Dye Tests

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

              Ditto what WC said, WC taught me about Skidmores, and sun tanning, it works great..... 



                                                               tEN wOLVES 

[santee]

Hmmmmm....good info. Thanks!

[SaddleRider]

That's funny.

Those of you who have used Skidmore's or Lexol: how does it alter the color of the overall project? I remember using Bag-Kote and it didn't seem to affect the overall color. I'm tempted to buy one or the other based on the comments here.

I can't speak for the Skidmore's, however I have worked with both Lexol and Neatsfoot oils during the last year while I apprenticed under a gentleman cowboy with 25 years experience in the shoe, boot, saddle repair and custom leather making field.

Lexol will darken slightly more than the color you are dyeing, while the Neatsfoot oil will definitely give you a much darker effect on the leather.

I have used the Bag Kote on dried dyes with the same result you stated above, with the following exception.

I was dying a custom guitar strap I made with Fiebings "Medium Brown" Leather Dye and it started getting darker than I wanted it to be, so moving quickly I douse a sheepskin with Bag Kote and rubbed vigorously over the affected area and it did mellow out the color quite a bit.  I can't guarantee the same results for anyone else, but it worked for me.

I hope this info helps.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks for the post on that, SR. Welcome to the forum. Looking forward to your posts. Be sure to post some pics of your work.

[SaddleRider]

Sure thing Marshal WW and thanks for the welcome.

I posted some pics of my work under the "Leathersmiths.....show us yer stuff!!!" thread.