What Applicators Do You Like To Use To Dye?

[Pennypower]

I was wondering what your favorite applicators are for applying dye to edges and also dying leather. I'm making belts, and I've tried many different things but still haven't found a favorite. I'm going to the store tonight to get some make up applicator sponges to try.

[Cyberthrasher]

Depends on what I'm doing. If it's a solid color belt with lots of tooling, I either sponge it all on or airbrush. If it's multi-color, I may hand brush (3, 5, and 0/10 are my favorite sizes), or mask with liquid latex and airbrush. Other times, if I'm going for a solid color with natural color in the tooling, I use a blue Scott shop towel and wipe it on with my hand. For edges, I ALWAYS us a foam sponge brush after sanding my edge so that it doesn't soak the dye in.

[electrathon]

I usually dip dye, far better penetration and evenness. If I am just doing the surface I use a piece of sheep wool. Trim it to about 3/8". I do not ever edge dye a differant color.

[Dwight]

Uhh, . . . 9 x 14 aluminum baking pan works real well.

Pour the dye into the pan, . . . drag the item through the dye, . . . hang it up to dry, . . . pour whatever is left back into the bottle, . . .

I gave up on sponges, brushes, applicators, etc, . . . mainly because I am a bit picky. If I am dyeing something, . . . I want the color to be uniform and predictable. Other than my baking pan, . . . an air brush was all I ever found that would do those two things, . . . and my ability to use it is pretty limited right now, . . . so I dip it.

One caution on dipping, though, . . . if you are doing a belt, . . . lay out enough newspapers that you can lay the belt on one edge for the first 1/2 hour of the drying process. If you don't, . . . sometimes, . . . the dye will drift to the bottom end of a belt hung vertically right after dyeing.

You wind up with a dark end and a lighter end, . . . UGH !

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited April 6, 2013 by Dwight

[DoubleC]

My edges are dyed the same color as the project. I use a sponge in a circular motion and make sure I get the edges by holding it sideways and running the sponge down it and rubbing the excess into the color of the project. I burnish later to make it darker and slick. Cheryl

For vinegaroon I dip it or run it through a plastic dish pan to dye it. It always seem to come out the best. I think dwight is probably on to something!!!!

[billymac814]

For the edges I use pieces of thick felt about 3/8" thick, I cut it in small rectangles and hold it in a small clamp. I use this felt for my ankle holsters so I always have plenty of scraps for this, it works like a large felt tip market basically and makes a nice crisp line.

Belts ill either dip dye or use a foam brush to apply. I use the foam brushes for applying the finish as well. They work good and they are cheap.

[Pennypower]

When you say "foam brush", are you referring to these?....

http://springfieldleather.com/store/search.asp

I just got some of these in the mail and they're very flimsy with dye soaked in. It seems like they are discintegrating and falling apart. Are there better ones I can use?

[Pennypower]

How would you achieve this look?

Edited April 7, 2013 by Pennypower

[billymac814]

The foam brushes I get are from Jo Ann fabrics or michaels, they have the wood handle on them. I've gotten some with a red plastic handle from Hobby lobby and they weren't as good. If you use them long enough they will fall apart but not that quickly.

The easiest way to get that look is with an airbrush, it takes almost no skill to do that, you can also do it by dry brushing it but that takes more skill to master the effect and it takes longer. I'd dye the whole thing saddle tan and airbrush mahogany around the edge and fade it out to nothing in the center, that should be pretty close to that color.

[Dwight]

How would you achieve this look?

If I were attempting that, . . . air brush is the only thing I would think of. I'm not really good with it, . . . and there are some folks on this site who do some fantastic stuff, . . . especially holsters, . . .

May God bless,

Dwight