Belt dyeing mistake with unusual results

[spacedog]

Awhile back I tried dyeing a belt by coiling it up and submerging it in dye. I am just a hobbyist and don't have big containers of dye so I added water to increase the volume enough to cover the belt. The effect was fairly mottled and I was disappointed with it, but my wife told me to hold on to it since she thought it was interesting and kind of looked like camo. So this week I pulled it out and carved a pattern from an Al Stohlman book I own on it.

 

Edited August 17, 2021 by spacedog
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[spacedog]

Normally I would get the tools out and bevel and shape the leather, but with the different shades behind it the efforts would be lost. Instead I got out the hobby paints and gave it some color to try and make it stand out.

 

[spacedog]

Eventually I coated it with some pro resist before using the antique dye to go in the cuts, without staining the paint and leather. All in all, it worked out surprisingly well.

[HaloJones]

Good recovery, now looks intentional:)

[Old Coach Saddlery]

Looks great. 

[immiketoo]

Some of my greatest finishes are mistakes.  Document your process because I guarantee you someone will want that exact look again in the future!

[rleather]

Adding the paint really brought  it all together. 

[garypl]

I like it!

[JaySea93]

You rescued that belt - good save! 

[JayEhl]

When life gives you lemons, you made a very nice lemonade belt!   Love how the colors pop out.  I'm sure you'll get lots of nice compliments.  And what @immiketoo  said,  a very good idea should be documented!!

[spacedog]

  On 8/17/2021 at 5:53 PM, HaloJones said:

Good recovery, now looks intentional:)

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Thank you.

  On 8/17/2021 at 6:03 PM, Old Coach Saddlery said:

Looks great. 

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Thanks.

  On 8/17/2021 at 9:27 PM, rleather said:

Adding the paint really brought  it all together. 

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Thanks. My wife suggested the fall colors.

  On 8/18/2021 at 12:44 AM, garypl said:

I like it!

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Thanks.

  On 8/18/2021 at 3:19 AM, JaySea93 said:

You rescued that belt - good save! 

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Thank you.

  On 8/17/2021 at 6:12 PM, immiketoo said:

Some of my greatest finishes are mistakes.  Document your process because I guarantee you someone will want that exact look again in the future!

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Well, I basically coiled the belt and put it into a sandwich sized Tupperware with dark brown dye in it. The dye didn't cover the belt so I added water and then snapped the lid on it. I think I left it there over night and took it out in the morning to dry on some news paper. I was pretty disappointed at the time since I thought I had wasted the leather and Tupperware was toast too. I think where the coils were touching each other it didn't let the dye in, resulting in the patchwork appearance, but I am not really sure. I also didn't pay attention to the amount of water to dye ratio. Possibly 50:50? 

  On 8/18/2021 at 1:42 PM, JayEhl said:

When life gives you lemons, you made a very nice lemonade belt!   Love how the colors pop out.  I'm sure you'll get lots of nice compliments.  And what @immiketoo  said,  a very good idea should be documented!!

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Thanks. The belt was finished in time for my wife's birthday and she I quite happy with it. 

[spacedog]

Here are a couple pictures of the the tail end I cut off. It didn't have the mottled, camo look on the outside of the coil, but the inside/flesh side did, where it was touching the next coil.

[JayEhl]

I think you may be onto something there if you just play with it.  Be sure to document the ratio of water : dye and the color dye, etc.    Boy if I did something like that it should keep me out of trouble for at least a day or so.    

 

 

[Bert03241]

I like it beautiful colors