Changing Existing Finished Color

[llucas]

I have a client who would like his gun belt darkened a little to match the holster more closely. The identical finishing schedule was used on both pieces -- two coats of Fiebings saddle tan dye; two coats of neatsfoot oil; three coats of Tandy's Satin Shene acrylic topcoat. The leather used was from two lots and absorbed the finish differently and the client was told it might result in slightly different coloration. Ideas about what can be done since the belt is finished with acrylic?

Edited January 12, 2016 by llucas

[llucas]

Will Fiebings deglazer remove Tandy's Satin Shene and/or Fiebings Resolene?I know it will remove shoe polish, but have never used it to remove a hard finish.This is the first time anyone has not found a belt or holster finish unsatisfactory. Ideas?

[NVLeatherWorx]

The Deglazer will basically remove just about everything. With the fact that the dye job needs to be a bit darker anyway that should be of no issue at this point. Too bad that he didn't get it that leather has a habit of absorbing the dyes differently, even from the same piece of leather. Just make sure that you follow the directions very carefully so as not to do more than you intended to.

[llucas]

Thanks, Richard. I appreciate the feedback. If the deglaze will remove the acrylic finish so the leather can absorb more color/nf oil, then I am in good shape. Thanks again.

[llucas]

I thought I would post an update. I used Fiebings deglazer in two applications to strip the acrylic top coat using a rough terry cloth rag. I was a little worried it would affect the contact cement bond between the two layers of leather on this gun belt -- it did not. As noted by Richard, it also took off a little of the base color. It also took off the the Fiebings Edge Kote I had used on the edges -- a good thing. First time I had used Edge Kote on a belt and I was not happy with the lack of durability of that product. I applied more dye to the belt to match the holster; burnished the edges with glycerin saddle soap and denim; dyed the edges with black dye; burnished the edges again with paraffin and denim (never again will I use Edge Kote on a belt); applied new clear top coats to the entire belt. It is beautiful. Worked like a charm.

Edited January 24, 2016 by llucas

[NVLeatherWorx]

Thanks for the update llucas and glad to hear that you got it to match.

[llucas]

The Fiebings's Deglazer was harsh stuff (I think it is primarily acetone with alcohol), but it certainly did the job. I had used deglazer in the past to refinish my wife's favorite shoes and it worked well for that purpose and made her shoes look new after refinishing. I was a little nervous using it on the gun belt -- but it worked.

Larry

Edited January 24, 2016 by llucas

[llucas]

Here it is. In its previous life it was saddle tan with Edge Kote on the edges. Now it is a custom color (mix of saddle tan and light brown) and the edges were burnished with saddle soap and denim, and dyed black. That acrylic Edge Kote does not play nicely with belts.

[club49]

That is a nice belt, great job. It looks darker then Saddle Tan in the photo. To me it looks like It has a slight red tint to it, I like the color.

Jim

[llucas]

That is a nice belt, great job. It looks darker then Saddle Tan in the photo. To me it looks like It has a slight red tint to it, I like the color.

Jim

Good eye. After stripping the old color finish and color with Feibing's deglaze, I went back with one coat of saddle tan and one or two of light brown. It is now brown with a very slight reddish background. I wrote it down somewhere, but can't find the formula at the moment, lol.