a question about dyes and leather

T

thedirector93

Joined
Dec 10, 2013
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so i ordered some leather to make some sheaths for my knives and i forgot to get some black dye with it, but i just thought "i'll find it at a fabric store around here", but none of them have it. i found this stuff called Rit liquid dye, its for fabric but it didnt say leather so i didnt get it. but will it work? i really dont want to have to order some dye online cause i dont want to have to pay $12 to ship 1 item, what would you guys suggest?
 
Do you have any hobby stores like Hobby Lobby or Michaels around you? They usually have some form of leather dye.
Your profile doesn't say where you are...if you tell us where you are located, someone nearby may know of a local source.
 
Also check to see if you have a Tandy near by. I wouldn't try fabric dye. If you're gonna do it, do it right.

Tandy sells eco-flo water based dyes which have worked fine for me. I'm now using Fiebings spirit based dye and I like it, but if you can find it, I hear great things about their oil based dyes.

Btw, I've had some good (so far) results using a finish that I made by melting beeswax and coconut oil. Very water resistant so far.

Here's a pic of my first sheath that I completed a few days ago. I used the Fiebings stuff on it. Black and green.

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im in the Woodbridge/ Manassas area of North VA, all the Micheals in the area dont have it, jo ann fabrics doesnt have it, i couldnt find a Tandy, im think online is the only option
 
It looks like you have a Hobby Lobby not too terribly far and you can also try A.C. Moore and see if they have it. I know Hobby Lobby carries the eco-flo.
 
Rit dye should work.... Just use the powder form not the liquid. As you can then make it as concentrated as you wish. Many wood workers use that same dye for wood coloring.
 
I tried shoe polish, wax type, just for fun. it turned out really good, I especially like using multiple colors like beige with Cordova and black to get a different effect.
 
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Alaska_Guy said:
Rit dye should work.... Just use the powder form not the liquid. As you can then make it as concentrated as you wish. Many wood workers use that same dye for wood coloring.
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I wouldn't buy a sheath made using clothing dye, but I'm funny like that. Now if you're just making something for yourself or playing around, well then I fully endorse that. The way leather dye was explained to me is that it is simply pigment suspended in whatever carrier is used, be it water, spirits or "oil" (there's some debate about whether or not oil is even actually used). If it really is that simple, then I'd be concerned about whatever else is in products like Rit. Clothing dye has the potential to damage the cloth, but I'm no scientist, I can't tell you why, or if whatever causes that can also damage the leather fibers.

I stopped by Hobby Lobby in my area (it's a big store) and they had only one bottle of eco-flo in a brown shade. The only thing that I saw there that I think makes it worth a visit is the Tandy overstitcher wheel kit. They ask $20 for it and that is a very competitive price. Everything else I'd buy online or make.

What tools are you using to make your sheath? Some of the recommended items can be fudged, but some are more necessary. How are you doing the stitching? Where are you getting your leather?

Although I've made small projects in the past, I'm only now thinking about using leather in a serious manner. I spent about $150 to make the above sheath. I had some supplies already, so probably closer to $250, but now I have the supplies (including great leather) to make several sheaths.

Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

Read this thread too. Trust me on this one. :)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1139038
 
I've used Fiebings alcohol-based dye with great results. Had to order online though as no local stores carried it around here. Tandy definitely has it in-store if you have one nearby.
 
Check out shoe repair shops in your area. They usually sell leather dyes or can at least order it for you.
 
Hobby Lobby like has already been mentioned would be a good bet. You might also check the yellow pages for old school saddle shops or shoe repair shops as they might have some on hand. I have also found it in the local country/feed store in the horse tack area. They should also have Neatsfoot oil as well.

Good luck,
Chris
 
thedirector93 said:
im in the Woodbridge/ Manassas area of North VA, all the Micheals in the area dont have it, jo ann fabrics doesnt have it, i couldnt find a Tandy, im think online is the only option
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I'm in NoVA as well, thedirector93, just northeast of you in Fairfax Co. The nearest Tandy Leather Factory Store is up east of Baltimore in Essex, MD, right off of I-695. Its a great place (as are most of the Tandy leather stores) and has a complete selection of leathers, cutting tools, dies, accessories, etc. Worth the one hour trip up North. The next nearest store is in Henrico County, VA, just north of Richmond (about two hours away).

Cheers!
TedP
 
My suggestion would be to do a bunch of research. Read all you can about building a leather sheath. Lots of videos out there too. Good and bad. Then make a shopping list. There will be quite a few things that you will need. Leather tools and techniques have evolved through centuries a certain way....because it works. When I first started out I kept trying to reinvent the wheel, from tools, to techniques. I even tried to reinvent hand sewing. They say there are three ways of learning, through your mistakes, by someone else's mistakes or not learning at all. Learn from mine and don't reinvent the wheel. Learn how to do a process right the first time and what tools are used by masters to accomplish that task. The quality of your work will soar. I bet there might be a couple of saddle makers around that might let you hang out too. You may not be interested in making a saddle but you can learn how to edge, how to burnish , how to cut etc.

Once you have your shopping list made up go ahead and order online. If you shop online you can probably get everything at one place and save on shipping. That $15 shipping on one bottle of dye won't be so bad when spread out over several things. You'll spend that driving across town to pick up that bottle of dye anyways.
 
Why not try it on a scrap piece of leather? My understanding of leather is minimal when it comes to sheaths. But I can tell you transtint dye is a big name in the wood working world and I know a lot of guys who use rit dye with great results on wood. The usual problem with cheaper dyes is that they fade quickly. This is due to the effect sun has on the dye.

It doesn't matter if your using expensive dye or cheap dye most wood workers always recommend using dye on pieces that will not see extended periods in the sun.
 
Just because dye will color the leather (or wood, or clothes, or whatever) doesn't mean it's a good idea. I have no doubt that most dyes will do the job of coloring, but if it weakens the fiber and causes a problem with the stitching (where it's already weakened by the stitch grooving and holes), well, that would suck.

Like I mentioned before, I'm all for experimenting and testing and all that good stuff, but only time will tell if you damaged something by using a product that is incorrect for the application. I'm just starting at this too, and have had to lean on some great folks for info and help. One common thread with these people is to use quality products, from the tools and chemicals, to the leather itself. You can always find me making my own tools and stuff, but some things aren't worth risking your hard work on. I guess that's all I'm really saying. ;)
 
I make my own using analine dyes from woodcrafters and alcohol from the hardware store.
 
You can get Fiebing Leather Dye through amazon for under $10. You're paying more for shipping than the dye but it's still not so bad. Depending on the MPG of your vehicle and how far you have to drive, $5 shipping is probably cheaper than gas.
 
FullyTorque said:
You can get Fiebing Leather Dye through amazon for under $10. You're paying more for shipping than the dye but it's still not so bad. Depending on the MPG of your vehicle and how far you have to drive, $5 shipping is probably cheaper than gas.
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Unless you have Prime, then shipping is free. That's how I got my bottles. :)
 
If there is a Fleet Farm, Tractor Supply Co, etc nearby, check in the horse tack section. They have dyes, neetsfoot oil, cleaners/conditioners and so forth for taking care of saddles and bridles and whatnot.
 
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