Leather stands the test of time, but from time to time, it needs dyeing to replenish its appearance. When you go searching how to dye leather, the search engine brings you a myriad of options, but a question on which one is the most appropriate arises. In as much as dyeing leather is quite tricky, some guides never give you all the information you need.
Every piece of leather differs from the next, and hence, you can never expect the results to be similar if you use the same dye. This article will give you the criteria used to achieve high-end finishes with a smooth, uniform feel as well as consistency of color.
Below is a step by step guide on how to dye leather:
Step 1: Getting All the Essentials
First things, first! You cannot start dyeing leather without getting all the supplies you need. To successfully dye leather, you will require a dye, to begin with, leather oil to act as a conditioner, a leather sealer, and something to use while applying the dye. A pair of gloves as well might prove handy in preventing direct contact of your skin with the dye.
Step 2: Choose the Right Dye
Also, it is essential to select your dye appropriately. Most commercially prepared dyes often come with a finish, a preparer, and the dye itself. Do not let the color of the dye fool you as this is not the final color after you apply it on your leather item or piece. You can choose from the many dye options available; from oil, alcohol, or even water-based dyes. Water-based dyes are often coatings, and hence, they can completely change the color of the leather piece. Whether you decide to pick a paint-on, spray-on, or sponge-on dye all depends on your preference in terms of ease of use.
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Step 3: Prepare the Leather
Putting on a pair of gloves may sound pretty straightforward, but you can never be too careful with dyes. They may form tough to clean dyes on our hands; thus, as the adage goes, prevention is better than cure. Moreover, the fumes from leather dyes are usually poisonous; hence, if you are working indoors, it is vital to ensure that the room is well-ventilated before you start working.
If you can take your work outdoors, this is even much better. However, you should protect your dye from direct sunlight or extreme heat, and for the best results, try applying it at temperatures of 15 degrees Celsius or above. These are some of the ways you prepare your leather for dyeing:
Choose the Leather to Dye
Before the actual prepping of leather, select the right leather first. There are no many considerations for picking the right leather to dye. It may be worthwhile, however, to note that using 100% top grain leather makes all the marks and different shades on the leather visible. If you are dyeing a piece of leather, it has more marks and inconsistencies as well; hence, it might still show even after dying it severally.
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Wipe the Leather
If your leather has been neglected for a while, a high chance that crap may have accumulated exists. You should clean it with a dry rag before you dye it to create an even coat. Some people use a de-glazer to remove any oils that may have gotten on the leather, and it does work. Also, some people claim that hydrating the leather a bit makes the dye finish smoother. Also, if the leather has been dyed before, it would be crucial to the first strip of the previous color before you start dyeing.
Step 4: Select Your Dyes
The Fiebings Pro Dye is a great oil-based dye, but if you prefer water-based dyes, you could go with Tandy’s Eco-Flo. It is vital to choose a dye that will give a consistent coat, such as the Pro Dye from Fiebings. Cutting your dye typically means diluting it. A water dye only requires you to add some water as per the guide, whereas, if it is an oil dye, you can always buy a reducer such as oil. Alcohol-based dyes require alcohol to dilute.
How you decide to apply your dye depends wholly on your projects. If you would like to achieve a bold and distinct color, you could go full strength, and you will get just that. If any blemishes occur, it is advisable to apply a second coat with a full-strength dye as it helps cover them. On the other hand, if you are diluting your dye, it is best to use the base of the dye.
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Step 5: Cover Areas You Do Not Want to Dye
Dyes will change the color of almost everything you apply it on, and this you might not want to happen for areas not covered in leather. In case you are wondering how to dye your leather jacket without changing the color of every piece, you only need to cover it using masking tape. This covers the place you would not like to turn, and thus, you can dye without worrying about these parts.
As an extra tip, your leather eventually dries out if you do multiple passes of water-based dyes. After you are done applying the water-based dyes, apply some oil (Neatsfoot Oil) to put back some oil into the leather.
Step 6: Apply a Base Coat
This is typically the most essential coat. First, dip a sponge or piece of cloth into the dye and then rub the dye in circles until all the leather is covered with dye. You should then allow it some time to dry.
When you first dip the piece of cloth or sponge in the dye, it will carry a lot of dye, and hence do not apply pressure at first to avoid creating patches with more dye than others. Instead, use little to no pressure at first and gradually increase the amount of pressure as the dye gets absorbed by the leather. If the dye begins getting spotty, it indicates that it has drained from the sponge or piece of cloth, and hence, you should reload it with dye.
