Water Forming...before Or After Dying?

[l2bravo]

I am making a pouch. I am going to use black oil tanned, and a 6/7 oz. veg tanned front. I am going to tool the front as well.

The question I have is; I really need to sew it, and then water form. Can I still water form after dying, but obviously before oiling it? I really don't want to have to try and dye it when it's put together. The order of this has me wondering.

Thanks for the help guys, Josh

Edited July 14, 2015 by l2bravo

[electrathon]

If it is black you will not be able to dye it a different color. Do you mean that you are going to paint an image on it? If so you will be better off to do the image after you form it. You will loose and distort the tooling during the stretching and forming process.

[l2bravo]

No I am not putting any image on it. I am going to basket weave it actually. I then want to dye the natural veg black. I need to water form the veg, on the edges, so it all fits. Can I do this after I dye it? In other words, will the dye affect the ability to take water, or discolor it?

Sorry if I was confusing. Thanks again, Josh

[mlapaglia]

I always dye the leather as one of the last steps. form, tool then dye. Thats how I do it anyway. YMMV.

[electrathon]

I agree, form it, then dye it.

[JLSleather]

I've done both.

[l2bravo]

Here is my problem. I am dying the front of a shotgun shell pouch. I don't want black dye all over the rest of it, which will be oil tanned. I may or may not be able to NFO it really well, and make it a bit more pliable. I am just needing to roll the edges, to make the seam line line up right.

Does this make any sense? Or have I seriously confused this all?

[JLSleather]

If youre wondering if the color will bleed when forming? The alcohol dyes will NOT bleed, as long as they penetrate the leather.

[JLSleather]

Cut out and stitched.

Then dipped in saddle tan dye (to dye the matching thread).

Then wet formed.

Then edges dyed chocolate.

Leather cut out and dyed Fiebing's black oil dye.

Allowed to set overnight and then stitched (red).

Then wet formed after glue and stitch.

Stamped

Dyed (Fiebing's black alcohol)

Formed and stitched.