Could I get away calling this color russet?

[esantoro]

Do you think customers will like a briefcase of this color. Today I learned what it's like to nearly finish a project only to think that I should never have used this particular leather. The swatches sent me looked ok, the sides too, but then as I was assembling the case I just wasn't so sure.

Could I get away calling this color russet? I just don't want to have to call it orange. Is there a way I could darken it up.? It seems to be a veg retan of some sort.

Ed

[Billsotx]

Set it by a window with full light or even put it out in the sun for several hours and watch it get better. That'll happen anyway once it's used. Speedup that process. If you lay it outside protect it - birds fly by, trees drip sap, dogs get nosey, sticky little kid fingers leave prints ... don't ask how I know these things ... lol

[Beaverslayer]

Ed, I actually like that color, but as Bill says, if you put it outside in the sunlight it will darken up.

Ken

[CitizenKate]

I like it. It reminds me of a 1912 McLelland (sp?) saddle I saw in a museum.

Kate

[Don]

Don't know what color you would call that...But I really like the color. People like things that are a little different from the same old colors that are out there. I don't thing you can go wrong with that color. Try the sun thing, it will work.

[Mike Craw]

Add my vote for "Like the Color" and I think you could probably call it russet. In my dyeing experience, if I got the whole thing to come out all one color, I'd be a very happy camper!! I think it looks great!

Mike

[sheathmaker]

If you have not yet applied any kind of sealer such as TanKote, I believe a light application of pure neatsfoot oil would darken it to just about chestnut color. As others have stated a little dose of the old "Sun Machine" would also darken it pretty rapidly, but caution, areas under the flap that are shaded will remain light so watch for that. The sheaths in my avitar are chestnut.

Paul

Edited September 24, 2007 by sheathmaker

[esantoro]

Thanks so much for the replies. To the best of my knowledge this seems to be a veg retan, probably about 7 oz. It will not take tooling, I have not dyed the color. It doesn't absorb oil the way regular veg tan does.

I was thinking about trying neatsfoot. In fact when I applied neatsfoot oil to a scrap of it, it seemed to expose blackened follicles at first. Later the scrap looked all right and maybe even a little darker. I'll try a larger piece of scrap.

I like the sun idea, and see how it would work for veg tan, but this leather seems already to have some kind of top finish on it that was part of the tanning process. This isn't a veg tan that will take tooling or wet molding.

Thanks again. I hope it works out, because I have five more sides already cut up into parts.

Ed

[pete]

I don't see the problem here. It seems like you are anticipating one without having tested the market.

You make a really nice, professional, well made piece. If that's the color it came out then don't "think" what the public will think about it!

If I was in the market and saw yours by itself then I would figure that I wanted it or might ask if it came in another color. Just that simple.

When I make stuff it comes out the way that it comes out. I may hate the color but if it was made well and I can't fault the workmanship then so be it. I may change vendors for future leather but the client never says- beautiful piece of work but the color is awful.

If it's THAT bad I don't sell or show it. But yours is beautiful and really well made as I can see from the pictures.

Just look around at the cars that you see on the road these days. I'm ALWAYS amazed at someone driving by in a orange/copper colored or pukey brown new car. I think" what possed you to buy that car with THAT color?!! Was that the only one that they had? Did you buy that color on purpose!???!!!

Put it out there- it's beautiful and I'de be proud to use it and let it age and weather

respectfully

pete

[TZHunter]

I know you were wanting to stay away from "orange". . . but being from Texas and a graduate of the University of Texas. . . .anywhere near that university, if you call anything "burnt orange" you'll will sell it.

There'd be lots of folks that would PREFER that color. . . as your comments I think show. Doug

[Luke Hatley]

ED.... EURAKA YOU HAVE FOUND IT... now everybody will want that color.

you have the original "BRITTISH TAN" look . :-). lol.

that is not a bad color, very professional looking.

and i do like what i saw on the screen that leather looks

to me like it has the firmness to give the bag support.

[esantoro]

Thanks Luke,

My sister told me the other day that she didn't care for the black thread and thought that I should go with pheasant/straw colored thread. I have such a bag partially completed, but after this bag didn't sell, I went back to the browns. It seems like the leather in this bag is either a latigo, a veg retan, or bridle leather. It's thicker than what I usually use. I'll be relisting the bag soon on eBay.

Ed

[Rayban]

I like the color of the bag, and if given the choice I would agree with your sister in the thread color. But black thread does not deter from the bag in my opinion.

Years from now, and I'm sure that bag will still be around, there is no telling what color that bag will appear to be with exposure to the elements, both human and natural.

When you re-list it, call it Texas Longhorn orange and see what happens!!

[Mike]

It looks like Saddle Tan to me. But then I always thought saddle tan looked like orange.