Grey dye

[glockanator]

Does anyone know of a grey leather dye? I have been asked to do a flag piece in grey scale. I have thought of trying to reduce blk dye and see what I get. 

Anyone tried this or know a source?.

 

Thanks

[KingsCountyLeather]

Vinegaroon.

I can’t remember who suggested this on LW but I tried it and it produced a grey dye.

I purchased steel wool that painters use for sanding paint and a bottle of vinegar. Put a small wad of steel wool into a jam jar and fill it up with the vinegar. Wait for 12 to 24 hours and that’s it.

when I dipped a piece of 4mm veg tanned leather to test it turned a light shade of grey and each time I dipped it in again it turned a shade darker until it turned black.

I slowly dipped dyed a leather belt and it turned a charcoal grey and when I applied neatsfoot oil it turned very dark grey almost black. 

Don’t forget though... if you use this vinegaroon you should neutralize the leather with baking soda.

hope this helps.

[Leerwerker]

Vinagroon is a surefire way - it might take some testing to get it weak enough to produce grey and not black immediately. 

Just one warning : I suggest not to do the backing soda bit - raising the pH much above 4 will start to de-tan the leather. 

I have a blog post about it at

http://www.johan-potgieter.com/ll/?p=148

[BDAZ]

I have found vinagaroon to be both unstable and unpredictable. I found it lightens over the years. I no longer use it.

I would suggest acrylic paints from the local hobby store like michaels. I have tested their durability and they hold up for years, especially under a coat of resolene. Go for the expensive ones ($.79 a bottle). It's a good as any acrylic leather paint.

Bob

[JLSleather]

Fiebing's did have a grey - haven't seen it in a good while and they may have discontinued it (?).  Good news is, you can make about any strength of grey you want by reducing black.

Angelus does have a 'grey' and a 'dark grey', but I haven't used either of them so can't really comment on them.  The angelus dyes I have used worked very well, as long as you don't try to mix them with the fiebings.

[Lineets]

I also was looking for grey dyes. And yesterday I found it in Japan

It is waterbased. I havent tried it yet. But I ordered it.

I think I will get it in 2 or 3 weeks. 

I will tell about my tests asa soon as I get it.

And here is the link https://leathercrafttools.com/item?id=11165

 

[like2ride]

I`ve got waterstain from Fenice in medium grey, it`s waterbased and I hope I can mix it with Angelus Acrylic Dye in white to get the light grey I need for a handbag a customer ordered.

[Fire88]

I dilute black with isopropyl alcohol try on test piece first

[dougfergy]

I think you can use neutral antique paste with a little black dye mixed in to get gray.  It would take a few tests to get it right I'm sure.

[MartinC]

Lineets, did the Japanese dye ever work out?  Thinking of ordering some myself. Thanks!