stain as dye?

[Robert Egler]

I have a new pouch I made. I don't usually use leather dye, nothing against it I just usually let the leather be whatever color it is, but this one I'd like to have darker.

I probably should just go buy leather dye at Tandy, but that's long drive, and besides whenever I go there to buy one thing I come home with several hides I didn't intend to buy, if you know what I mean, which will make this really expensive leather dye. :grin:

I was wondering if anyone ever used (non-oil) wood stain as leather dye, and if so how'd it work?

I did this once as an experiment with a pair of buckskin gloves and some oil based wood stain. The leather got a lot darker than I expected, but the real issue was it took MONTHS to dry. It is waterproof though, and it didn't get hard or stiff like I thought might happen.

But anyone have experience with using wood stain that isn't oil based as leather dye?

 

[Stophel]

I just dyed some leather the other day with walnut hulls. :wink: All it cost me was the time to pick them up, and brown stained hands.

Dyed with walnut hulls and neatsfoot oil added. The oil darkens it considerably. After dry, the dye turns it light brown.

 

[SpottedBull]

I never have used it but would be very interested in anyone else's results. Im always looking for other ways to do things.

Very nice work on that hawk cover too, by the way! I gotta go find me some walnut trees!

 

[LaBonte]

But anyone have experience with using wood stain that isn't oil based as leather dye?

Yes I have and so have many others I know - it's especially handy for "aging" leather. My favorite is the Carver Tripp stains - don't have experience with any others but this brand works good and is available at most hardware/paint stores - you can thin with water or use as is - LIGHTLY dampening the leather surface first will help.
After staining use a decent top coat - an easy homemade on is 50/50 beef/deer/elk (anyone of the three will work) tallow or use Manteca brand hog lard (or any unsalted lard), beeswax, and a bit of oil - I use Extra Virgin Olive oil but neats foot or mink oil works fine as well.
Melt them together in an old slow cooker or use a double boiler - keep the heat low - if you've got any pine or spruce trees around throw in a small chunk of the dried pitch - adds a nice odor as well as anti-bacterial properties. This is a version of dubbin.

 

[Stophel]

Depends on where you're at whether or not you have walnut trees. Here in Ky, they're EVERYWHERE, and there's NO shortage of walnuts. Now is the time to pick them up.

 

[SpottedBull]

Not sure about down here in north Texas...

 

[Stophel]

If you have pecan trees (they're all over the place around Austin, I know), you should be able to use pecan hulls too, though I'm told that the dye is not quite as strong.

 

[SpottedBull]

Awesome...we have those things coming out of our ears here.