Basics to Hand Dyeing Leather

[@jordanhartmann1745]

Can we take a moment to appreciate how good this guy's narration is? relentlessly pleasant.

[@williambain2646]

Chuck is in fact, the man.

[@kemzal]

Nice, simple and straight to the point. This is the best tutorial I've ever seen.

[@BexH95]

Thank you for the tip about oil dye not getting darker, definitely going to help me choose!

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Glad it was helpful!

[@outka5tz]

Well that was... exceptionally simple 😮

[@gamep1ayer]

Hello. I am using pro dye on a big 2 seat leather sofa and doing it by hand. I hope I am doing it right. Bought the 32 oz bottle pro dye mahogany and its maybe 1/3 left ln the bottle after putting on 3 layers. I waited a day each layer. Should I oil the sofa again when I am done with the dye before I put on the top coat resoline? I oiled the sofa few times before I started painting and waited 1 day before dye. I also cleaned my sofa few times with leather soap and grit it with a scotchbrite grit before dye. I will use 15-30% water and 70-85% resoline. 😊

[@ClaudeBohls]

Good presentation

[@thequietestengine]

I have a question. I'm taking an old suitcase, fixing it up, but I wanted to give it some originality by dyeing it. Now, being that it was previously treated and has spent decades being dyed the previous colour, is there anything like protective coating, etc I need to remove before I start? And then, once dyed, is there anything to help secure or 'fix' the colour without it fading or wearing off? Thank you for taking the time to read my inquiry

[@bigger680]

Easy enough. Thank you.

[@ucuniversity2869]

How is it that a light brown leather dye from fiebings looks almost black after one coat?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi there, it goes on pretty dark but it should lighten up when it dries. This video shows a good example of the light brown color: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWbVmGygg7WEbdE The Pro Dye will be a little bit lighter than the regular Leather Dye.

[@StreetSpeedperformace]

I am dyeing my western show saddle black. Any tips and tricks?

[@wild_cub_times]

Thanks! Nice to know how leather is dyed. Can shoes be dyed even th they have already a coat of some plank. And how to maintain dyed leather?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

You can re-dye shoes but you will want to use a deglazer on them first to remove any top coat. To maintain dyed leather, we recommend adding a leather conditioner or something like Smith's Leather Balm every couple of months or more often if the item is exposed to the elements a lot.

[@wild_cub_times]

@@WeaverLeatherSupply Thank you, this answer is amazing!

[@timmynormand8082]

Can I use oil stain to dye my new leather belt. It's all I have ( I'm a painter ) gel stain or minwax stain ? Thanks in advance

[@juliorives6107]

Do you know how to do the opposite???I have a saddle and it is dark because of the grease and o just want like never had grease on it,do you know if I can sand it and get the light color a I want??

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi there, unfortunately there is not a good way to lighten leather. Leather naturally gets what is called a patina as the item is worn and used and this will give the leather a rich, dark color. We would not recommend sanding it because you will be removing the top grain of the hide and this will weaken the leather.

[@LeezaValdez-q1o]

I tried the dip dye method using pro dye but my leather has dried dark in some areas with some shiny almost ink like streaks. I’m wondering if I was supposed to wipe off excess dye and if this is what caused the streaks?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

If there are pools of dye on the surface after dip dyeing, you can wipe them off with a cotton rag. It could also be the leather, if it has any type of gloss on it, you can use deglazer before dyeing the leather and that should take care of it!

[@kimberlytaylor5886]

Thank you for posting. I’m still a beginner. When I dye leather, same company as in your video, I have some places that look darker than other areas. Is this just the natural or leather or my poor dye job technique?

[@doublenickel5459]

How do you remove black dye from leather shoes ?

[@jenniferhilterbrand8904]

Can the dye be poured back into the bottle and reused?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Yes, it can!

[@aotearoaaudio]

Going to dye a sofa with pro dye. Is it ok to use a sponge?

[@theonlyiSE7EN]

Hello, am I able to cut the dye with water to preserve the dye longer. Just seems like I’m flying through my pro dye.

