Dyes Are Making Leather Too Stiff

[cosmosamson]

Hi. I use mostly 4-5 oz. Veg tan leather for my projects. Sometimes I skive it to thin it out, sometimes not depending on what I'm making. No matter the thickness though, it always seems to get stiff and kind of cardboard-y after applying the dye and letting it dry. I use Fiebings for most projects. Is this just something I have to deal with and it will soften with time/use? Or am I doing something wrong? Is there something I can soften it up with after the dye dries but before construction? Many thanks

[Effuse]

If you are using the Fiebing's spirit based dye's I found that they really dry out the leather and make them very stiff. I think its because as the dye dries it also wicks moisture away from the leather. I usually slightly dampen my leather before dyeing, And afterwards I use something like this on the leather after the dye has dryed to restore some softness to the leather.

[RavenAus]

I noticed the same recently with Cobblestone spirit-based dyes. I'm trialing a new leather balm for my leather supplier which is really working well. I would give you the name but they haven't printed the labels yet

To cut a long story short though, the spirit dyes really do need something to treat the leather with afterwards

[midwestislander]

I did notice that when the alcohol flashed off the Fiebings. so often I will use a light coat of neatsfoot or bee natural oil and let sit before dying. I also use fieblings carauba crème at the end of the project.

[TomG]

Yeah.. the alcohol strips out the oils of the leather.

Read through the posts here, and you'll find many ways to fix this. Lots of folks use a light coat of NFO before or after dying. Others use Carnuba, or RTC, for Bee Natural, or other products.

Personally, I use Atom Wax with Leather Balm on top and just before shipping, I rub in some thick mink oil paste to the back. Not too much or you can change the color of the item. These are mainly strap type products. But this makes most of them soft and flexible.

Take some dyed and dried straps to your local leather supplier and ask if you can try some of the products and buy what works best for you.

[cosmosamson]

Thanks so much you guys! This is good info and will be very helpful I'm sure

[cardinal leather]

I have had the same problems with the alcohol based dies. Iuse a light coat of mink oil on the died surface, 2 coats on the back then wet the strap where it bends for the snap on various straps. this works pretty well. however I do not know that mink oil is the best product. I am trying others as well. but so far thsi has worked well.