Thinning dyes

[DavidD]

I got a "light blue" dye from Tandy, I was informed it would still be very dark but it could be thinned. So I'm wondering how one goes about thinning an oil based dye. I have the Fiebings Leather Dye. Can I just use paint thinner or is it is more complicated than that? Thanks.

[singteck]

I just use spirit to thin both.

singteck

[ClayB]

They make a dye reducer, but I just use rubbing alcohol.

[DavidD]

Thanks. So do you just mix the rubbing alcohol/spirit with the die before applying it to the leather? And I read on the bottle that you're supposed to apply neatsfoot oil onto the leather first, is this necessary and can you use other oil types like cooking oil?

Edited July 10, 2008 by DavidD

[ClayB]

I take some dye and then mix in enough alcohol to make it the color I want (or as close as I can get). Some people oil the leather first some dont, depends on the project, or how you learned. Try both on scrap and see what you like. Some people also use extra virgin olive oil instead of neatsfoot oil. There are different schools of thought on that but the people that use it, like it. The best thing to do with most dyes and finishes is to try them on scrap and see what works for you, what doesn't and use what you like best.

[George]

I got a "light blue" dye from Tandy, I was informed it would still be very dark but it could be thinned. So I'm wondering how one goes about thinning an oil based dye. I have the Fiebings Leather Dye. Can I just use paint thinner or is it is more complicated than that? Thanks.

DavidD:

This is how I thin Fiebings spirit dyes:

Have on hand-

-a small funnel

-plastic soda straws

-a resealable bottle (I use a glass Jones soda bottle with a screw cap, but see caution)

-a gallon of denatured alcohol - I pick it up in the paint department of Home Depot or Lowe's

I try to do this outside or in a stainless steel sink. No telling what the dye might do to a porcelain sink. Stick the funnel in the empty soda bottle. Open the dye and stick in the straw. Put your finger over the end of the straw to "draw" out a portion of the dye into the straw. Move the straw loaded with dye over the funnel in the soda bottle and take your finger off. I do this 3 to 6 times depending on how dark I want the diluted dye. Overall I don't think I have any more than 1/4 to 1/2 an ounce of dye in the soda bottle. I find the straw method not as messy and a little more accurate than trying to pour dye out of the Fiebings bottles. I then pour the alcohol from the can into the funnel. The alcohol rinses the extra dye out of the funnel and into the bottle. I add alcohol into the bottle until it is about 1/3 to 1/2 full. It's a 12 oz soda bottle so half full should be about 6 oz. After replacing the screw cap on the soda bottle I label it with a piece of blue masking tape and a Sharpie pen as to what the color is. I use the same method when I mix two or more dye colors to make a third. Like red + blue to make purple.

When you use these diluted dyes on leather you have to add multiple applications to get the color you want. It's a little more time consuming, but it gives you better control.

Now the caution about storing dye and denatured alcohol in containers that used to contain food products. Posion control centers caution against doing this. If you have kids at home it's not a good idea. After all you end up with a soda bottle (I do take the labels off) that contains some bright colored liquid that a small child might want to try drinking. It's just my wife and I at home other than a number of cats so we don't have to worry.

[Reegesc]

@ George -- on the off chance you might get this despite the seven year gulf, just wanted to say THANK YOU!!!. That was an excellent answer to the question I had while searching on this topic.

[bondebond]

That's ok.  This is precisely the answer I was looking for oh so many years later.  You guys are the best.

[cowboycolonel]

As I posted a month or so ago -- I use Everclear.  It's cheaper than reducer and since it's durn near pure alcohol, works just fine.  Normal precautions apply.  Practice on a test strip first.  AND ... I you're going to drink it, please do so prior to adding the actual dye. 

[WoodysWorkshop]

What is this Everclear you speak of?

And where do you get it?

Is this the stuff you drink?

I bought a 1/2 pint of Everclear at the booze store a few weeks back to mix with diet Mt. Dew for pain. Worked great.

[alpha2]

I use these to transfer, and they're graduated, so easy to measure. CHEAP, like 7 or 8 bucks for 100.