How Do I Get This Color?

[Ole South]

Try Gel Antique over Fiebings Mahogany

(sorry Colt.. I missed your post regarding these colors)

Edited January 29, 2016 by Ole South

[seabee]

Hey, I also liked that color, and used D. Brown and added a drops of Purple until i got the color I wanted.

I also made test samples after adding each drop for future use. I started by adding 2 drops than 1 drop until I got the color I wanted. Another member suggested I use this process awhile back, and I start making my own colors.

Howard

[Dorado]

Well I'm stuck waiting for more leather. I need the liner leather before I can sew this together. I don't want the liner dyed the same as the outside so I'm trying to figure out a different color. The outer layer is dyed with Old Masters Red Mahogany wood dye, then it's sealed to hell and back. I'd like something in the light brown area. The local Hobby Lobby has some Fiebings dye. I think I'll give that a try.

[rickdroid]

Im not sure if this link will help achieve exactly the color you are after but it does contain some good information on your subject.

rick

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=66220

[wlg190861]

What I would do is take and get your leather wet wet, dip a small sponge in water, apply your mahogany dye full strength to the sponge, go to your leather an just put small dabs all over, let that dry without wiping, for about five minutes ( this will give u the darker Antique highlights. After the five minutes take an get your sponge wet again an apply your dye to sponge, pat some of the dye off on a piece of paper towel then dye your leather, continues wiping until you get the desired look. It will give you that antique look you are looking for an pretty well match your first picture. Like others say every hide dyes differently, but you can control the color with a wet sponge on wet leather. Do not dilute the dye. the wet sponge will do the job.

[wlg190861]

What I would do is take and get your leather wet wet, dip a small sponge in water, apply your mahogany dye full strength to the sponge, go to your leather an just put small dabs all over, let that dry without wiping, for about five minutes ( this will give u the darker Antique highlights. After the five minutes take an get your sponge wet again an apply your dye to sponge, pat some of the dye off on a piece of paper towel then dye your leather, continues wiping until you get the desired look. It will give you that antique look you are looking for an pretty well match your first picture. Like others say every hide dyes differently, but you can control the color with a wet sponge on wet leather. Do not dilute the dye. the wet sponge will do the job.

If all else fails use dark brown dye, you would be surprised all the different colors you can achieve with this one color

[Dorado]

Thanks for the advice. I've got the outside colored now and I actually like the color I got. I'll keep that in mind next time I make a holster. However I think my next western one will be black and I'll use that Fiebings USMC dye.

[Ole South]

How do you keep USMC Black from greying or going chalky?

[Colt W Knight]

How do you keep USMC Black from greying or going chalky?

Clean the leather with saddle soap prior to dying. The natural oils from your hands and stuff from the tanning process leaves the leather greasy and the alcohol from the dye pools all that grease on the surface. I clean my leather with saddle soap during the casing process. Cleans the leather and keeps it nice and supple

[Craig44]

Sorry for the late response. I don't get here much and only found it by accident.

If it's purple, it's too much of the dark mahogany. What you'd need to do is add more of the range tan and experiment on scrap until you get the color you want. Range tan is a very light color so there's no need to add water. You might end up with as much as 70-80% to get the desired result. I never measured and had to make adjustments every time I changed hides. I've since switched to the professional waterstain and alcohol/oil dyes from Fiebings.