Finishing Up A Belt With...?

[chevyHD]

Alright so here's the deal ladies and gentleman, i am going to tool a belt for my brother. It will be basket weave with a border and his name on the back. I plan on dying it with a fiebings medium brown (not quite sure of the exact name, just ordered it from Tandy) so i have two questions: 1. Do i dye the belt first or after i tool it? 2. After i dye it with the fiebings, do i HAVE to finish it with a super sheen or something of the likes? Can i just put neatsfoot oil over it after the dye dries? Thanks in advance!

[TomG]

Alright so here's the deal ladies and gentleman, i am going to tool a belt for my brother. It will be basket weave with a border and his name on the back. I plan on dying it with a fiebings medium brown (not quite sure of the exact name, just ordered it from Tandy) so i have two questions: 1. Do i dye the belt first or after i tool it? 2. After i dye it with the fiebings, do i HAVE to finish it with a super sheen or something of the likes? Can i just put neatsfoot oil over it after the dye dries? Thanks in advance!

Case, Tool, then Dye.

I use SuperSheen and Resolene. A couple of very light coats. You can even dilute it 50/50 with water to make it thinner.

You'll probably get a dozen ideas for coating. I think it's all in what you have tried and prefer. They all seem to work to greater or lesser degrees.

Tom

[Bluesman]

Pretty much what TomG said. You can also, Case, Tool, Dye, Oil, Finish. The oil, Neatsfoot or EVOO will soften up the leather nicley. Then the finish of your choice. TomG has good recommendations. Remember to post pics when your done.

[chevyHD]

Thank's guys, i'l have to pick up some sort of finish as well as some oil. Any recommendations when it comes to the oil? Does any neatsfoot oil work?

[Scary Leatherworks]

Thank's guys, i'l have to pick up some sort of finish as well as some oil. Any recommendations when it comes to the oil? Does any neatsfoot oil work?

As with anything I think there are some differences with brands of neatsfoot oil. I just thought I'd trow this out there. Fiebings medium brown has a reddish tint to it

[TomG]

As with anything I think there are some differences with brands of neatsfoot oil. I just thought I'd trow this out there. Fiebings medium brown has a reddish tint to it

FIrst, I'm not a big user of NO, but have read a lot on it and am gonna relay the general tips I've read. I usually use Mink Oil Paste on the flesh side.

1) Use Pure NO.. Not the Prime NO Compound.

2) Use a LIGHT coat only.. A few folks I've read sday a single light coat on the flesh side.

3) I just went through a belt I put way too much NO on and the Resolene is flaking off.

Remember, you can always add stuff to leather. It's hard to impossible to go back.

Tom