Never had this happen before.....

[Dalton Masterson]

I made a belt about 2 weeks ago, that was to be covered in brass spots. Lots of spots. So I set the belt aside after I had it dyed, and ready to wear, and ordered spots.
I grabbed it today, and when i flexed it, it popped, and cracked. I can take it and roll it, and the leather cracks open and it now feels like there are ridges all the way around it.
Do you think the dye dried it out?? It was good before that.
It is now pretty much a piece of 40" brown scrap.
I gave it a coat of EVOO today after it cracked, to try and salvage it some, but the looks are gone for sure.

Frustrated......DM

[GunClick Rick]

Does the dye have alcohol in it?Would that do it?

[Dalton Masterson]

Thats my thinking GCR. I was using Fiebings, but thats what I normally use, and I have never had the problem. I really wish I could get the Fiebings Oil dye in dark brown but....
DM

[JD Alan]

Dalton, why can't you get Fiebings Oil dye in Dark brown? I've got a quart of it out in the shop.   

[MontanaSlick]

Dalton, I feel bad fer ya Pard.

Could the misfortune be from the tanning process?

I've had leather that had some hard spots and I couldn't use it.

MS

[ChuckBurrows]

Yes the dye did dry it out - happens even with the best leather........

then again no need to garbage it necessarily - oil it up well and see what happens some times that sows ear may just hide a silk purse - these belong to KT...







FWIW: Fiebings Oil dye does not have oil in it (ask for an MSDS) - why they called it that?? It is an improved version of the original spirit dye though...

You can make your own oil dye though - us old timers  have done it for years.....
Add a tablespoon or two of NON-Greasy Neatsfoot or EVOO to a pint of dye. Mix or shake REAL well (I use an old blender) do this each time you use it.
Only one caveat: When using homemade oil dye you MUST use a good sealer such as Bag or Tan Kote or one of the synthetics, other wise you will have dye ruboff from here until doomsday - the oil as it evaporates pulls the dye particles to the surface of the leather over time and .............

[Dalton Masterson]

Thanks for the info gents. Maybe I should have oiled it sooner, instead of putting it away and waiting for the spots.

Chuck, my intent was to try to antique it after I saw them big ol cracks. They are on par with the ones in your pic. I will have to resew the billets to get it to fit me tho.   My customer wants a new looking one.
Thanks for the tip on adding oil too.

JD, the Tandy I use told me they cant get the oil in dark brown. I have it in medium brown only. I just need to look around more.

DM

[outrider]

Dalton,

Go to the Fiebings web site and look for distributors...or order direct from Fiebings.

[JD Alan]

Chuck, I've read the bottle and wondered why they called the Pro dye "Oil dye" myself. Thanks for that heads up. Kid Terico has talked to me about how he mixes oil and dye in his rigs, information I appreciate very much.

Dalton, the Tandy store in Portland does not have Medium brown, only dark and light, funny how each one is a little different. I also have Oregon Leather in Portland that handles a full line of Fiebings products, Osborne tools, Hidecrafter stamps, and Herman Oak leather. The problem becomes spending too much money at these places!

Ordering direct sounds like a good option as Outrider mentioned, but I would be glad to get a quart (or other size) for you and ship it out, just let me know

I'll never forget that you are the one who "Brought me into the fold" when I was wandering around the SASS site looking for leather information. "Course some folks might be mad at you now for bringing this mouthy nosey preacher into the mix

[Dalton Masterson]

 
Thanks for the offers gents. I will go direct and see what happens!
DM

[GunClick Rick]

WHA WHA what happened I was lookin at the holster and knife ,the next thing i know i woke up on the floor~~~

I even noticed the Ts in brass dots,smuuuuth very smuuuuth~~~Gettin too rich fer my blood man~~


Oh yea good luck Dalton,i get dibs on the throw aways

[ChuckBurrows]

http://www.leatherunltd.com/care/dye/dye.html carries the Oil Dye in dark brown

Be sure and oil from the back as well as the front and then seal both sides....

[TN Mongo]

Dalton,

Chuck is correct about mixing dye with neetsfoot oil.  I often coat a piece with neetsfoot oil and then put Fiebing's professional oil dye on right after.  I get a real nice even dye job, but it can "bleed" later if I don't seal it well.  If I use this method, I let it dry overnight and then I buff the leather with a dry cloth to try to take off any extra dye and then I use a couple of coats of bag kote.  If I dye a belt using this method, I line it with an undyed piece of leather to keep it from bleeding on the owner's clothes.   

Recently I've been cleaning the leather with rubbing alcohol right before I dye it and I've been happy with those results.  I think this is a method Chuck mentioned a while ago, but I don't want to misquote him.