Question on dyes

[Forty Rod]

I'm looking for a dark brown finish that doesn't look too "modern", but I don't want an "antiqued" finish, either.

What can you all recommend that's not too complicated for a new guy?

Also, is dark thread available so I don't have the white showing off all of my screw-ups?

Thanks.

[Mogorilla]

Tandy offers a brown waxed linen, (fairly dark) and black waxed linen thread.  I really like the black thread on brown leather as a contrast.    Tandy's also has a variety of dye's as well.   Hard to go on those as I have a tan that depending on the leather is really dark brown.   

[Marshal Will Wingam]

How dark you looking for, 40R? I've had good results by applying dark brown until the piece won't take any more dye. If you start applying the dye with a dauber, it won't give a completely even finish and leaves a slight amount of color variation over the whole thing. You can keep putting dye on until it's the shade you want. Alternately, for a darker brown yet, I've dyed black first with Lincoln dye then put Fiebings dark brown over that. It looks almost black until the light hits it. A light coat of EVOO will bring out the color nicely. I'm sure some of the other pards here will have more ideas for you.

[HorsePen Henry]

Forty Rod,  Ya might want to try applying Fiebing's brown with a sheep wool pad with the wool shorn off short. Just keep plenty dye on the pad and work it in circular motion and work back into the dyed areas before it dries. I usually do this twice on both the grain and flesh sides. It takes awhile because of the drying time between coats, but it works for me. After this I like to apply a good even coat of HI-LITER with a slightly damp sponge working it in real good. This will give ya a fairly dark, almost chocalate brown. Then I use EVOO and wax over this if I don't want to buff it back with Scotch-Brite pads for a bit of antiqueing. I hope this works for ya or at least gives ya some ideas.

X Horse Pen

[Forty Rod]

Thanks, gents.  I think I'm gonna experiment on scrap for a spell before comitting to anything valuable.

[HorsePen Henry]

That's good idee. It's lotsa fun too.