Proper Dyeing.. Help?

[DoubleC]

I use all water based so I haven't had to worry about that. But I put mine on with a sponge straight down the strap. And that's why I'm not getting good results. Just need to think of this like rolling paint, LOL. I don't know about denatured, pharmacies only sell the iso?

OH JEEZE Glendon, that just gave me an idea. I have those small sponge type rollers, so I may try one of those with light coats on the next project.

[Glendon]

Those smaller trim rollers? That's an idea to try.

As far as alcohols go, denatured alcohol is ethyl (drinking alcohol) with poisons added to make it unsafe for humans. You can't use it as an antiseptic, and you can't use it to clean. So it's useless as anything except a fuel or chemical thinner. So you won't find it in drug stores. Paint stores, hardware stores, outdoor suppliers, those kinds of places is where you can find it. I grew up in a more rural area where a lot of places do carry it, but in the middle of a bigger city, its just easier to go into any drug store and get rubbing alcohol.

[Northmount]

An additional piece of info, denatured alcohol is dry, no oils added. Rubbing alcohol has oils added. So for leather, the bit of oil shouldn't be a problem since we need to add some back after dying. For some other applications, oil is a problem so they say to use denatured alcohol.

Methal hydrate can be used too. From Wikipedia Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a chemical with the formula CH₃OH (often abbreviated MeOH). It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor very similar to, but slightly sweeter than, ethanol (drinking alcohol).^[4] At room temperature, it is a polar liquid, and is used as an antifreeze, solvent, fuel, and as a denaturant for ethanol.

Also from wikipedia Denatured alcohol or methylated spirits is ethanol that has additives to make it undrinkable (poisonous), to prevent human consumption. In some cases it is also dyed.

Denatured alcohol is used as a solvent and as fuel for spirit burners and camping stoves. Because of the diversity of industrial uses for denatured alcohol, hundreds of additives and denaturing methods have been used. The main additive has traditionally been 10% methanol, giving rise to the term "methylated spirit." Other typical additives include isopropyl alcohol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone,methyl isobutyl ketone, and denatonium.^[1]

CTG

[Chief31794]

Denatured alcohol is carried at Walmart, Kmart, Lowes, Home Depot, local hardware stores, it is in the painting section where you would find paint thinner, etc.

Ken

[BevJones]

Airbrush is best for large pieces, otherwise I like Fiebings oil dyes and use a trimmed pad of sheeps wool. I alsways get streaks and blotches when I use daubers.