Can't Find A Good Tan

[mlapaglia]

I am looking for a Tan die/stain. One that is tan and not brown with a red cast Feibings dye British Tan and Tan. Not Brown with a Yellow tine, Eco-flo dye Range Tan. Not a brown that would be a nice tan if it was lighter, Eco-flo professional stain Tan.

I have not tried Saddle Tan but it looks too dark to me. I can get an acceptable tan color with a single pass of a sponge filled with Range tan but have to watch the edges of the pass as they get too dark if you go over them twice. I took Feibings Tan and cut it 1:1 with alcohol and it wasnt too bad but had a slight yellow look to it. I was able to fix most of the yellow issue with a rubbing the leather down with a sponge and denatured alcohol but it was a lot of work.

Should I give up until I get an air brush? Is there a way to get a simple tan color by hand? The picture is an example of what I am looking for. Id even settle for a little darker if there was no red tint.

I hope this is a problem with my learning and a lack of understanding. Id hate to find out it cant be done without an airbrush.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Michael

[busted]

I am looking for a Tan die/stain. One that is tan and not brown with a red cast Feibings dye British Tan and Tan. Not Brown with a Yellow tine, Eco-flo dye Range Tan. Not a brown that would be a nice tan if it was lighter, Eco-flo professional stain Tan.

I have not tried Saddle Tan but it looks too dark to me. I can get an acceptable tan color with a single pass of a sponge filled with Range tan but have to watch the edges of the pass as they get too dark if you go over them twice. I took Feibings Tan and cut it 1:1 with alcohol and it wasnt too bad but had a slight yellow look to it. I was able to fix most of the yellow issue with a rubbing the leather down with a sponge and denatured alcohol but it was a lot of work.

Should I give up until I get an air brush? Is there a way to get a simple tan color by hand? The picture is an example of what I am looking for. Id even settle for a little darker if there was no red tint.

I hope this is a problem with my learning and a lack of understanding. Id hate to find out it cant be done without an airbrush.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Michael

You need to change the type of material you are making the project out of. Find a natural finish leather. This should solve your problem.

[katsass]

I am looking for a Tan die/stain. One that is tan and not brown with a red cast Feibings dye British Tan and Tan. Not Brown with a Yellow tine, Eco-flo dye Range Tan. Not a brown that would be a nice tan if it was lighter, Eco-flo professional stain Tan.

I have not tried Saddle Tan but it looks too dark to me. I can get an acceptable tan color with a single pass of a sponge filled with Range tan but have to watch the edges of the pass as they get too dark if you go over them twice. I took Feibings Tan and cut it 1:1 with alcohol and it wasnt too bad but had a slight yellow look to it. I was able to fix most of the yellow issue with a rubbing the leather down with a sponge and denatured alcohol but it was a lot of work.

Should I give up until I get an air brush? Is there a way to get a simple tan color by hand? The picture is an example of what I am looking for. Id even settle for a little darker if there was no red tint.

I hope this is a problem with my learning and a lack of understanding. Id hate to find out it cant be done without an airbrush.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Michael

The leather you are showing looks like just nice clean veg tanned with a finish on it ..... maybe just a touch of oil, but if so, not much, but no dye at all, something like this little holster. Mike

Edited October 26, 2011 by katsass

[Wheels]

I am looking for a Tan die/stain. One that is tan and not brown with a red cast Feibings dye British Tan and Tan. Not Brown with a Yellow tine, Eco-flo dye Range Tan. Not a brown that would be a nice tan if it was lighter, Eco-flo professional stain Tan.

I have not tried Saddle Tan but it looks too dark to me. I can get an acceptable tan color with a single pass of a sponge filled with Range tan but have to watch the edges of the pass as they get too dark if you go over them twice. I took Feibings Tan and cut it 1:1 with alcohol and it wasnt too bad but had a slight yellow look to it. I was able to fix most of the yellow issue with a rubbing the leather down with a sponge and denatured alcohol but it was a lot of work.

Should I give up until I get an air brush? Is there a way to get a simple tan color by hand? The picture is an example of what I am looking for. Id even settle for a little darker if there was no red tint.

I hope this is a problem with my learning and a lack of understanding. Id hate to find out it cant be done without an airbrush.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Michael

I was able to get a color close to that with eco-flo saddle tan Hi-Lite Color Stain. It is a little more transparent than the other eco-flo products I have used, it finishes with a lighter color than saddle tan gel or range tan dye. The Coloring with Eco-flo book from Tandy says you can thin it with water or mix it with other colors. I applied it with a fine cosmetic sponge slightly damp. It has a nice even color but I don't think it is as rich as the color in the pic you attached.

