help required to dye leather

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Archy

Member
Dec 28, 2009
11
0
Launditch
I have been given a possibles pouch kit - the giver thought the kit was a dark tan colour and had a pattern on it but when the kit arrived it has a horrid pale tan colour and no pattern :( the leather is also very stiff, does anyone know of a way I can darken the colour and/or soften the leather?
Any help would be gratefully received
Ta
Archy
 
Hi Archy
You can dye the leather IF it hasn't been treated (ie oiled or waxed) or if it is made from chrome tanned leather.
If it hasn't been treated a cheap way to dye it is to pop into a local shoe repairers and buy some leather dye for shoes. Lightly dampen the pouch, and using a soft cloth, slowly rub the dye into the leather using a circular motion until you get a nice even coverage. Once it is dry you can treat it with a wax/oil mixture (plenty of recipies on here).
If the pouch is already treated, then it could be difficult.
Hope this helps

Baggins
 
Another alternative is to make a vinegaroon which will give you a black colour. Household ingredients ('free' to make), there are some tutorials on here.

Will
 
You could give it a going over with neat's foot oil (as you should do anyway). That will darken it a little bit. Then let sunlight do it's work on it. Direct exposure to sunlight will cause the leather to darken naturally to a deep, rich golden tan.
 
fiebings leather dye works well.

i stained this slip pouch i made
Leather4.jpg


to this darker shade (pouch on the left) with fiebings leather dye medium brown (i gave it 2 coats to get it nioce and dark and rich). got it from bowstock leather supplies. I then waxed and buffed it and its dark and shiny
BCHolder3.jpg


just watch out with the leather dye, do it outdoors, its stains everything - it even staind my tiled worktop - not the grout but the actual tile
 

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