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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Mike Vines on March 25, 2015, 05:05:00 PM

Title: Dying buckskin???
Post by: Mike Vines on March 25, 2015, 05:05:00 PM

Has anyone SUCCESSFULLY dyed buck skin from it's yellow color to a deep chocolate Brown?  

I have some buckskin leather gloves that I love, but need to change their color.

What has been your experiences when you tried doing what I'm a anything to do?

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: tecum-tha on March 25, 2015, 05:27:00 PM

Walnut hull dye. Don't make it too strong or it will change the leather.
As an example:
 http://www.djuanasquillwork.com/bags.html

You may ask her for her dye recipe ratio.

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: Keith Zimmerman on March 25, 2015, 10:51:00 PM

I dyed some buckskin reenacting breeches in the washing machine.  But it was a different color.

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: Skipmaster1 on March 25, 2015, 11:00:00 PM

I agree with the walnut hulls. Works great with buckskin. You can smoke them darker but they will smell like smoke for a very long time

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: nleroux2 on March 25, 2015, 11:02:00 PM

If you aren't trying to be period correct, use Fiebings Chocolate dye, cut it 50% with denatured alcohol and swab or brush it on. Then if you want it darker you can either redye it with the cut stuff or go full strength. Cutting it first helps eliminate lines and light/dark spots from the applicator.

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: reddogge on March 25, 2015, 11:03:00 PM

Fiebings is a good product. It's an analine leather dye.

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: dhaverstick on March 26, 2015, 08:25:00 AM

I always mix my dye with leather conditioner before applying it. It goes on more easily and the color is more uniform.

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: Pat B on March 26, 2015, 09:01:00 AM

Is it true buckskin(brain tanned) or commercial tanned leather?

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: halfseminole on March 26, 2015, 11:52:00 AM

I vote for Fiebings as well.

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: Mike Vines on March 26, 2015, 12:14:00 PM

Quote

Originally posted by Pat B:
Is it true buckskin(brain tanned) or commercial tanned leather?

I would presume commercially tanned.  I bought the gloves at Home Depot.

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: halfseminole on March 26, 2015, 12:21:00 PM

Chrome tanned then.  Dunno if it will take the walnut hull dye, but it should still take aniline.

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: Pat B on March 26, 2015, 03:36:00 PM

Any leather dye(alcohol based) should work. You could also use Rit dye and alcohol if you wanted specific colors.

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: Mike Vines on March 26, 2015, 07:45:00 PM

Thank you guys.  I knew I could get the answer here.

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: Mike Vines on March 30, 2015, 07:28:00 AM

Before...

  (http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/0328151910.jpg) (http://s846.photobucket.com/user/miklvines/media/0328151910.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: Mike Vines on March 30, 2015, 07:31:00 AM

After 1 coat of Fiblings straight from the bottle...(I'm pleased with the results, but I won't be winning any trophies for "Artistic Presentation".  I accomplished what I set out to do...Change the color from yellow to Brown (ish)).

   (http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/0329151922.jpg) (http://s846.photobucket.com/user/miklvines/media/0329151922.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Dying buckskin???
Post by: Pat B on March 30, 2015, 08:35:00 AM

Mike, they probably had a finish on them so that's why they took the dye so unevenly.  Makes a nice camo though.
 If you haven't already I'd give them a good rubdown with pitch blend or other leather dressing. The alcohol based dye will dry the oils from the leather some.