Newbie with Eco-Flo dye problems

[PJ234]

I'm brand new to leatherwork and have made a handful of holster and knife sheath projects. The local Tandy store sent me home with Eco-Flo dye and some of their veggie tanned shoulder, and these are what I made:

Coal black...has a weird, iridescent purplish look

More coal black...shows some bluish-greenish 'stuff'

Bison brown...I think the metallic look is not as noticeable but still there

The black pieces were first wiped down with alcohol per the video I was following along with recommended. The brown sheath did not get the alcohol wipe after the strange results of the black pieces. The black pieces looked better after I applied Satin Sheen, but still not perfect. The brown piece has not been treated yet with the Satin Sheen.

I'd appreciate any advice on what's happening here, or if I should just swithc to a different kind of dye, or if I need to do something different before or during the dyeing process.

Thanks!

[tashabear]

I was told that to get a really deep black, it helps to put a layer of Evening Blue underneath. I've also read, elsewhere on this board, that Cranberry Red also works. I haven't tried the red yet, but I've gotten good results with the blue.

[dickf]

It doesn't look like you buffed the purple off of that black. Get yourself a soft cloth and buff that puppy until the residual dye isn't there anymore. It should then turn black without the purple.

[PJ234]

Thanks for the input, folks. The black pieces have been sealed so there's no hope for them now. They did improve with the Satin Sheen...I wanted to show the pics where it was most dramatic so that I could get some advice on what was happening to prevent it in the future. I buffed quite a bit, and I tried both just after applying the dye and also after letting it dry for a while, and I didn't see any change when I did that.

So is this normal for leather dye, or normal for the Eco-Flo dyes? What about the blue-greenish stuff on the magazine holder...is that the same or something different than the metallic/purplish hue?

[hidepounder]

I agree with Dick, PJ, it looks to me like you didn't buff off the residue that black leaves when it dries. I use a piece of wool skin with the wool clipped short....keep rubbing until no residue can be removed.

[CitizenKate]

So is this normal for leather dye, or normal for the Eco-Flo dyes? What about the blue-greenish stuff on the magazine holder...is that the same or something different than the metallic/purplish hue?

When I put on any dye (spirit or water-based) I get a kind of chalky surface residue, which sometimes has an iridescent quality to it (as shown in your photos). I usually buff it off before putting a sealing finish on it. The finish usually restores the luster of the leather and gives the color a more saturated appearance.

In the case of the coal black, I've always gotten a nice solid, deep black color once it's buffed and finished.

Kate

[PJ234]

Thanks again for the additional input. Do you all do any buffing or rubbing when the dye is wet, or do you leave it and do nothing until it has dried?

[CitizenKate]

I wait for it to dry before doing anything else to it.

Kate

[abn]

Applying a light coat of neatsfoot oil before your final finish also tends to even out and darken the Eco-Flo colors...

[Randy Cornelius]

Throw away that Eco Flo stuff and buy some real dye. Don't get your stuff wet with the Eco Flo, bleeds off like you cut it. Get some Quality Oil Dye if you what it to look good and stay that way. They should keep the Eco Flo in the prisions and schools.

Randy