How do I evenly dye a large area?

[tcanthony]

I have an idea for a large tote bag for my daughter in law. The project would be fairly large; about 15X12". Most of my projects have been holsters and such so my leather dying doesn't matter much if it isn't uneven. My concern is with such a large piece, how to I dye it and keep my color consistent throughout the whole piece?

[electrathon]

Dip dye it or spray it. 

[tcanthony]

Thanks for the quick reply. I have not heard of dip dying but the spray dying I have heard of. Looks like it requires a lot of equipment. 

Compressor, air brush, bottle, etc. Is this the way you are suggesting? If so, what do you suggest for equipment?

[electrathon]

Yes, with a paint gun or air brush.  To dip dye dilute fiebings dye with alcohol. Pour it in a cake pan, put the leather in, slosh, remove and pat it dry with a towel. 

[AndersenLeather]

People always recommend dip dyeing or spraying when dyeing big pieces. I have never seen a picture of anybody actually doing this with a large piece. I dye pieces that are 50x25" using this method: Dyeing big pieces with good results. I would love seeing somebody trying to dip dye that big a piece. Also I would not want to dye the flesh side of the leather as it would soak up so much dye!

I dont think it is possible to get a perfect even color on a big piece of leather as the leather does not take in the dye evenly. I dont think this matters as it adds character to the leather and shows that its actually natural product. 

If you want a almost totally even color then you need to buy it pre dyed.

 

[Dwight]

5 hours ago, jonasbo said:

People always recommend dip dyeing or spraying when dyeing big pieces. I have never seen a picture of anybody actually doing this with a large piece. I dye pieces that are 50x25" using this method: Dyeing big pieces with good results. I would love seeing somebody trying to dip dye that big a piece. Also I would not want to dye the flesh side of the leather as it would soak up so much dye!

I dont think it is possible to get a perfect even color on a big piece of leather as the leather does not take in the dye evenly. I dont think this matters as it adds character to the leather and shows that its actually natural product. 

If you want a almost totally even color then you need to buy it pre dyed.

 

The reason "People always recommend dip dyeing or spraying when dying big piece" is very simple, . . . it works.

If you want to spend all your waking hours trying other ways, . . . have at it, . . . but these are time tried and time proven to be totally effective.

Also, . . . I would not sell a product that was not dyed through and through.  I've messed around with spray dyeing and only use that for special accents on a product.  The base leather is dip dyed through and through.  What you save in dye over a 5 year period, . . . you will lose in customer complaints if there is any abrasion or scuffing on a dyed piece such as in the video you linked to.  That leather will even lose it's dye color the first time it's owner makes the mistake of leaving it where direct sunlight can bleach it out, . . . that does not happen as readily with dip dyeing.

Dip dyeing is in my opinion, . . . THE WAY to do it, . . . has never failed me.

May God bless,

Dwight

[AndersenLeather]

1 hour ago, Dwight said:

The reason "People always recommend dip dyeing or spraying when dying big piece" is very simple, . . . it works.

If you want to spend all your waking hours trying other ways, . . . have at it, . . . but these are time tried and time proven to be totally effective.

Also, . . . I would not sell a product that was not dyed through and through.  I've messed around with spray dyeing and only use that for special accents on a product.  The base leather is dip dyed through and through.  What you save in dye over a 5 year period, . . . you will lose in customer complaints if there is any abrasion or scuffing on a dyed piece such as in the video you linked to.  That leather will even lose it's dye color the first time it's owner makes the mistake of leaving it where direct sunlight can bleach it out, . . . that does not happen as readily with dip dyeing.

Dip dyeing is in my opinion, . . . THE WAY to do it, . . . has never failed me.

May God bless,

Dwight

I dont see dip dyeing as a good way of dyeing big pieces of leather..At least not for me. Putting a 50x25" piece of leather into a container big enough to hold the leather as well as 5-10 liters of dye is not something I want to try. 

Would you seriously dip dye that big of a piece? 

 

 

[JMWendt]

So two things.  First, using a dauber or small cloth to dye a larger piece of leather can actually give you nicer results than dip dyeing or airbrushing . . . it creates subtle streaks and shades in the dye job that actually enhance the look and are quite appealing to the eye, especially as the piece ages.  I made a tote bag for my wife a few years ago that was (and still is) 11 x 14 x 4-1/2, and I dyed the whole thing piece by piece using Fiebling's light brown.  At the time I dyed it, I thought I was botching it as it appeared streaky and inconsistent.  These days, when I look at it, I realize the streaking of the hand dye job is really quite appealing and looks great.  

Second, airbrushing . . . you don't need a lot of equipment.  I set myself up with an airbrush last year.  Since I already owned an air compressor, my total cost was around fifty dollars.  If I'd had to buy a compressor, I could have still done it for less than $135.  All you need is a cheapo (and I mean the cheapest one you can find) airbrush from Harbor Freight Tools, hoses to connect to your compressor, and that's about it.  If you'd like more details, let me know and I'll post some pics and a specific parts lists.  My shop is set up now with a port for the airbrush, adjustable pressure regulator, and my cheap airbrush.  I recommend you get a half mask respirator as well.  I have an exhaust fan that was already in place in my shop, but that's optional as well.

The evenness and consistency you can get using an airbrush is unparalleled.  You also save on dye.  The dyeing is almost too even and perfect . . . lacks that hand dyed streaking effect.  But it is fast, easy, and clean up is quick too.  I recommend it for many (but not all) dye jobs.

[Dwight]

52 minutes ago, jonasbo said:

I dont see dip dyeing as a good way of dyeing big pieces of leather..At least not for me. Putting a 50x25" piece of leather into a container big enough to hold the leather as well as 5-10 liters of dye is not something I want to try. 

Would you seriously dip dye that big of a piece? 

 

 

Would you seriously dip dye that big of a piece? 

Of course I would, . . . 

In order to do that piece, . . . I would find myself a cake pan that was longer than 25 inches, . . . or some similar container.  

Presently my widest one is only about 20 inches wide, . . . and I rarely use more than 3/4 of a quart of dye in it, . . . start one end through the dye, . . . snake it down over the edge, . . . into the dye, . . . up and out on the other side, . . . the dye is something in the neighborhood of 1/2 inch deep in the bottom of the pan.  

JMWendt has good results with airbrushing, . . . I prefer dip dyeing, . . . it's just the old saying "more than one way to skin a cat".

The biggest piece I recollect dying for a specific job lately, . . . was a tote bag I made for a lady.  The big piece was about 18 by 40, . . . dipped, laid out to dry, and cleaned up in less than 10 minutes.  

May God bless,

Dwight

[MonicaJacobson]

Dwight, do you dilute the dye at all when you dip it? Or just buy the big gallons of dye?