Darken Edges

[Bert03241]

I don't know what the process is called. I'm not talking about the edges that you burnish and kote. What I lookin to do is give the outer edge some darkening , whats it called and How do you do it.?

[garypl]

Called blocking or the easiest way to do this is to airbrush darker dye around the edges.

[Bert03241]

I don't have an air brush and not buying one LOL . Is there a manual way?

[battlemunky]

Best way to describe it is to direct you to YouTube. Search for "block dying leather" and there should be some examples. 

Basically though, wrap a block of some hard material, like wood, with some t-shirt or paper towel and then apply some dye to it and then mush the cloth/paper towel on some dry news paper to remove some of dye so that it is damp and not wet, then work on the leather in the starburst pattern. You can either apply multiple layers of dye beginning with the lightest and working out to the darkest in gradients or you can attempt to go dark in the areas you want, but that is far more prone to effin' up in my experience. If you aren't going to airbrush it, that is the way to do it. When you pull it off the way you want it to be it is super rewarding but like most things that give you the reward feeling, it usually comes with struggle.

If that isn't clear or you have any questions, please ask more. What I said is by no means in full detail so if something needs elaboration please don't be bashful.

Edited February 19, 2022 by battlemunky

[fredk]

Basically , but I'd go a bit differently. Used diluted/thinned dye. A dye of a darker shade than your main colour. Then make several applications working towards the edge so it get the most applications and thus more dye

[JLSleather]

without airbrush --
I haven't watched the whole thing, so no endorsement here .. just FYI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t4E2ciGg30

OR you can use a pre-fabbed "preval" sprayer attached right to a 4 oz  bottle of dye
I've never tried these, but they've been around a LONG time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcrhorxYhmI

 

WITH airbrush -
This one I have watched ... and semi- approve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMVHrTPf1AQ&t=14s

 

 

 

[toxo]

This is a great idea from Youtube. Put a tyre stem valve into an empty spray can and refill and re-pressurise again and again. You could have one for air/dye/paint/wd40 etc.  Watch from half way.

 

[fredk]

There is one commercially available, has been for over 30 years. Called Jennican. Kinda hard to find now tho. Last place I knew which had them was W.Hobbys in London

I used to use a few when I worked on my own cars. For occasional spray painting etc without having to get the full-rig spraying equipment out

[Bert03241]

Hey Guys thanks for all the replies and Ideas. I've watched the video's and read your ways to do this. So now I have to giver it a try.

[battlemunky]

POIDH!