clean leather before dyeing?

[Sjm1027]

Before you dye your leather is there something you can use to clean it so you get a uniform color across the surface. I notice the piece I am wetting now seems to be not so uniform. I have Lexol PH but I believe this is cleaner and conditioner. Not sure what to use on leather that has never been dyed and sealed.

Thanks

~S

[Johanna]

Some people clean leather with oxalic acid or lemon juice before dyeing it. Some people oil leather, too. Others will point out that leather is a natural product, and it's supposed to look a little uneven to look real. I think it depends on the particular hide you are using, and your own style. We were always careful in the shop not to lay leather on newspaper, get ball point ink marks on it, keep our hands clean and that kind of thing, but if we did, oxalic acid usually did the trick. No two hides will take dye, oil or cleaner the same, and no hide will be consistent throughout. It does keep things interesting.

Johanna

[Sjm1027]

Yes that's the stuff I was looking for. I remember reading about it in the Leather workers Manual.

Thanks

~S