How To Pull Dye Out Of Leather?

[soyuki]

So I was working on this mat, and my initial dye was beautiful -

However, in my zeal to make a good card playing mat that is supple and flexable, I applied some EVOO and it got far... far too dark -

(Sorry for the crummy photo, the phone hates that it's dark.)

I've had luck in the past drawing out dye with water making some nice effects but I can't get this one to lighten up, I'm assuming because of the oil. I don't want to lose the suppleness but the linework is invisible with it being this dark. Any help would be very appreciated. I'd rather not paint this, since I burned in the lines.

[Wicked Welts]

I suspect that you're right about it being the oil rather than the dye and can't help much unfortunately. My only experience attempting to lighten a dyed surface was by wiping the surface with alcohol. The result was, shall I say, less than elegant.

Hopefully someone will come along with a better idea for us.

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Over the last twenty years or so, I have needed to lighten the color on something a few times, and I can honestly say, I have tried everything you can imagine, without much results. Hopefully there is someone out there that has the "silver bullet" for this. This old dog would like to learn a new trick.

Bob

[Colt W Knight]

Everything I've tried has just made it uglier not lighter

[TinkerTailor]

If it got darker from the oil, it may lighten up over a few days as the oil dissipates in the leather. Or it may not.

[Bob Blea]

Maybe Oxalic Acid would remove some of the oil and lighten it up a bit?

[soyuki]

I appreciate you guys trying to help. I will have to scrounge up some money to stop in at lowe's for Oxalic acid as it may be my only hope.

[Northmount]

Since it has too much oil, try burying it in either cornstarch, or kitty litter, or floor-dry to absorb the oil. Mix it up a couple times a day and see what happens after a week. It may or may not work to reduce the color, but will absorb oil.

Tom

[grimmlin]

I want to start with a disclaimer, I'm new and don't really know what in talking about yet. Has anyone tried a solution of dish soap to dissipate oil?