How To Achieve This Dyeing Technique?

[IngleGunLeather]

Go to Springfield Leather's video page (http://springfieldle...-Helpful-Hints/) and look for the one called staining leather. He shows you how he gets that look.

Checked out the vid. Not bad. What is the "X1" liquid he talks about? Didn't see it listed on the site.

[JLSleather]

CT --

The X-1 is a 'medium" brown leather stain, used to be put out by Drake's. Strange that they would use it in a video, but I don't see it listed on their site for sale??

[GlenH]

They call it Goof Proof on their site. It's at the bottom of their stains page: http://springfieldleather.com/category//123/Stains/

[billymac814]

I do a finish similar to that, I first dye the piece with Fiebings pro oil saddle tan, I either dip it or brush that on then use the pro mahogany and airbrush the edges, you can control the amount of color pretty easy that way and gradually go from dark to light. The dry blocking or dry /brushing method works well too but be advised that takes much more skill and practice than an airbrush, I've messed around with it a few times and was successful but it took me a lot longer with not too much benefit over the airbrush so I don't nether too much anymore. I use a two stage airbrush for that, I have much more control with that than I do with a single stage although it can easily be done with one of those as well. I use harbor freight versions and its held up well and I really don't take good care of it. I use the single stage to apply finish sometimes and that you have to clean out better than the dyes or it'll gum up.

After looking at it again that looks a bit more Brown than mahogany, mine turn out a little different shade wise but about the same effect. I usually go with a little more subtle transition but you can do it however you'd like with the airbrush or other methods.

[veedub3]

Thank you all for sharing and I have tried quite a few different techniques except the airbrushing technique and my skills suck big time. Everything I did looked like caca! (LOL) Too ashamed to even post the pics (ha,ha,ha,) I did pick up an airbrush kit but I was hesitant to use it in my shop around the other shop equipment. I am thinking I may need to build a booth of some sort to contain it, or go outside which I am not too keen on.(It's cold out) I did learn one thing though.....wear a mask!! I breathed so much contact cement and dye while tinkering yesterday I still have a slight headache. That won't happen again.

I checked out the Springfield video mentioned above and I have some of that goof proof on the way as well as some leather because I am almost convinced this leather I got from Tandy is part of the problem. I am super new to leather working but I am sure leather is not supposed to be this rough and discolored. It feels like if I bend it too much it will snap in two.

Again thank you all for your help and I hope to post a pic of the project soon (X'd fingers)

Karina

[billymac814]

Karina,

The airbrush method is MUCH easier than the other ways. A spray booth will help greatly with the fumes. There's another thread recently where we discussed this, i got lucky and found a spray booth at an auction for i think 5 bucks and someone else told how they made one for about 10 bucks. Maybe someone can post a link, I'm on my phone and can't easily do it.

Actually I can do it easily.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=44481&view=getnewpost

Edited December 29, 2012 by billymac814

[veedub3]

Thanks BillyMac. I found a spray booth on Ebay for $30 that has a fan & vent hose that vents to the outside so once it arrives I will give it a try. I have been watching tons of videos on airbrushing and I am thinking it will be much easier to achieve the look I am after as well.

Thanks again,

Karina

[TapTapTap]

Hi Veedub3, you have indeed stumbled across a technique that was very popular in the 60's and 70's. Tandy called it the "Nature Tanned" dyeing technique. They published a couple of books on the subject - "Ideas for Leather Belts you can make" 1973 and "Ideas for Leather Projects" 1974. These two books may be available from TLF where they are reprinting the old books and doodle pages. There were various techniques to get the "two-tone" effect such as spraying, using wool daubers or the lint free cloth wrapped around a wood block. The method I used at the time (1962) was to complete all stamping, clean up with oxalic acid, when dry apply background colour with block of wood wrapped in cloth and dipped in the dye (in the flower-power days either yellow or green). When dry, the top coat was applied with cloth wrapped around the block. More coats on the edges and faded into the centre. If you wanted a multi-coloured pattern you used Cova Dyes with a fine brush to highlight certain areas. This was a trip down memory lane - hope it helped in some way.

regards, TapTapTap

[johnatl]

Karina, if you do go to Harbor Frieght, be sure to get the "two stage" air brush. The single stage is not what will give you the effect you want. The two stage will allow you to "feather" in the edges and vary the spray amount. I just tried this recently and after a few practice pieces. its fun actually.. OH be sure you have some kind of ventalation. the fumes of the oil dye get heavy. (cough cough... )

[JLSleather]

This is the 'sunburst' effect made popular by Gibson guitars - about 60-65 years ago. Quite easy to do, which is no doubt why it's been done to no end.