[@pricelessclips]

Do you reuse wool daubers? What do I do after using the dauber?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hello, Typically no we don’t re-use daubers but simply toss them in the garbage after each use. The reason why is they’re inexpensive and also when you want to use them from one dye or finish to the next it's almost impossible to get all the color of dye out of it to use for something else and therefore will alter the next product you try to use. Hope this helps!

[@bigmarkymark9669]

Tired of looking for answers.. is it best to oil b4 dying? And what do you us as the protective layer on leather. Last thing to put on it?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Mark, I don't have a good answer for you on the oil because it really is up to personal preference. A lot of folks swear by it but I am not a big fan of it. I keep a rag in the shop that has a very small amount of oil on it and sometimes I'll use that after dyeing. The very last step on your project will be a top coat. Check out the videos below to see if that helps. Comparing Leather Top Coats: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnnXlHWdoMqEpsk Preventing Dye Rub Off: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqbTk3mjYpdqipo

[@seanroseblacksmith4036]

Thanks!

[@cynthiaperine8836]

I worry that the dye will come off on my clothing. Is this a problem?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Cynthia, You'll want to apply a top coat once the dye has dried and that will help reduce the dye transfer. For something like a belt or bracelet, you can leave the back undyed because you won't see that part while wearing the item. We also recommend using Fiebings Pro Dye as this leaves very little color residue behind. hope this helps!

[@akaredcrossbow]

Weaver Leathercraft Will sweat or water make the Pro Dye bleed or rub off? Will Resolene run or degrade when subjected to sweat or water? What is the best top coat/sealer after Pro Dye for split leather that will be in contact with sweat and water? Thank You! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@BtAeDxAaSnS]

I have a knife sheath that does not match my belt. How do I do a color change? Do I need to sand the dye off the leather or do I simply redye it?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

You don't want to sand it, that will remove the top grain. What you can do is take deglazer over the entire sheath to remove any top coat and then you can re-dye it and put a top coat on. Deglazer will remove some of the dye but not all of it as dye soaks into the leather. We have a video on deglazer of you'd like to take a look at it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYjWomWIadh8mtU

[@BtAeDxAaSnS]

@@WeaverLeatherSupply Thank you

[@nightslayer78]

Why am I getting stripes on my leather when I dye it?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

It could be that the leather has a glaze of some sort on it - it might be worth testing out a piece using deglazer first and then dyeing to see if that helps. Also might be the application method - if you're using a sponge or dauber try going one direction on the first pass and then the opposite direction on the second pass.

[@Norskie348]

Whats a tip or a trick to keep white wax thread from picking up dye while stitching?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi there, I like to make sure I have extra length on my thread - the thread closest to the needles is usually the part that gathers the most color and by adding some extra length, that part will be cut off and not seen on the project.

[@MansterBear]

I'm new to leather work and have really learned alot from your channel. My first project will be a simple axe cover for my hatchet. What stage would i typically dye the leather? After cutting, and putting my stitch holes but before I stitch it? Or do I do the whole thing, stitching and putting on snaps, then use a dobber to dye it? Or is it all preference? I assume I do the dye before I burnish the edges, correct?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi there, We would recommend applying dye after cutting and marking your stitch holes, but before stitching. Hope that helps!

[@thomasboden4053]

If I wanted a rustic burnished gold look to some patterning could I paint an acrylic gold then oil dye over the top, would this darken it?

[@ssage2953]

I’m literally dying laughing 10 seconds in. Pls help 😂

[@GasStationKnives4Ever]

Dry time?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

About an hour to 1.5 hours is usually good!

[@briannab1999]

what about after? how long does it take to dry? does it dry clean or do you rinse? i need more info pls

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Brianna, You can pour any leftover dye back into the bottle and then either wipe the container clean with a towel or shop rag or rinse and let dry.

[@franklinprendergast1447]

How do you prevent streaking with bigger pieces that you are dyeing?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Franklin, If it's an item that you can dip dyed then I would recommend that but if it's larger and can't be dip dyed then a foam brush works well, just get as much coverage in one pass as possible to help reduce any streaking. We also recommend using Fiebing's Pro Dye if possible, this will give you the best coverage. You can see the foam brush dying method in the following video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWKmopiih8ygba8

[@franklinprendergast1447]

Weaver Leathercraft thank you. I’ll try to pro dye. I have been using the alcohol based dye.