Edited October 28, 2011 by Wheels

[Scary Leatherworks]

I agree with Busted. I think your example looks like an oiled piece of vegtan. I do have Fiebings "buckskin" I got from springfield leather that is a light tan color.

[RidersChoiceSaddleCo]

We get that color with our golden tanned saddle skirting by laying it out in the hot sun for 4-8 hours. Of course now in the winter you may need to use the tanning bed like I have done several times. Just watch out for the wife's right hook!

[mlapaglia]

Thanks everyone. I tried some lightly oiled Veg-tan and it was pretty close. With a little sun it should work. The other thing that seems to work is the Briar Brown Stain from Eco-Flo. But on some leather it gets splotchy. Ill have to try the buckskin one.

Thanks

Michael

[frmntx]

I am looking for a Tan die/stain. One that is tan and not brown with a red cast Feibings dye British Tan and Tan. Not Brown with a Yellow tine, Eco-flo dye Range Tan. Not a brown that would be a nice tan if it was lighter, Eco-flo professional stain Tan.

I have not tried Saddle Tan but it looks too dark to me. I can get an acceptable tan color with a single pass of a sponge filled with Range tan but have to watch the edges of the pass as they get too dark if you go over them twice. I took Feibings Tan and cut it 1:1 with alcohol and it wasnt too bad but had a slight yellow look to it. I was able to fix most of the yellow issue with a rubbing the leather down with a sponge and denatured alcohol but it was a lot of work.

Should I give up until I get an air brush? Is there a way to get a simple tan color by hand? The picture is an example of what I am looking for. Id even settle for a little darker if there was no red tint.

I hope this is a problem with my learning and a lack of understanding. Id hate to find out it cant be done without an airbrush.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Michael

It is trial and error, but it is also the easiest way to get a good "light" tan or brown, depending. Leave the hide you are going to use in the sun, short periods of time intervals, put a sealer on it when it get the color you want it. The UV will darken it to a color I have not yet found in any bottles.

[particle]

I agree with the others that said it's just a natural piece of Veg Tan leather. Note that you'll get slightly different results, depending on the brand of leather you're using.

This is Herman Oak with neetsfoot oil and clear finish.

This is Wickett & Craig with neetsoot and a clear finish.

Herman Oak has a warmer tint straight from the tannery, so it will get you that color you're after. Wickett & Craig will need additional work to get that color, like the sun tan, etc.

Also, Wickett & Craig sells a pre-dyed "Russet" skirting leather. It looks very close to what you're after IMHO.

Edited November 17, 2011 by particle

[mlapaglia]

It is trial and error, but it is also the easiest way to get a good "light" tan or brown, depending. Leave the hide you are going to use in the sun, short periods of time intervals, put a sealer on it when it get the color you want it. The UV will darken it to a color I have not yet found in any bottles.

Thanks Ill give that a try when the sun comes back to Denver.

I agree with the others that said it's just a natural piece of Veg Tan leather. Note that you'll get slightly different results, depending on the brand of leather you're using.

This is Herman Oak with neetsfoot oil and clear finish.

This is Wickett & Craig with neetsoot and a clear finish.

Herman Oak has a warmer tint straight from the tannery, so it will get you that color you're after. Wickett & Craig will need additional work to get that color, like the sun tan, etc.

Also, Wickett & Craig sells a pre-dyed "Russet" skirting leather. It looks very close to what you're after IMHO.

I have H&O right now. I have to say that the natural color of Wickett & Craig is way too white for me but the russet looks pretty good. I need to get some neets foot oil. I have olive oil and Lexol but no neets foot yet. Thanks for the pictures

Michael

[MADMAX22]

Ive been using wickett and craig lately just because I think its great leather and I can get it two or three sides at a time. I love herman oak as well but both are great IMHO.

These are wickett and craig. The belt is all natural style. It is oiled, coated with a beeswax and oil mix I have then it was put out in the sun for the afternoon. The burnishing is just moistened then bees wax and saddle soap.

The rifle sling is same leather using feibings pro saddle tan, then a coat of oil, then the beeswax mix and I think that is probably it, may have a clearlac finish but cant remember. Anyways hope this helps. The saddle tan works pretty darn good. It comes out pretty light. I usually cut all my pro dyes in half roughly with denatured alcohol. Then I just apply more coats as necessary to get the correct color I am looking for.