Finishing a belt

[atom1]

Hi again,

I have a question about the final coat on a belt I just made. My final coat was Eco-Flo Super Shene ( 2 coats ).  I have dyed the belt with 2 coats Eco-FLO BLACK then two coats of Eco-Flo Super Shene and buffed each coat.   My question is -- should I do any thing more to finish the belt ( wax, etc. )? Thanks, Atom

[Yetibelle]

I think it depends with the leather that you started with.  Some hides take the dyes better than others.  Eco-flow is an acrylic product so it will coat the top of the leather, but it wont last.  I suspect on a belt it will rub off fast, and once it rubs off the black dye will then start to rub off on your pants.  Look at the Fiebing dyes and finishing products, I find they set better. 

[atom1]

Thanks Yetibelle, I have given the belt to the person I made it for some time ago and hope the dye last. I have used Fiebings dyes and the black looked like dark brown. The ECO-FLOW Black is as Black as it can get and that is why I use it. I have started to use Fiebing's Resolene as a finish coat over the Eco-Flow on some of my items to test as a finish coat so time will tell I guess. I am open to any suggestions as I am new to doing leather. Again thanks for the suggestion, Atom1    

[Yetibelle]

I found the feinbing USMC black is really black.  Not the Feinbing oil dye work well also but the USMC black works really well.  I let it set 30-60 minutes between coats, depending on the leather it may need 3 coats.  Then I mix 50/50 with the black oil dye and neetsfoot oil and let it bake in the sun that helps even the dye over the project.  I then let it cure for a few days before I put on a top coat.  And then buff until the cloth is not pulling any dye.  

Have you tried vinegaroon? Take  clean pad of steel wool and soak it in water and let it slightly rust up in the sun then get a plastic old milk jug and put in half 4-5 cups white vinegar and put the rusty pad to soak in the garage for a week with the cap off so the gas will escape.  It will rust up the vinegar.  Strain it out after a week and then paint it on some leather.  It smells but it naturally turns the leather black, and since it's not a dye it won't rub off.  Then clean the stink off and seal or oil it.   It's kinda cool.  

[atom1]

Thanks again Yetibelle,  

I do know of the vinegaroom and how tho make it but I have not made it yet. I think the time that it takes for the USMC is some what to long for the time that I have but sounds to be a vary good way to get the black color. I can say that I have tried several test to see if the Eco-Flow Black and the Resolene finish ( 2 coats ) would crack or come off, then soaked it for 2 hr.in water and it did not come off on a cloth. When it was dry and rubbed with a cloth again, no color came off on the cloth.  So it has not seen the test of time and hope it will not bleed on some ones clothes. Atom1