Leather Dye

[50cal.cliff]

I have been using some leather dye,on some recent projscts. More accurately what I have been using is Antique Leather Stain Saddle Tan #22071-06 by Tandy. Even after shaking well before use it could stand to be thinned and lightened.
The bottle states for a lighter shade use Tandy's Antique Leather Stain Reducer. I can order this but, I need it now and don't have time to wait on order.
Does anyone know what will work as a reducer. I have tried mineral spirits, acetone and laquer thinner. None of which seems to work as a thinner/reducer!
It doesn't say what ingredients are in this stain but I am thinking it's not a oil based product because none of the reducers I tried seemed to work.
Anyone have any thoughts as to what would work as a reducer on this product? Perhaps alachol?

 

[windwalker_au]

I have been using some leather dye,on some recent projscts. More accurately what I have been using is Antique Leather Stain Saddle Tan #22071-06 by Tandy. Even after shaking well before use it could stand to be thinned and lightened.
The bottle states for a lighter shade use Tandy's Antique Leather Stain Reducer. I can order this but, I need it now and don't have time to wait on order.
Does anyone know what will work as a reducer. I have tried mineral spirits, acetone and laquer thinner. None of which seems to work as a thinner/reducer!
It doesn't say what ingredients are in this stain but I am thinking it's not a oil based product because none of the reducers I tried seemed to work.
Anyone have any thoughts as to what would work as a reducer on this product? Perhaps alachol?

cliff try methylated spirits that some times works.
bernie :thumbsup:

 

[wwpete52]

The dye you are using is probably alcohol based. I'm suprised that the thinner didn't work. I use that sometimes to lighten the effect of leather dye. If it is alcohol based try water then use it on a scrap piece and see what happens.

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

You have already died the leather, right? If so, you are pretty well stuck with the color as it is.

 

[50cal.cliff]

I used this dye on a small project here awhile back. I still have one full bottle and part of another. The problem is it's to thick to work with easily and I would like to lighten the results for this next project. I just can't figure out what to thin/reduce with.
I am pretty sure it's not an oil based product because none of the products mentioned that I tried before seemed to reduce it. I just asked because I need it shortly and was hoping someone might have some experience with this product. I can wait and order the proper reducer from Tandy!

 

[Trkdriver99]

Try rubbing alchol.
Ronnie

 

[paulvallandigham]

Most dyes are either water soluable, or alcohol soluable. Open the bottle, and holding it away from your face, fan the top of the bottle towards your nose with your palm. Smell. You should be able to smell the alcohol if that is its base. If you don't know what alcohol smells like, buy a bottle of rubbing alcohol, and give it a smell test.

Most of the leather dyes are alcohol soluable, and that is what you should use to thin it.

 

[LaBonte]

I have been using some leather dye,on some recent projscts. More accurately what I have been using is Antique Leather Stain Saddle Tan #22071-06 by Tandy.

The problem is that Antique Leather Stain is NOT a leather dye. While it will color leather that is not it's design purpose per se.
As it's name implies it is designed to give an antique effect, specifically on tooled veg-tan. That's the reason it's so thick (IIRC it contains wax and some petroleum products). Using it for the purpose it was designed for, one applies it to the tooled (carved or stamped) and dyed leather and then you let it dry for 5-10 minutes. You then wipe off any surface excess leaving behind the extra in the tooling to give it an aged/antiqued (supposedly anyway) look. Using antique stain as a dye is sort of like using axle grease in place of motor oil.......

My suggestion - save your money and don't buy the reducer which won't help much in making the Antique Stain into a dye. Instead get some standard (NOT the oil dye) Fiebings Dye in saddle tan or whatever color you want - this dye can be thinned with plain old rubbing alcohol.
Then dependent on the leather you're using and if your wanting something of an aged look, crunch up the leather (if vegtan) which will crackle the surface, then apply the Antique Stain per the above instructions.
Frankly though, the so-called Antique stains don't make leather look anything like aged/old leather......there are better ways such as can be found here......
Aging veg tan leather

Anyway hope this clears up the confusion and helps you out.....

 

[50cal.cliff]

Well see there is my problem. I went to the only leather place we have within 60-80miles from here and asked for some leather dye and that's what they sold me. But what you said kind of jives with the direction what little directions there are. It does say the reducer will give a lighter shade.
That also explains why what I tried as a reducer seemed to help but not work well. If it has wax in it, the reducers I tried will help to break down the oils but they won't do alot to the wax.
Thanks for the heads up and I will just have to work out something to be able to use up what I have got.