Question for cavscout

[breacan]

I don't want to tread on any trade secrets so if you don't want to answer, I'll understand.

The question has to do with dying your leather products. I have tried Tandy's Black Pro-dye and find it very unsatisfactory. It leaves the leather with a most offensive odor that is practically permanent. I have a belt that has been airing in the garage for 6 weeks and it still smells.

Is there something you have to do to use this dye, is there a better one out there or do you not use Tandy's dyes. I know that there is Fiebing's but I think that they are either made by Tandy or they make Tandy's.

Years ago when I was doing a lot of leather work Tandy's was the only dye I used and never had this problem.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Cecil

[turpin]

I use both and haven't had such a problem with either. As long as the belt is a potential writ-off, try wiping it down with rubbing alcohol and letting it dry. The dyes are alcohol-based, so it may have soem usefull effect. You can also contact Tandy either online or call one of their stores.

[Kiltman]

I've been using Leather Factory dies. Some are better than others. White doesn't work at all—it peals off after a little time. Turpin's suggestion that you wipe it down is the only way that I know of to get good contact with the dies. Both Leather Factory/Tandy are on line and their sales persons seem very willing to help.

[cavscout]

I wish I had better news for you Cecil but all the leather I work with is already dyed at the tannery when I get it. The only dyeing I do is on the edges after I've cut into it and for that I use Fiebings dyes. They smell for a short time but then go away completely. I have noticed that the browns have quite a bit more oily, bitter smell than the black which is more like alcohol.

It does seem unusual that after so may weeks there would still be an aroma. What kind of leather are you using (oil or vegetable tanned). Perhaps the leather was tanned with something that is reacting with the dye. And if this is a piece of leather not tanned by a professional, it's possible the leather was not properly tanned and the smell you have is the smell of decaying flesh.

I'd go with Turpin's idea first and them maybe use a sealer on the leather. Maybe that will trap in the aroma so it's not so strong.


Post back when you have an update, I'm very curious about this.

[A Hay]

I've not had the problem you describe, but I generally use Fiebling's oil dye for black and Tandy water based antique stain for browns.

You might also try coating the leather with Fiebling's Acrylic Resolene leather finish. This might help to seal in the odor.

Good luck,
Tom

[KiltedKnight]

First off, if you are dying any leather black you'll get the best results if you first use a deep blue dye and after that has dried the use the black dye. Tandy sells sealers for dyed leather but I have always just rubbed the dyed and dried leather down hard with a dry cloth and then applied a good coat of shoe polish and shined it which has always sealed freshly dyed leather well for me.