When do you dye?

[dougfergy]

On 8/24/2019 at 5:08 PM, JSage said:

dougfergy, I'm trying to follow you, but how do you form or wet mold a sheath or holster before you stitch, or even glue?

If it is a wrapped sheath or holster, I wet form with a vacuum sealer and then after that is dry I start the assembly, gluing in the sheath welt or the outside edges of a gun holster and once the glue is dry I'll trim the edges and sand them on a belt sander.  Then I'll mark my holes for stitching, punch in the holes for the screws etc.  I don't stitch until I have the leather stained unless I'm using dark thread, and even then I usually stitch after staining or dyeing. 

That's how I've been doing it, but I'm sure I'm doing a bunch of it wrong so definitely read how everyone else is doing it!  I'm a hack at this to say the least.

[JSage]

Ohhh, OK I gotcha now! Makes sense. I woulda never thought of that, might have ta try it myself. I've been wondering about the ways to make a dyed item thats stitched with various colored thread, (ie, black or dark brown holster with bright red or light blue thread).

Thank you sir!

[dougfergy]

Before I started hand stitching with an awl a few months ago, I always had marked and drilled my holes, always used dark thread and typically, well, always used dark brown dye and dip dyed.  I figured out the hard way that the waxed dk brown thread made the dye miss some of the raw leather from drilling the holes so I started stitching after dyeing.  Finally branched out and bought some different colored dyes, some antiques, different finishes, and some white thread that was waxed.  Knowing the waxed thread needed to go in last I'd still do everything before stitching.  I started using the awl method after I discovered that I discolored the thread as I stitched through the pre-drilled holes that were full of dye and antique finish.  I started developing many bad habits back before youtube existed.  I'm always learning something new (old)!

Still learning the awl method but I'm figuring out that I can make better stitches with the awl method instead of drilling.  I hate drilling!  It's like using a dremel to file my nails.  I can mess it up real bad.

Edited August 26, 2019 by dougfergy

[JSage]

HaHaHa, I understand, but I can mess up real bad too, and I dont need a drill to do it!