Black Dyes, Are Any Permanant?

[mrsocks]

I have been covering motorcycle seats in leather for about a year now and have run into a problem with one skin (at least I hope it is just one skin)! After 3 or 4 weeks the black color disappeared. A seat I did just began turning brown until it looked quite "distressed" and would have made an excellent example had the customer wanted distressed leather. I had been buying my leather through Tandy's, both deer tanned and chrome tanned. This happened on some deer tanned.

Anyway...

Fiebings water based dye didn't last, the vinegaroon solution lasted only another 4 weeks, and I am trying Fiebings "oil" based dye presently. Are there any "permanent" black dyes out there or any chemical that could be used as a catalyst to help the dye set more or less permanently? I want to try this before admitting defeat and totally redoing at least one seat that I know of.

Needless to say I now buy my leather from reputable automotive trim supply outfits (and at comparable prices).

Thanks to all for any help!

Socks

[RiverCity]

Dip dye and let it soak through. It won't get the worn/brown look. But you had better oil the heck out of it, and seal it extremely well after it is dry. Spirit dye is fine, USMC black or the like. Just noticed you said chrome tan. Won't work except on veg tan.

Chuck

Edited December 11, 2013 by RiverCity

[mrsocks]

What would be a good sealer? I am already an oiling- conditioning nut!

Socks

[Dwight]

I use Resolene on just about everything I do, . . . have never had a customer complain about dye disappearing.

I generally thin my dye somewhat (one is a 50/50 dye/thinner ) and for BLACK, blacks, . . . I use USMC black. You WILL have to rub it hard and long to get rid of the extra pigment, . . . but it is the best black dye I have ever used.

The water base dyes just do not work for me, . . .

I've had some biker friends over the years, . . . and most of them were of the bodily size that would wear the finish off a marble slab, . . . and then some would complain about it. I simply refuse to do work for those guys.

Another angle you may look at: buy only pre-dyed leather. I have some drum dyed black leather I bought a couple years ago, . . . it is black, through and through. I've never cut a piece of it and found any of it where the dye did not fully penetrate. It's harder to work, . . . and I did not have any of it rub off on anything.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited December 11, 2013 by Dwight

[Chain]

Hi all

I am a bit new to all this.

I have a couple of questions about Vinegaroon.

1. Can it be used over already dyed leather.

2. After the leather has had Vinegaroon applied can it have areas dyed or painted

[Cyberthrasher]

Hi all

I am a bit new to all this.

I have a couple of questions about Vinegaroon.

1. Can it be used over already dyed leather.

2. After the leather has had Vinegaroon applied can it have areas dyed or painted

Vinegaroon soaks through the leather and chemically changes the color to black. So, there's really no dying it after that - it's black and you're done. You can Paint anything over the top of it though since paint merely sits on top of the leather and doesn't change the color.

[Chain]

Good thanks for your answer

[ChuckBurrows]

I have a couple of questions about Vinegaroon.

1. Can it be used over already dyed leather.

Generally yes but again it only works on veg/bark tan leather

[OdinUK]

Iron Sulphate crystals dissolved in water turns veg tan leather black permenantly but I have not tried it yet. When I do ill post pictures of the results.