Black Dye-White Haze

[SooperJake]

I dyed a couple holsters with Fiebing pro oil black and when it dried the leather has a white haze on both sides. I applied 3 successive coats with a dauber to get good coverage ( one after another) . Some neatsfoot does seem to reduce the haze but it would not buff off at all.

Any ideas as to what might cause this? I have also gotten a white haze using Tandy Eco Flo Pro black. Not the same hide.

Edited February 18, 2013 by SooperJake

[chancey77]

I have had this happen a couple of random times. I attributed it to the dye being bad. I tested it on several different scraps from different hides and all resulted in the same ...then I opened a new bottle and Whammo problem solved...I use Ethanol based dyes not eco flow ANYTHING! But Dyes do go bad..and some batches of dye are not done properly as well. I think this could happen for several reasons, but shipping, storage temps, and leaving the container open while you do brush and dauber work instead of pouring small batches in jars will also do it. I have adopted a small jar for every color I use and recycle the glass jars I use from food stuff and seal those jars with Plastic wrap when I am not using them to ensure a seal.

I did a seat that this happened with and had to go buy some new black dye, problem solved. No matter how much Neatsfoot or Any other oil I have did anything except dull the white haze...New Black dye did it right immediately.

Good luck:)

[Cyberthrasher]

No matter how much Neatsfoot or Any other oil I have did anything except dull the white haze...New Black dye did it right immediately.

Good luck:)

Do you think it's a lack of pigmentation? The only thing that should really be evaporating is the base (alcohol in the case of Fiebings Pro), so you should be able to add some to it to bring it back to life. I've never had that exact problem though, so I'm just guessing.

[chancey77]

I am no chemist I am guessing that it would be the alcohol but in my case it is Ethanol...

[SooperJake]

Further experimentation revealed it to be the leather, not the dye.

I took scrap from 4 different hides : WC chestnut drum dyed, Hermann Oak, Tandy Royal, and Springfield's Mexico tanned #1 double shoulder. I set them side by side and dyed them one after the other.

Two of the four turned white and two didn't.

Hermann Oak and Wickett & Craig took the dye with no hazing.

The Tandy and the SLC Mexico turned white as fast as the solvent from the dye evaporated.

I think I know why the Eco Flo turned white now, too. I must have used the SLC leather on that belt.

By the way, I tiny amount of neetsfoot, applied once the dye is dry, took away the white. I'll check tomorrow, after the oil fully disperses, to see if the white stays gone.

Jake

Edited February 19, 2013 by SooperJake

[Cyberthrasher]

I am no chemist I am guessing that it would be the alcohol but in my case it is Ethanol...

We don't need you to be a chemist - just keep doing what you do!!

[lowlife]

I had this happen to me just the other day on a piece of leather that I got in a machine deal. All the leather I had normally been using worked fine but I need to make a set of spurs straps so I decided to use the deal leather and after it dried it did the same thing I took some scrap that I had and then dyied it and it worked fine so my coclusion was the leather I hope Im right

Kehl

[chevvy64]

Not sure if this is the same problem, but after dying (also black) I had some patches of a white crystal type substance that caused a haze on the surface. The crystal were very tiny, almost powdery, but it had a sort of sparkle you could plainly make out, if the item was tilted and it caught the crystal substance in the light.

Turned out it was salts from the leather; and a good buffing took them off with no detrimental after-effects that I can see.

[Destrier]

I just had this happen to me - I think at least in my case it was a conditioner I had used on the leather before dyeing it. I had two pieces cut right side-by-side from the same piece of leather and one turned hazy and one didn't, and the only difference I can think of was the conditioner. Just a theory

[footrat]

This is happening with everything I cut from a side of Tandy heavy saddle skirting. I also use Fiebing's Oil dyes. I've concluded that it's kind of like when your skin gets dry and ashy. A little neatsfoot oil clears it up. If you dye really heavily, like I do, it might take a lot of neatsfoot oil. Since I dye black and dark brown, heavy coats of neatsfoot aren't a problem. That, and my products get used in very hot, dry conditions, so extra oil is a plus. I finish with two heavy coats of Aussie Leather Conditioner to hold it in and waterproof it.

[Cyberthrasher]

A little neatsfoot oil clears it up. If you dye really heavily, like I do, it might take a lot of neatsfoot oil. Since I dye black and dark brown, heavy coats of neatsfoot aren't a problem. That, and my products get used in very hot, dry conditions, so extra oil is a plus. I finish with two heavy coats of Aussie Leather Conditioner to hold it in and waterproof it.

I had actually never had this problem before - then this topic comes up and all of a sudden it happens!!! At first I thought it was because I was at the bottom of the bottle. So, I opened the new bottle of black and got the same thing. No clue why all of a sudden since it's a good side of leather that's never done it before. But, I added some oil over the top and it all went away

[mumbles]

Hello leather workers, I'm really new to leather. I did watch this video from Springfield leather last night it talked @ "hazing" and white blotches. I do believe this is dead on for this topic.

Until next time, Mumbles

Edited March 8, 2013 by mumbles