Learning Leathercraft with Jim Linnell - Lesson 9: Dyeing and Finishing

Leatherworker Jim Linnell teaches viewers how to create a wallet featuring a tooled floral pattern from scratch in a new video series published weekly on Tandy Leather’s Blog, available at blog.leathercraftlibrary.com/
In lesson 9, Jim shares a 3 step process of inlay dyeing, adding resist, and antiquing the tooled wallet back to provide a professional finish.
The waterstain used in this video is available at www.tandyleather.com/en/produc...
The Super Shene resist used in this video is available at www.tandyleather.com/en/produc...
The Hi Lite acrylic finish used for antiquing in this video is available at www.tandyleather.com/en/produc...
Find the link to the free wallet pattern at bit.ly/LearnWithLinnell

[@tiedemann8225]

For a novice like myself, these videos have helped me a lot. For the first time this Christmas I gave away a tooled dish. Thank you.

[@shed.projects5150]

Great vid, well presented, thanks.

[@geremiajonathan1814]

Hi man ! Greatings from italy

[@55vdub]

Excellent video, Jim. Do you ever use a heatgun to speed drying time?

[@johnnixon6545]

What if you want to paint the flowers, would you do that after you dyed the background and before you put the super seen on?

[@meshamybelle]

I have a pouch that’s already dyed red but I’d like to know if I can dye over it in black? Thanks!

[@senamakubiddah9117]

I want to know if I can frame leather in glass

[@michelleblack5819]

Where do I find that pattern?

[@lawrencecole6527]

HAHA I am just now using some leather scraps we got in a pack over 30 years ago for 2.95 from a Tandy's in the town where I lived.

[@ehabbob471]

what the meaning of sealer please..and why we use it ?

[@DrewTeter]

Sealer is also called "finish." It forms a barrier on the surface of the leather. This helps water proof it, protect it, and keep the dye from bleeding onto other things over time, or into the leather FROM other things. Some people use certain types of sealers in the middle of the leather dying process as a "resist". Preventing the coated area from taking additional dye or paint. This is useful when you want your leather to have different colors.

[@craftertewaka289]

Hello Jim. I have enjoyed all of the 9 videos, they have moved me forward from the demo you did for us in Manchester, at the new shop opening. I went on a bought the tools that you suggested and now have a small workshop set up. Looking forward to the next videos. Thank you for all the guidance, down to me to get the practise in. Dave UK.

[@billyhellmaker]

I have used lots of different techniques and I really like the way the final product looks on this. I have done two wallets this way now. Kudos Jim for passing along the info!

[@frontierasset1965]

Billy Hell ŕŕ

[@Beedracass]

I just found this series last night, and watched it all in a row, I was so happy to see this last installment posted today. I haven't done leatherwork in the past, but this series has inspired me to give it a try. What an amazing art form!

[@TandyLeatherCo]

+Bridgette Dracass Thank you for watching! We still have a few more videos where we walk through creating the wallet interiors from scratch and some double loop lacing to finish it out.

[@Beedracass]

+Tandy Leather I'm looking forward to it. I have a nice size piece of leather I bought a while ago for a project I never got around to doing. I think I am going to get some basic tools, and give this a try. Thanks!

[@celestiaa.k.anancyb.5531]

Spectacular work!! I just love it.

[@sinpac6161]

Nicely done Mr. Linnell.

[@patricianabert-bruce1719]

Wow! Jim Linnell is a true master and his passion for, not just the end product, but for each step of the process, is inspiring. I am just starting out and have learned a lot from this series. More detail shots would have made this even better but overall a wonderful learning experience.

[@TandyLeatherCo]

We're glad you enjoyed it! We will pass along your feedback to Mr. Linnell for future instructional series.

[@RyzzilJaelre]

Great video as usual. Thanks!

[@MountainFisher]

i found that Feibings Pro oil dye works very well and never bleeds after I put Super Shene on. For a lite reddish brown color I paint the yellow stain down in the recesses and after I antique it with Mahogany antique finish on it is a light reddish brown. I have found if I don't want a dark brown is to not use light brown as it gets darker when you try to even it out, so I use the yellow with mahogany, light brown dye or antique. Mix with 4 parts yellow and 1 part light brown/mahogany dyes, or just antique the yellow.

[@marty01957]

Thanks Jim!

[@edithconde8084]

Beautiful.Thank you/

[@ronbonick4265]

Thats kool , Im hoping to get started soon

[@ozzy1066]

Muy buen video ahora entiendo como resaltar los disenos y mantener los tonos separados

[@joshuapowers8150]

used an eco flo gel antique over the eco flo satin shene finish but found it come off and retain the tan color of the leather as well as I had hoped. any idea what went wrong?

[@arimleatherworks6328]

great job. I also do leather carvings and I really like your work. p.s. Greetings from Ukraine

[@klasspodcast4396]

i liked it better before without the brown hi lite, but what do i know ive never done this before lol. I love the carving work amazin

[@patrickdavis8964]

Having compleated maby carving progects i like to leave the design uncolored for my self with a lla,ck bacground with my peter main pebble shaders

[@thomasmathisjr5887]

What process do you use to soften the leather to make more pliable after the finish has set in?

