How To Dye Veg Tan Brown?

[Eric Goodwin]

Okay I know this is a very newb question but I am wondering how to dye veg tan brown the whole way through, so that even the suede side gets a little colour to it. The suede side doesn't have to be as dark, just not the basic veg tan colour.

Thanks!

[radar67]

You dye both sides. I don't know of a brown dye that will penetrate completely through the leather.

[electrathon]

Fiebings dye. Dip the whole piece in a pan with dye in it. Take it out and pat it dry with a towell.

Aaron

[amuckart]

Oil it lightly and leave it in the sun.

[Eric Goodwin]

Thanks for your help! I want a pretty dark brown will submerging the whole piece of leather make it very stiff? and what would I have to do to seal the whole piece of leather from the elements?

Thanks!

[electrathon]

Thanks for your help! I want a pretty dark brown will submerging the whole piece of leather make it very stiff? and what would I have to do to seal the whole piece of leather from the elements?

Thanks!

It will be a little more stiff after you dye it. Oil it after it dries, that will help some. It will be no more or less protected after you dye it. You can use any number of products to seal it up. On non-tooled items I like to use Dr Jacksons.

Aaron

[HellfireJack]

I read some where on this forum that you can turn leather brown through and through by dipping it in baking soda mixed in water. Just like vinegaroon, which turns leather black, it works via a chemical reaction with the tannins in the leather rather than trying to force pigments into the fibers of the leather as you do with a dye or bonding pigment to the surface like a stain or paint, Also like vinegaroon the longer it's in contact the darker it gets.

I tested it and it does appear to work. I used a light colored piece of 3/4oz veg tan scrap. I didn't measure anything I just grabbed a bowl and dumped in some baking soda and filled it half way with water and stirred it up.

The picture is horrible and doesn't really do it justice. I just wanted to show the contrast from before and after. I would say it's just a shade off from chocolate brown. I cut it in half after and it does indeed go completely through. I think this and a coat of oil would make it pretty much dark brown. It's still a little damp. almost to the carving stage. I'll check it in the morning when it's fully dry and see if anything changes.

You might want to experiment similarly.

The only caveat I can think of with using this is that you probably want to make sure to rinse it off well when it reaches the shade you want, especially if you're making a holster or sheath or something. I have no idea what baking soda would do to metal over time.

[HellfireJack]

I checked my test piece this morning and it is now a very dark brown. It was stiffer than regular leather but not something a little oiling wont fix. It smelled of baking soda still so I finally gave it a thorough rinsing under the tap. I'll oil it up and take another picture of it when I get home tonight.

[Colt Hammerless]

I hadn't heard of this before HellfireJack. That's really interesting! How long would you say you submerged the piece for?

Colt Hammerless

[HellfireJack]

I would say less than 30 seconds. I also stirred it around in the undissolved baking soda. I didn't rinse it off until this morning though so technically it was reacting for hours.