How Important Is "deglazing" After Handling Leather Before Dyeing

[jeremyqmartin]

Is it critical to use a "deglazer" on leather before I begin dying/finishing if I've handled it a lot with my bare hands?

If I don't, will it cause inconsistencies in the final appearance or something?

Edited May 28, 2013 by jeremyqmartin

[Cyberthrasher]

Yes, if your hands are dirty/oily you'll see lots of problems. I don't deglaze my stuff at all. I do, however, religiously wash my hands with dish soap before handling customer leather.

[jeremyqmartin]

Then I'm already in trouble, as my hands have been all over my hide piece

Would saddle soap work? I have some of that, or would it be good to get something like Fiebing's Deglazer or Dye Prep?

[Cyberthrasher]

Use some denatured alcohol and wipe it down once you cut your piece off. As long as your hands weren't oily when you messed with the hide you should be fine. I get a pretty oily face and tend to wipe at it a lot, leaving my hands pretty oily at times. So that's why I wash them quite a bit.

[jeremyqmartin]

Thanks, but I live in CA so I think the "denatured" is a no go. Would isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol be safe?

[Cyberthrasher]

might not be as strong, but it's worth a shot. I use it for thinning all my dyes when you're technically supposed to use denatured, so why not try another use?

Fiebing's Deglazer is "basically" denatured alcohol

Just did some brief research and it looks like it should be easily available in California. Just go to the hardware store in the paint section. I get mine at WalMart because I'm cheap and never remember until we're there.

Edited May 28, 2013 by Cyberthrasher

[jeremyqmartin]

Thanks!

[Bob Blea]

Just a question on this subject: I think I was told that using denatured alcohol prior to carving leather made the leather surface harder and made using a swivel knife harder because it is difficult to cut. Is that true, or am I thinking of oxalic acid that does this?

thanks,

Bob

[Cyberthrasher]

Just a question on this subject: I think I was told that using denatured alcohol prior to carving leather made the leather surface harder and made using a swivel knife harder because it is difficult to cut. Is that true, or am I thinking of oxalic acid that does this?

thanks,

Bob

Not sure. I know most people deglaze after tooling and before dying since that's when your hands transfer the most crud to the leather. I can see where the alcohol might do that if applied heavily though.

[lightingale]

I've never had to deglaze, and I haven't had issues with dying. I don't have greasy hands and I wash them often though, which might be why. If I had to deglaze, I'd use rubbing alcohol from the pharmacy.

I bought Fiebings deglazer once to fix up dying mistakes, and it smelled just like nail polish remover.