?????'s for the leather guys.

GINKSTER · February 03, 2010, 12:28:00 PM

I'm making a new back quiver and I'm gonna dye it. Been practicing on some scraps and my dye skills need some work. How do I keep the color even? I keep ending up with light and dark spots. Thanks for any help.

Richard

P.S. I'm using Fiebing's Leather Dye.

BowHuntingFool · February 03, 2010, 12:35:00 PM

Here is a close up of a quiver I made last year for my son's birthday. I used the same Fiebings Leather Dye with the dobbler that comes with it, I kinda liked the way it turned out kinda spotty!

February 03, 2010, 01:05:00 PM

Leather takes dye in different ways, often within the same hide. I assume this is a cowhide with no finish? I would work it in with a rag (forget the dauber) and rubber gloves until it looks pretty even, let it dry and then treat it with some sort of oil like mink oil or neetsfoot. That should even it out a bit also. Leather is a natural "fabric" and the unnevenness is often part of what's beautiful.

hunterace · February 03, 2010, 01:11:00 PM

i'm fairly new to leather working but... i haven't been able to get a uniform dye yet. like stated above the hide accepts the dye different in different locations. i was using a dye called eco-flo and i personally like the broken up look. i read that if you oil the leather first and let it soak in that it will accept the dye better and more evenly. read the same for using water. neither method seemed much better to me. if you figure it out let me know, good luck

Pat B · February 03, 2010, 01:43:00 PM

What I do is use a cellulose sponge, the colored ones you get in the grocery store and cut it into 2" squares. Put dye on the sponge and blot it on a towel. Then with circular motions work from the outside in towards the middle. The dye will start out darker on the outside and fade towards the middle. Continue with this method until you get the shade you want. The more you do the darker it will get and the more even it will get.
Another method for a dark solid color is to use a piece of fleece(sheeps wool on leather)got dye on it and again work in circular motions. This will put down a good solid coloration.
After dying with either method rub the dyed area with a soft rag to remove any excess residue then add a good finish. I like Montana Pitch Blend or straight Mink Oil. When that has been worked in well wipe off the excess. Fiebings used to make an acrylic coating called Resoline, maybe they still do. This will give a high gloss shine to the leather while protecting it from drying out.
These methods are for raw leather. If it already has a finish on it the dye will come out blotchy.

Pat B · February 03, 2010, 01:48:00 PM

This bag was made with vegetable tanned leather and was dyed with the dry(blotted) sponge method I described above.

GINKSTER · February 03, 2010, 02:04:00 PM

Thanks guys, It is vegetable tanned leather with no finish. Maybe I'll like the uneven look. that quiver and bag look awesome. I'll post pick when I'm done.

Richard

hunterace · February 03, 2010, 03:17:00 PM

this is the last one i did, it's not a super close up but you can see the rough look that i did, i like the way it turned out and so did the guy who bought it form me.
pat b , thanks for the tips

Roconman · February 04, 2010, 09:55:00 AM

If you take a sponge and dampen(NOT SOAK) your leather than apply the dye it will absorb in to the leather much better and won't streak.Let dry good,buff and apply a second coat.This is for Veg tan leather and Fibing's die. Brown seem to be the worst color to work with.

GINKSTER · February 04, 2010, 10:29:00 AM

Using the Tan Fiebing's dye. Man, is it dark. I'll post some pic's soon.

highnoonhunter · February 04, 2010, 01:09:00 PM

I use the Fiebings oil dye on my work. My pieces are much smaller than the Hill style quivers, but I use about the same method that Roconman uses. I dampen my work before I dye, and I use the wool daubers to apply. I put two coats of dye on, one after the other. But like other have said, the leather has a mind of it's own sometimes, as some areas are more dense then others, and will absorb the dye differently. Once I'm done I apply Skidmores leather Cream, or my homemade bee's wax blend, and then gently heat with the wife's blow dryer and handrub until the leather sucks up all the wax.
Sometimes I want the leather to be blotched looking as I think it gives it some character, so I don't work a whole lot at getting the finish perfect.

hnh