Can I make this brown harness black?

[MelissaW]

Hello Leather Experts!

I'm totally new to the world of leatherwork and am looking for some advise.  I ordered a carting harness for my dog and when I received it, discovered it is a brownish red colour instead of the black I had requested.  I had to twist a couple arms and call in a favour to even get the harness made so returning it for a black one isn't an option.  

I spent a bunch of time on the web looking at options for dyeing it and most of the information I can find shows examples using what looks like untreated (not previously dyed) leather.  Because of the reddish brown colour of my piece I'm thinking it has already been dyed.  Can I dye over it?  Can I use vinegroon to make it black (I started making some solution just in case).

Is changing the colour just too risky and is there a good chance I'm going to ruin the harness before I even put it to use?

I know...lots of questions :-).  That's why I'm here...

Please help!

I've attached some photos of the harness as I'm not exactly sure what kind of leather it even is.  I welcome any and all feedback and suggestions...even if they are to just leave it alone and use it as is.

Thanks

Melissa

[MY63]

I am by no means an expert however as you asked.

i would not attempt to dye the whole thing black as some of the straps seem to be lined with sueded leather. 

I do think you could improve the look by finishing the edges with black edge kote by Fiebings it is easily available. Darker edges will change the look of the harness IMHO it is much easier than dying the whole thing.

and welcome to the forum.

[Dwight]

From the appearance, . . . it looks like an oiled leather, . . . no hard finish on it, . . . should not be a big deal to dye it.

The one thing you are going to want to do, . . . as much as is possible, . . . take it apart.  Get as much of the hardware off as you can.

Go to a Tandy leather store, . . . buy 4 of their 4 oz bottles of pro oil black dye, . . . and 4 of their 4 oz bottles of dye reducer.  Stop at Walmart and buy an aluminum pan for cooking a turkey, . . . or if you have one to spare at home, . . . a 8 x 14 cake pan works fine, . . . that is what I use.

Get a pair of rubber gloves and a roll of paper towels.

Mix all the dye and all the reducer together well, . . . pour it in the pan, . . . and one at a time, . . . snake each piece into and through the dye, . . . you don't need to linger any great time, . . . if it is black colored, . . . it is dyed.  Hold it up over the  pan until the drip-drip-drip stops, . . . then lay it face up on a piece of cardboard.

DO NOT HANG it up to dry.  

Give it 10 to 15 minutes or so and then with the gloves still on, . . . holding the leather by the sides of the straps, . . . take paper towels and wipe off any dye that got on the metal.  Sometimes the dye will stain the metal, . . . sometimes it will not, . . . you don't really want to take that chance.  Leaving it on there may stain it.

Allow the harness to dry for at least 24 hours, . . . then with another paper towel, . . . give it a coat of neatsfoot oil (if you can find it in a small bottle), . . . or olive oil, . . . just enough that you can honestly see that some oil is trying to soak in.  Some black pigment will rub off on the towel, . . . don't worry about it.

Allow that to dry for a couple of days, . . . then get a white tee shirt you don't like, . . . and laying each strap down on a hard surface that won't move, . . . buff the heck out of the whole harness.  When black quits coming off the piece you are buffing, . . . you are done.

Once the buffing is done, . . . you should be done.

The obvious alternative, . . . is to take it to a local saddle shop, holster shop, or belt shop, . . . have the folks there do it for you, . . . it'll be twice the cost of doing it yourself, . . . but you only have to spill black oil dye on something ONE TIME, to know you don't ever want to do that again.

Good luck.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited May 20, 2017 by Dwight

[MelissaW]

Super!  Thanks for the detailed instructions :-).

I do have a question though...am I able to 'paint' the dye on the pieces that have felt stitched to the backs of them?  I won't be able to get the felt off and am not sure what will happen to the felt if I dip it in the dye.

Ok...two questions...will the regular Fiebing black dye work?  I have some of that already from an old horse tack project I did.

Thanks again!

Melissa

[Dwight]

1.  Yes, you can paint the dye on the other pieces, . . . but will that not allow those pieces to be of a different color?  I would at least dab them in a corner somewhere out of the way, . . . to see if maybe dabbing them with a sponge will color them without dunking them (the felt pieces).

2.  When you say "regular" Feibing black dye, . . . I'm not sure there is any such thing.  There is oil dye, . . . USMC dye, . . . water based dye, . . . and probably one or two I forgot to mention.  I only use the professional oil dye, . . . so you'll have to check yours against that, . . . maybe talk to someone at the store.  BE SURE to thin the black down half and half with their reducer though, . . . or you will be forever getting off the extra pigment.

May God bless,

Dwight

 

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

The harness appears to be made from burgundy latigo, which will likely be somewhat resistant to a good dye job.  Latigo has waxes and oils added during the manufacturing process, and may have a finish coat, all of which will resist your attempts to change the color. To be sure, black dye, (and yes there is a "regular" Fiebings black dye, as well as an oil dye) will change the color, but you may not get good, complete coverage.  Meaning there could be a tendency for the burgundy to show through the black, and a tendency for the black to rub off onto anything it touches for years to come.  This can happen even with good quality black harness leather that has been drum dyed and finished at the tannery. In my experience, I have gotten more rub-off from the oil dyes than the regular Fiebings dyes. I know this goes against common opinion, but time and again, that's what I've seen in my shop.  I usually opt NOT to spend the extra money on the oil dye if I have a choice between that and the regular dye.  As a professional shop, I almost always turn away a job such as this, and advise the client that if they want to they can certainly try it on their own, but I am not optimistic as to a great outcome. I would be very displeased if I had specifically ordered a black harness and received one made from burgundy latigo, and I would strongly voice my displeasure to the company I purchased from. Best of luck to you whatever you decide to do.

[JLSleather]

I'm with Big Souix here -- EVEN IF that would work, it's not going to be 'quick n easy' thing.  

And even if it was 'quick n easy' (it won't be) the real point is here.. you shouldn't HAVE to.  If you ordered black, I would be on the phone pointing out that I ordered black and got burgundy (clearly showing that what I got  was not what I wanted).

 

[MelissaW]

Thanks so much for all the feedback.  I think I am just going to leave it as is.  It is functional now and fits my boy so that is the most important thing.  

Going back to where I got it from is not going to happen so I think I will just use it as is for now.

Anyone out there looking for a project?  My best option for getting the black harness I really want is to get one made in black...so I'll post a request in the Help Wanted forum and see if I get any bites.  I'm pretty sure I could find a buyer for the brown one if I can get the black one I really want :-).

Thanks again, I appreciate all of your thoughts.

Melissa