Light Brown Come Out Too Dark

[LeatherWerks]

I've been trying to dye some belts what I call light brown. I'm using Fiebings Light Brown dye but the color comes out way too dark, almost dark brown. Should I be thinning the dye or something? If that's the case, what would I use as a thinner.

Thanks,

Steve

[RiverCity]

Yep, thin it. They make a reducer, but you can use denatured alcohol, or even drug store isopropyl alcohol. Play around on some scrap. You can start at like 1 part dye to 1 part alcohol. If its still too dark go 2-1 alcohol etc until its where you want it.

It's better to start lighter and add color till you hit the shade you want, as removing dye color is tough if not impossible sometimes.

Chuck

[benlilly1]

If you really want to have control of the color an airbrush is an excellent choice. I've had the same problems with applying dye the conventional way. Having an airbrush is a plus!

[LeatherWerks]

I use to have an airbrush until I tried to shoot resolene through it. Now it don't work so well.

Steve

[Cyberthrasher]

I use to have an airbrush until I tried to shoot resolene through it. Now it don't work so well.

Steve

Just need to tear it down and CLEAN. I love spraying Resolene, but I have a cheap airbrush that's set aside just for that purpose due to how bad it can gunk up. Get your parts diagram, tear it down completely, and just start scrubbing. Here's a pretty good walk through on it. Those little tooth cleaners are pretty cool for airbrush cleaning

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2005/03/stuff_eng_tech_airbrush_cleaning_2.htm

[TomG]

I've been trying to dye some belts what I call light brown. I'm using Fiebings Light Brown dye but the color comes out way too dark, almost dark brown. Should I be thinning the dye or something? If that's the case, what would I use as a thinner.

Like Rivercity said - Thin the hell out of it. This is true with almost ALL Fiebings dyes. Use small containers that you can close up tight.

I usually start with 75% alcohol to 25% dye. Take a strip of leather, write the dilution down on the back and dye that short section. If it's too light, add some dye. Write on the back - test dye. Be sure to let it dry well before deciding how the color looks. Be sure to use a fresh applicator for each test. And as always, the particular piece of leather will determine the exact final color.

You can use a syringe to make the small batches to test.

I've even taken medium brown, broken it up into 3 or 4 bottles of various strengths and just made my own "true" colors. I get light brown, medium brown and dark brown at the very least.

Goodluck

[eglideride]

This topic is worth the price of admission right here! Never thought of reducing/ thinning.... MAKING the colors I WANT instead of trying BUY the color I think I want.

Duh! Awesome tips. Thanks to all of you!

[LeatherWerks]

Okay, thanks for all the suggestions, I'll see what I can come up with.

Steve