[@Monstah7]

Hey there, i'm just wondering does the Satin Shene resist the same as the Super Shene?

[@Viziblee]

Great video - really learned a lot! After the antique gel or hi-lite is applied, do I need to add anything as a final sealer? How long until it is considered dry enough to throw in a pocket.

[@Captain_MonsterFart]

The only thing I find that works is wood varathane from a spray can. But no one else ever seems to mention it. I find the topic of final sealers very confusing.

[@Leodis.Leather]

Would you add a final coat of something as a sealer for the hilite since that's on top of the super sheen?

[@TandyLeatherCo]

Great question! The Hi-Lite is an acrylic, so you can leave it unsealed. Adding another coat of Super Shene would give it a high gloss, however you may also remove some of the antiquing when applying.

[@Leodis.Leather]

+Tandy Leather Ah OK that's good to know, I've always thought of the hilite as essentially a dye but if it's acrylic based it's more of a finish with pigment I guess. Thanks!

[@ArtyHelen]

+Tandy Leather Is the Antique Gel an acrylic, too...?

[@TandyLeatherCo]

Hello ArtyHelen! Yes, it is.

[@naxvseniki]

I had the same question for the longest time... My concern is if I don't apply super shene as a final coat to seal the Hi-Lite it would stain hands when you start using the wallet... of if water gets on it...

[@TheLastXeno]

Hey there, great video. I'm very new to leather works but I'm currently bringing my motorcycle back to life and would like to revive the color of my seat. It's orange and black. I was wondering if dyeing it would be a good choice, after some practice of course. Any recommendations?

[@The45Gunslinger]

Jim, great videos, thanks. I was wondering how you would compare finishes such as Super sheen Eco-Flo professional finish clear glossFeiblings Saddle Lac and Acrylic Resolene or would you : )

[@TandyLeatherCo]

+Hawk .Scarbrough We will pass along the compliment to Jim! Although some finishes can be somewhat interchangeable, most are designed to work optimally with different products for different purposes. For instance, Top Finish is designed as a water-resistant gloss finish for Waterstains, Super Shene is designed as a water-resistant finish for other Eco-Flo products, and Acrylic Resolene may be well suited to work as a water-resistant finish for Fiebing dyes.

[@The45Gunslinger]

Thank you.

[@wileydog420]

The Eco Flo Hi-Lite stain I have is an older bottle I bought a few years ago in large a large quantity. It doesn't resemble the bottle you show in your video. Has it always had acrylic in it or is this a new development?

[@TandyLeatherCo]

+wileydog420 The bottle in the video features our new label, however the Eco-Flo Hi-Lite was developed as an acrylic product. Note that all liquids can begin to deteriorate over time, so it's good practice to test older liquids on scrap leather prior to use to make sure they are working optimally.

[@megaweerd]

question. would there be any sense in applying a finish to the bottom side of leather? I'm hoping to make it last longer.

[@TandyLeatherCo]

Hello Charles! Some people prefer a slick finish on the rougher side of the leather, however this specific wallet design pattern features a wallet liner, so it is unnecessary.

[@samiam619]

What do you consider a slick finish?

[@samiam619]

I am doing one of Tandy’s wine bottle carriers. I dyed part red, part a wine color and the background is British Tan. The British Tan I applied with a dauber and around the carvings with a brush. It’s a great color IF you can just put one coat. But you can’t, there is always overlap and then it’s darker. Your work in this video shows just one color in the background. Help for future projects! Thanks.

[@user-mi2qc6pk8g]

В итоге акрил не защищает первоначальный цвет кожи от окрашивания антик-пастой, плюс пасту недостаточно просто стереть. Придется с потом добиваться равномерного декоративного оттенения или получатся такие грязные пятна на листьях.

[@krishnendhuchakra6358]

why the hi-lite antiquing gel was not used before applying super shene resistant coat?

[@susantipsyhealy7655]

The antiquing would have ended staining the entire piece instead of just highlighting the carving

[@WhimsicalGriffin]

Since you work for tandy you can use such excessive amounts of materials but for those of us with limited finances, we have to be sparing with the materials. It would be nice if you show tutorials where you dont toss a ton of glaze and antiquing medium on it as if it was only 25 cents a bottle.

[@TandyLeatherCo]

We welcome you to use as much or as little as you want to get the result you desire. Each leather crafter has their own preference. In this particular technique it is better to use too much than too little. Jim wanted to make sure the liquid penetrated all of the deep impressions so he used what some might think is more than enough, but others may view as the right amount. One of the beautiful things about this art form is personal touch.

[@minerblue9641]

That sure is a waste of good materials when you use a gigantic sponge.

[@Captain_MonsterFart]

I'm not sure I like that glossy, plastic look.

[@undevous]

У него рот не затыкается! Болтун :(((

[@minerblue9641]

That sure is a waste of good materials when you use a gigantic sponge.

[@svoksis]

This could have been a 2 minute video

[@TandyLeatherCo]

+PITTALO We do have other videos that summarize this information, however we have had quite a few requests to go more in depth with each of these steps. Hopefully you found some of the information in this video helpful!

[@PCSInternational]

+Tandy Leather thank you for not summarizing. The information was thorough and answered some questions that I have had on the antiquing treatment on the leather. Great video, beautiful leather work.