What's Your Process

[TXJhawk]

I'm fairly new the leather work and learning on my own. I'm primarily making holsters and belts. For the belts I'm using two layers of 7-8 oz leaving the back side natural. I am having a few issues that I will list. Please give some suggestions that will help or give me the process you use.

1. My main issued is with the leather showing small cracks after dying and finishing. I have both rubbed and sprayed Fiebings dye and finish with Tan Coat or Resoline. What can I do to prevent the cracking? I have tried to add conditioner after dying but this seems to lift the dye, thus defeating the purpose of airbrushing and I still get the cracking. I have not purchased good leather yet and am using the best sides I can pick from Tandy.

2. When I try and contrast my stitching with the color I am staining, i dye first then stitch. Only bad part I am finding here is the marks left by the pressure foot and having the take these out from stained leather. Can I do this better?

Not sure if my questions are clear but I hope to get some feedback. Thanks.

[MG Halfpint]

  On 8/29/2012 at 11:12 PM, TXJhawk said:

I'm fairly new the leather work and learning on my own. I'm primarily making holsters and belts. For the belts I'm using two layers of 7-8 oz leaving the back side natural. I am having a few issues that I will list. Please give some suggestions that will help or give me the process you use.

1. My main issued is with the leather showing small cracks after dying and finishing. I have both rubbed and sprayed Fiebings dye and finish with Tan Coat or Resoline. What can I do to prevent the cracking? I have tried to add conditioner after dying but this seems to lift the dye, thus defeating the purpose of airbrushing and I still get the cracking. I have not purchased good leather yet and am using the best sides I can pick from Tandy.

2. When I try and contrast my stitching with the color I am staining, i dye first then stitch. Only bad part I am finding here is the marks left by the pressure foot and having the take these out from stained leather. Can I do this better?

Not sure if my questions are clear but I hope to get some feedback. Thanks.

For the dye issue- Fiebings is an alcohol base, so it can tend to dry leather during the dye process- I use Pure (no synthetics) Neatsfoot oil prior to the dye to prevent cracking; this seems to help-It has to be pure, the synthetics in the compound/prime neatsfoot oil will prevent even dyeing.