While dyeing, make sure the edges of the leather are not left out too. You can pace the piece of leather on something that you would not mind if it got dye, such as an old cloth you no longer use. Do not treat the edges of the leather like the end of where you are supposed to dye. This prevents the edges from looking less dyed compared to the rest of the leather.
Using paintbrushes works best for edges and other small areas, although it proves quite hard to hide brush strokes over large areas. If you are applying a liquid dye to small areas, wool daubers are awesome for the process. Some people use sprayers to make it easier to blend colors for repairs.
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Step 7: Apply a Second Coat
The second coat should be applied diagonally in back and forth directions. If you do not find the exact shade, you are looking for, combining different colors might work. For instance, if you want dark brown but you can only find the light one, you could use a black dye, which adds a little shade. Adding a white dye, on the other hand, makes a dye have a lighter color.
Applying the dye in several coats helps to ensure uniform color distribution and a smooth finish. If the present color saturation pleases you, now allow the leather to dry. You may end up smudging if you continue working before it dries off completely.
Step 8: Finishing
Allow the dye to dry and adhere to the leather for at least 24 hours. To prevent it from becoming firm, you should pick it up occasionally and flex it while wearing gloves. After the dye completely dyes out, it is crucial to apply a finish on the leather. If you opt not to apply the finish, whoever ends up using the item will have dye on their clothes which is not good.
A wax-based conditioner or oil is great at finishing your dye works. Once you work it evenly, again, allow it to dry. Touching it before it dries completely will ruin the finish. Buffing the leather with cotton after the finish dries prevents it from having a sticky feel. Also importantly, ensure that you avoid burnishing using gum tragacanth before the process since it may make the leather to resist the dye.
At this point, your leather item is complete and ready to go. However, if you still do not have a smooth finish, or whatever you expected, practice a little more, and you will perfect the skill with time.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Q. How do You Prepare Leather for dye?
Preparing leather for dyeing is the first and most crucial step while dyeing leather. Typically, during this process, the leather is cleaned, and all impurities from leather are removed before dying. You should remove oils by deglazing, dirt, or any present finishes. If the piece of leather has some marks or cracks, sand it carefully with smooth sandpaper to smoothen it or seal the cracks.
Q. Can you dye leather?
It is possible to dye leather. For you to change the color of leather, it is best to dye it to ensure that the color uniformly penetrates the leather, and does not sit on the item. However, you cannot simply use any dye you come across. Before you dye leather, research on how to dye leather couch with your preferred dye, identify the type of leather, and also find the best type of dye to use.
Q. How do I Turn Brown Leather into Black?
Fortunately, this is easy with leather as it dyes easily. For you to change brown leather to black, you should use a black leather dye on the item by applying it evenly with a brush. Allow it to dry, and after a while, you can add on extra coats to ensure the item turns darker. You only need to get the process of dying right, and your leather changes color permanently.
Q. Can You Dye Leather with Food Coloring?
Dyeing leather makes it pop! Some people have tried this, and they claim that it works. The commercial dyers may be expensive and at times, difficult to use. If you opt to go to the food coloring way, it is an inexpensive method that is also easy to clean up. Also, the food coloring does not leave any hard-to-clean dyes on your skin like the other dyes. However, it may not be as permanent.
Q. Can You Change Leather Color?
Changing the color of leather from one to the other is possible on leather, for instance, from black to white or vice versa. One can as well change a light leather to look darker without much effort, although doing the opposite is quite difficult. If, for instance, you have a dark-brown leather piece that you would like to look lighter, you may consider using a white dye to achieve this. A common mistake, however, is expecting that the final product will be the same color as that of the dye before application.
Q. Can You Use Wood Dye on Leather?
This depends on the type of wood dye you have. For instance, the Minwax oil-based wood dye works pretty well. It works typically in a similar way to how it does on wood. Some wood dyes may take longer to dry, but the results are typically the same.
However, if you have the pigmented wood dyes, it is best to avoid using them on leather because the results might turn out to be quite unnatural and blotchy. Various wood dyes work reasonably well, and therefore, you need not buy leather dyes in case you already have wood dyes at your disposal.
Basics to Hand Dyeing Leather
Final Words
Even the best quality of leather gets to fade with time, and hence, this step-by-step guide is here to ensure your leather item looks just as sharp as it was when you first bought it. Just like any other item that you own, dyed leather deserves to be cared for too. Dyes should be treated promptly, and from time to time, you can as well apply conditioners or some protective oil to keep it healthy.
In as much as dyeing your leather can be fun; it can also ruin your favorite leather accessory if you are not careful enough. It is therefore important first to practice enough before you dive into it.
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