[@pamsudsbear2612]

Do you always need to deglaze leather to dye it? I’m dyeing a pair of suede boots, with smooth leather accents. I’m primarily using it for a costume, but if it turns out really nice I may use the boots more often. :) Thanks!

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Pam, Great question! You do not always need to deglaze your leather, only if it has a top coat or sheen on the leather. The purpose of a top coat is to make it resistant to water or moisture and the deglazer removes that resistance so that the dye can soak into the leather. Just be very careful when dying suede as it will react differently than most leathers will. If you can, use a scrap piece of suede first and test the dye on there just to make sure it will take the dye properly before you put it on your boots.

[@pamsudsbear2612]

Weaver Leathercraft Thank you for your reply!

[@stevetaylor5382]

Great video. Do you edge your leather before or after dyeing ?

[@devindarwin9878]

Made the move to fiebings , and for some reason even the lightest brown or tan, ends up dark red. Tried dauber and dipping. What am I doing wrong?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Devin, It sounds like you have the regular dye and not the Pro dye. The regular dye will just say “Leather Dye” and it’s bad about going dark, making the leather stiff, streaking and having a yellowish or reddish tint to the browns. I can’t honestly say how to best apply this, except maybe an airbrush. If I’m correct, try the Pro Dye and you’ll never go back!

[@jadebethj4807]

Your dye is so liquidy, are you mixing it with water or anything? Mine is so much thicker than that.

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Jade, The dye in the video is straight from the bottle. If you're using a different brand, that may be why but Fiebing's Pro Dye should be pretty thin right from the bottle.

[@SK-wh1sl]

Hello Sir! An issue I am facing when dip dyeing is that the grain side and edges of the leather also get dyed. This affects the look quite much and lots of dye gets soaked into the grain side making your dye bottles empty much faster. In this video you demonstrated using a dauber but I suppose that some dye probably got through the holes and on the back. How do you usually do here if you want to keep the grain side undyed? Is it not normal to have this contrast between front and back of the leather? Also some people like to apply tokonole on the grain side to give it a smoother more clean surface, is this something you should do before or after dyeing the projects?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

If the item you are dyeing has holes punched in it then, yes, you will likely have dye seeping through the holes even when using a dauber. The only way to really avoid that would be to dye the leather first and then punch your holes. If you don't want the back of your project dyed, a dauber or sponge would be the best way to apply the dye. Tokonole is going to put a barrier between the leather and the dye, so, I would suggest dyeing first and then applying Tokonole. Otherwise the dye won't absorb evenly.

[@Jeff-gu6nb]

Do you recommend dampening the leather before using the pro dye or just dry is best?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

I've always done it dry but I know a lot of people will apply a thin coat of neatsfoot oil first and then dye - I would say try both and see which one works best for you!

[@darrellcooley3968]

I've never dip dyed leather, but after this video I'm gonna give it a try. I just have one question... Can you dip dye using water based dyes? I assume the answer is no. If the answer is no, what is the reason not to, and what is the result of using water based dye. Is color consistency the biggest reason?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hello. We hope you have a successful first experience with hand dyeing leather. Yes, you can use water based dyes but the results will most likely be a streaky, inconsistent look versus oil dyes which will have a consistent color throughout and can be done with ease. Thank you for your question!

[@graphguy]

Dyeing large (24" x 24") pieces with Pro Dye....non-scouring sponge? Protecting post dyed leather?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hello, Yes, you can use a soft sponge to dye large pieces of leather where dip-dyeing is not possible. For a top coat, we would recommend Fiebing's Leather Balm with Atom Wax or Saddle Lac.

[@graphguy]

@@WeaverLeatherSupply Great, I will order some now from the Weaver Leathercraft online store!

[@aaronsaunders6974]

pro dye 👍

[@sprky0505]

When dyeing, what is a good wait time for the dye to soak and set?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Good question! It can vary a bit with dyes because of the humidity outside or in your shop/work area. With an oil dye I would allow four to six hours if it’s a pretty dry day and six to eight hours if it’s a bit humid. Alcohol dyes can dry a good bit faster. These usually dry in one to three hours depending on humidity. Water-based dyes seem to take forever to dry, and I may give them a full 24 hours or more, just to be safe.