Dyeing wet leather, mildew?

[jrny4wrd]

After tooling I let the leather dry a bit longer and dipped it in brown dye. Hours latter I added a bit of oil to it but not sure if it fully dried before I did. This morning it seems there is black on the back of the wallet backing. I rubbed it to see if it was just pigment and it rubbed off black. I didn't have it wet for too long but fear it was mold. Its not inside the leather but rather on the flesh side. It doesnt smell like mold. Is it a bad idea to dye while still damp? Anyone oil before completely dry? Whats the best way to know if its mold? 

[fredk]

I don't think its mold; it would take longer than over night, or a day, to grow. A bit of damp leather that I wrapped in clingfilm [saran wrap] took 4 weeks to get some mold spots on it.

I often dye whilst the leather is still wet or damp. I find I get better and more even penetration of the dye that way. I put on beeswax/neetsfoot oil on whilst the leather dries. Then I allow the item to dry out fully after that. If its lucky it gets more beeswax/neetsfoot oil applied.

[OLDNSLOW]

I am no expert by any stretch but depending on the type of dye you use it dries out the leather, now I am going to take a lot of heat for the next comment.  If you were to ask for an MSDS sheet on what is suppose to be oil base dye, you would not find any oil in it that I know of, what you will find is Alcohol of some kind or if you mix your dye with denatured alcohol it has a tendency to dry out the leather real fast.  So what I have been doing is while the dye is drying I apply a coat of oil to the holster, belt, what ever it may be, I will also do a little dance with some 2 wax and oil rub and buff.  then maybe a little more oil then I wet form and maybe the dance again with the 2 wax and oil rubbed and buffed then on to some clear coat.  Your process may very this is what I do and no problems yet and If mine is not the only holster in the drawer then I am doing ok.

Edited April 5, 2017 by OLDNSLOW
correction

[jrny4wrd]

On 4/4/2017 at 9:08 PM, fredk said:

I don't think its mold; it would take longer than over night, or a day, to grow. A bit of damp leather that I wrapped in clingfilm [saran wrap] took 4 weeks to get some mold spots on it.

I often dye whilst the leather is still wet or damp. I find I get better and more even penetration of the dye that way. I put on beeswax/neetsfoot oil on whilst the leather dries. Then I allow the item to dry out fully after that. If its lucky it gets more beeswax/neetsfoot oil applied.

Thank you. Turns out it was just the way the pigment was laying on the flesh side.