Me: I don't want to tool tiny things! Also me:

[YinTx]

On 6/17/2019 at 11:09 AM, dougfergy said:

I'm curious.  How long did you let the NF Oil soak in before coloring?  Did you dry in the sun or anything?  Just trying to learn as much as I can about how everyone is going at it!

Still looks great by the way!

Thank you.  I did the dye work prior to oiling, and I let the oil set in for a couple of days because I had other things going on at the same time.  Usually, only need to let it rest overnight or so.  I did not have to put it in the sun at all.  Hope that helps,

YinTx

[dougfergy]

Oh, Okay.  I had it the other way around.  Well, the NF oil really does darken your project no matter when it is applied I guess.  I've used NF oil alone in some projects because it seemed to accent the stamp work, give me the color I was going for and I just let it soak in a few days then hit it with a couple coats of resolene to finish it and it looked good.  In my self-taught/you tube video watching experience doing leather work, somewhere along the way I started putting at least one NF oil coat on and letting it sit for a day or two, or dry in the sun one afternoon before staining and antiquing.  The idea was that the stains go on more evenly when the leather has that oil moisture in it.   Don't know if it is true, just been doing it that way for a while so I really don't recall if it made a difference when I started doing it that way. 

Your belt looks great though, and I'll bet that carved area will begin to lighten up some over time and show more of your fine craftsmanship!

[YinTx]

1 hour ago, dougfergy said:

Your belt looks great though, and I'll bet that carved area will begin to lighten up some over time and show more of your fine craftsmanship!

Thank you.  I suspect if it is like some of the other Hermann Oak leather tooling I've done, it will darken even more.  Time will tell!  I did post the final result of the finished collar in a separate thread.

YinTx