How To Keep Things Clean When Dyeing Leather?

[HC009]

Hi,

I only opened a bottle of fieblings dye and poured some into another bottle and found hands and work surface covered in dye which I could then not wipe away easily - it seems to be impossible to get off. Does anyone have any tips for how to stay clean when mixing dyes etc. of course I will wear gloves next time.

Also does anyone know if there is a tool for punching the prongue bar hole on a belt buckle - I cut it out myself but it took ages - there must be an easier way?

Many thanks.

[dirtclod]

When i dye i keep a piece of cardboard box under what i'm dyeing and use it when i pour from one bottle to another. When the cardboard gets really messed up throw it away and get another piece.

[lightingale]

I've used a turkey baster (it's like an enormous eye dropper, and you can find them in dollar stores) to transfer dye from one bottle to another.

I tried pouring directly from bottle to bottle, and it was too messy to bother with again (even though I did it over a sink).

[veedub3]

I use plastic ink syringes. (like these)They are great because they have the numbers on the side which aids in accuracy when you are diluting your dye with denatured alcohol. I have a lot of them laying around my screen printing shop. They are actually for my Dye Sublimation inks and whenever I order ink they always send me some, but I found they work great here too. They help a lot because I make a mess when I pour dye into another container. I buy my rubber gloves from the dollar store and I always wear them because I always to seem to get dye every where. I also started wearing a apron because so many pair of my light colored garments have tiny dye spots all over them. The card board under the piece of leather, I do that also. I usually just reuse the boxes items are shipped to me in. If I am out I can always use a free postal shipping box. I airbrush my dye on so I will use my card board pieces many, many times before discarding. But if you get dye on your hands, use cold water to clean it off, I am told that hot water will set the dye and make it more difficult and stubborn to remove. Their is also a product I use in my screen printing shop for when I am tie dyeing shirts that helps it come off a bit quicker as well, it is called ReDuRan. I once had a tiny pin hole in one of my gloves and the tip of one finger was purple, this stuff cleaned it up. I did use a nail brush to get around the nails, but this stuff did get it all off.

Karina

[TomG]

Get a shallow plastic tray and use it under your bottles when working with the dyes. Fold a sheet or 2 of newspaper to put in the bottom of the tray to absorb spills.

I also use the syringes to transfer dyes for dilution. Go to your local pharmacy and look for 60ML ones. They are big and hold lots of dye. You will need one for each color you will work with. Some 18 gauge needles would be useful as well.

After use, store them in individual ziplock bags for next time.

As for the tongue slot, you are looking for an Oblong punch, also called a Bag punch. You can get them from most leather tool suppliers... Tandy, SLC, etc.

There was also a thread just posted about tools, jigs and so on that had a user show his homemade punches. He used conduit and from the pictures, they looked better than some of the commercially made ones.

[HC009]

Thanks for the tips that's an enormous help.

[Pablo27]

How about a used cookie sheet or sheet pan?

[Chief31794]

I keep my dying table covered with butcher paper, really inexpensive and when it gets bad, I wad it up and throw it away. I wear Nitrile Gloves when dying. stays pretty clean.

Chief

[Red Cent]

The dye will actually scrub off with a stiff brush. Ol' hot water and soap too.

[Cyberthrasher]

cover my bench in contractor's paper like Chief and by bulk gloves from Costco (best price I've found). If you spill on your hands, wash up immediately with alcohol.