Dying an Ugg Leather Purse -- deglazer, color prep, which brand -- HELP!!!

[Shopperaddictgirl]

I have an Ugg crossbody bag that I would like to dye a darker color in the brown family (my bag style on the left, color of my bag in right picture).  I have NO idea how to do this. I bought Fiebing leather dye in 'dark brown'.  I would like my bag to come out similar to the color in the left picture.  My choices of dyes were 'saddle tan' and 'dark brown'.

I know I am supposed to prep the bag first....but how?  I have read about Fiebing 'deglazer' and Mltonian 'Nu-Life Color Preparer'.  Please point me in the right direction of how to darken this bag and not ruin it 

Thank you for your help!

[johnv474]

This is one approach. Others might vary from this.

 

Step 1) clean with Lexol cleaner or saddle soap, leaving the item damp

Step 2) apply deglazer. The goal is to remove waxes, oils, dyes, and to open up the pores to accept the dye well.

Step 3) reduce your dye with Fiebings Dye Reducer (or alcohol). I suggest 50:50 dye:reducer if you want dark brown.  The dyes come concentrated. 50:50 will give you dark brown, and 1:2 dye:reducer will give you lighter than dark brown

Step 4) apply dye all over the damp leather, using something like a damp kitchen sponge or a wadded up old cotton t-shirt. Don't bother using the little dauber that comes with the dye. You need to move faster than that.

Step 5) saddle soap and water, clean the leather to remove extra pigment. Leave the leather damp.

Step 6) repeat dye. 2-3 coats will be your total, until it is evenly applied and a shade or two darker than you want (as it dries, it will get lighter)

Step 7) repeat saddle soap and water

Step 8) apply lexol conditioner, light coat. Wait a few minutes, then apply a second coat

Step 9) let it sit a little while (30 mins or so). Buff off surface. As it gets mostly dry, apply a cream polish like Meltonian shoe cream or Tarrage shoe cream in a color that moves the leather toward the color you want.

Step 10) apply paste shoe polish (hard polish) very light coat, and buff

Step 11) Apply Fiebing's Resolene, as your sealer, diluted 50:50 with water. One light coat, wait 10 minutes, then another light coat.

 

Let the bag sit overnight at least to finish drying out.  By now it should be evenly dyed, have a bit of sheen, and also be protected.

[Colt W Knight]

I would wipe the purse down with Fiebings deglazer, then clean with some saddle soap and let it dry. Then I would airbrush the bag the color I wanted using Angelus Acrylic leather paint. 

 

That is how I would do it. 

[Shopperaddictgirl]

So....in your expertise opinions:

1.  This IS doable?

2.  Will NOT ruin the bag?

3.  WILL produce the darker leather I would like to achieve?

[johnv474]

I suggest taking it to a professional shoe repair shop, letting them assess it, and paying them to do the work.

 

If you decide not to take it to professionals without having done something similar, then you run the risk of making beginner's mistakes.

 

That said, it IS possible to change the color of the bag in ways that will NOT ruin the bag, and CAN produce a darker color in the direction of the color you posted.

 

Lots of people dye bags darker, and a web search will offer lots of ways to attempt it, in addition to the step-by-step listed above. Just be aware that "Dark Brown" is (unless diluted) a very dark, bitter dark chocolate color.

 

All of this goes out the window if this bag is vinyl.