same color for me... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted May 17, 2011 (edited) Searched but didn't see the answer I was looking for. Never used oil based dye. Tryed water based didn't like them. I now use alchohol based. With good results. There are some oil based colors I would like to try. To seal holster I use super sheen which works well. With oil you have to use resolene. Or so I have read. Is there a benefit to oil based dyes and what do you do differently to use oil. Thank you Luvthegun FWIW from the old grumpy guy: I use Fiebing's Pro Oil dyes almost exclusively. I have for years. I don't know where you read that Resolene must be used on oil dyed leather, but it ain't so. I have used acrylic finishes on my goods since I started, and now use my mix of 50/50 .Mop and Glow.and water on all items I make. It's less expensive and works (for me) better than any of the other commercial acrylic finishes. Mike P.S. I don't treat my oil dyed leather any differently than spirit dyed leather. Edited May 17, 2011 by katsass Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shooter McGavin Report post Posted May 17, 2011 I use both, and have had success with super sheen, satin sheen, and 600 as topcoats. The oil dyes go on evener (is that a word) for me. I use a wool dauber and saturate the leather inside and out. Certain colors of the alcohol dye would come out splotchy for me. Both are a giant improvement over the water based dyes, which have found their way to my wifes workbench, never to touch a holster again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BearMan Report post Posted May 17, 2011 Hi Everybody, Fiebings Prof Oil Dye, is basically spirit dye with oil added into it. Which makes it a great product for things like holsters, straps, case goods,,, where consistant color values are wanted. Regular spirit dyes work better in situations to where color variations are wanted,,, like tooled leaves & flowers. I hope this helps,,, Ed the"BearMan" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChuckBurrows Report post Posted May 18, 2011 Hi Everybody, Fiebings Prof Oil Dye, is basically spirit dye with oil added into it. I hope this helps,,, Ed the"BearMan" With all due respect, but Fiebings Oil Dye per their MSDS does not include oil of any kind. It is an improved version of their standard spirit dye - even says that on their website. Why they called it Oil Dye I have no idea??? although many of us old timers did (and some still do) make our own real oil dye by adding some oil to the commercial dyes which does improve the absorbtion, but on the other hand can cause rub off problems if a good sealer is not used - as the oil dehydrates it "lifts" the dye pigment to the surface. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chazdillon Report post Posted May 22, 2011 The oil dye will leave a residue once dried. You need to buff it out before applying a finish or you make have problems with it sticking properly and will feel sticky. But I like it and the black is a more true black and the other may get a blueish hue after a while in the sun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
macimago Report post Posted February 24, 2015 Hi Everybody, Fiebings Prof Oil Dye, is basically spirit dye with oil added into it. Which makes it a great product for things like holsters, straps, case goods,,, where consistant color values are wanted. Regular spirit dyes work better in situations to where color variations are wanted,,, like tooled leaves & flowers. I hope this helps,,, Ed the"BearMan" Could I just add some oil to the spirit based dye to give it the pro qualities? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
