Why Does This Keep Happening !

[Anacott Steel]

Hi guys / gals. I am trying to pin point the reason that die will not take in certain areas. You can see from the attached that the die has trouble taking in a few places towards the edge. I'm talking about the marks that look like the leather was scratched post dying and the color has come off.

So I've tried :

1. Fiebings Die Prep - I originally assumed that it was my grubby fingers preventing the die from penetrating but I used the prep (and I've tried saddle soap as well in the past) - no joy.

2. I airbrush the die on - so thought maybe that was the problem - but even applying the die with a dauber over those areas didnt help

3. Various dies - EcoFlo, Fiebings (both spirit and oil based).

I can only assume that

1. I am damaging the leather somehow when cutting / sewing (as it seems always to occur towards the edge of my leather) or

2. that im still not getting the oils from my fingers off the leather even though I have washed the leather with prep/saddle soap.

As it doesnt occur in the middle of my projects im going to assume that the leather itself is ok quality.

sorry for the long post but if anyone else has had this problem (and better yet a solution !) I would love to know.

thanks folks.

[particle]

So you're saying you went back over those areas with a dauber and the dye still didn't take?

What kind of sewing machine are you using? Is it possible you're scratching it up when curling it to pass through the machine?

Does it look okay before you sew it?

[oldtimer]

It looks like scratches !

/ knut

[benlilly1]

This may be a stupid question but are you sure it's veg-tan leather? Also if you have used any contact cement around your work area I know that will stop dye penetration.

[Sylvia]

I have never EVER heard of cleaning the leather before dying with saddle soap... Fiebings has a dye prep cleaner that is basically water and sudsy ammonia and clear booze. You are supposed to clean the piece with it and dye immediately.

But I tend to agree with Benilly... that looks like glue or something that resists dye.

[Bluesman]

Fiebings has a dye prep cleaner that is basically water and sudsy ammonia and clear booze.

So, if I clean my leather with this stuff and have glass of ice near by I can drink it too? Who knew, who knew. Thanks for the tip

[Sylvia]

So, if I clean my leather with this stuff and have glass of ice near by I can drink it too? Who knew, who knew. Thanks for the tip

ha ha ha... NO.. ammonia is poisonous! But if you do make your own... a half gallon of Everclear, some sudsy ammonia and mostly water... you could have your dye prep... and plenty of Everclear booze to make cocktails with.

The ratio is something like 90% water, 6% everclear... the rest sudsy ammonia. The Safety sheet was pretty vague... and said "ammonia and proprietary soap" ummm yeah "sudsy ammonia" ha!

I paid $16 for a bottle of the stuff from Fiebings... heck I could have made my own! (I will be when this runs out actually)

[Bluesman]

I use everclear to make peppermint schnapps. Now another use. Cheers

[Anacott Steel]

Hey guys.

Yep i kinda layed it on thick with the dauber !

Hand sewn with wax thread. Im wondering if it's the wax causing the problem (me touching the thread and then holding the leather) - i tried sewing this project before i died it. (hey don't tut tut me I'm still experimenting / learning !).

Definitely veg-tan.

Ok Sylvia I was desperate ! And was happy to experiment with the soap - and I have read elsewhere that people have washed before dying. I used the die prep and apart from knocking me out from the toxic ammonia smell it didn't seem to help. Bluesman drink this and you will be feeling blue. Or is it green.

anyway I really appreciate your comments. Definitely something I'm doing wrong and it sounds like no one else is having this problem. Given I went for a dirty brown look, it actually doesn't look too bad in real life - its just that I want to be the one that decides whether the leather should have this "effect" !

Cheers and bless you all..

[Sylvia]

Hey guys.

Yep i kinda layed it on thick with the dauber !

Hand sewn with wax thread. Im wondering if it's the wax causing the problem (me touching the thread and then holding the leather) - i tried sewing this project before i died it. (hey don't tut tut me I'm still experimenting / learning !).

Definitely veg-tan.

Ok Sylvia I was desperate ! And was happy to experiment with the soap - and I have read elsewhere that people have washed before dying. I used the die prep and apart from knocking me out from the toxic ammonia smell it didn't seem to help. Bluesman drink this and you will be feeling blue. Or is it green.

anyway I really appreciate your comments. Definitely something I'm doing wrong and it sounds like no one else is having this problem. Given I went for a dirty brown look, it actually doesn't look too bad in real life - its just that I want to be the one that decides whether the leather should have this "effect" !

Cheers and bless you all..

It could have been the wax from the thread... I suppose. why don't you try running some waxed thread across a piece of undyed scrap... then try to dye it. See if it gives you the same issue. If it does then you'll know. Who knows you may have accidentally figured out a new way to create a cool affect.