supermarket /houshold dyes?

[Django]

I have been looking at various ways of making your own dyes on the forum and was wondering if anyone has used "cold water material dyes" that you can buy from supermarkets etc?
I have a lot of wood dyes spirit and water based, is there any reason why they cannot be used, they seem to colour ok?
Thanks
Django

[cowboywc]

Min-Wax Gel-Stains work real well on leather just ask Annie.
WC

[ChuckBurrows]

Most oil based wood dyes are not so good on leather, but I've successfully used several water based and or spirit based ones over the year.

The other option is to use period plant and mineral based dyes - do a search for period leather dyes under various search terms for more info.

[goodtime annie]

I am working on my second photo album using Min-wax stain on it. This was golden oak in 3 coats on light leather. It was the first one I did when my daughter got married. WC and I talked about it  and he said that it seems to work really well on large un-tooled areas. I think so too! I have been quite please.

[Django]

I am working on my second photo album using Min-wax stain on it. This was golden oak in 3 coats on light leather. It was the first one I did when my daughter got married. WC and I talked about it  and he said that it seems to work really well on large un-tooled areas. I think so too! I have been quite please.

Annie, as i live in England we have different product names to the US.
Can you tell me what type of dye Min-wax is and the way it is used?
thanks
Django

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That Min-wax makes a nice finish. I'll have to try it. Thanks for the pic, Annie.

[Boothill Bob]

What is Min-wax, dont think we have that in Sweden

[goodtime annie]

Minwax® Wood Finish™
A penetrating oil-based wood stain, available in 22 wood tone colors that can be used to enhance any wood surface.

Minwax® Gel Stain
A gelled oil-based wood stain which can be applied to wood, plywood, veneer, fiberglass, metal, and molded fiberboard.

Minwax® Water-Based Wood Stain
A penetrating water-based wood stain available in 74 colors that can be used to enhance any wood surface.

http://www.minwax.com/products/wood_stains/

A friend in Mississippi has been using them for well over 10 yrs and has had no problems with them or with the how they effected the leather in the long run of 10 plus yr.

[goodtime annie]

Most oil based wood dyes are not so good on leather, but I've successfully used several water based and or spirit based ones over the year.

Chuck I was wondering why you do not feel an oil based wood dye is not good for leather? We mix things with neatsfoot oil, we use EVOO, Feibings oil dyes and many other oil based products.

[Forty Rod]

Psssst!  Hey, Django, since no one has addressed your original question, I'd like to make a suggestion.  Buy the smallest amount you can in a color you like and try it on a scrap piece of leather. Use a big enough piece so you can give it a real torture test when it's dry to see how it hold up to wear and tear, reacts to different finish coats, etc.

Let us know what you turn up.

[goodtime annie]

Water based material dyes (such as Rit here in the US) I have seen used on suede and other garment leathers, I have not heard of or used any on veg tanned leathers.

[ChuckBurrows]

Chuck I was wondering why you do not feel an oil based wood dye is not good for leather? We mix things with neatsfoot oil, we use EVOO, Feibings oil dyes and many other oil based products.

Because they are completely different types of oils - the oils used in leatherwork are non-drying oils where as those used in wood stains are drying oils i.e. they dry hard and over time do not let the oil "breathe".
BTW - Fiebings Oil dyes actually don't have any oils in them per their own MSDS - why they ever named it that I don't know - the oil dyes are by their own words an "improved" version of their spirit dyes...
Now many of us "old timers" have or still make our onw true oil dyes by adding oil to the spirit dyes - mixing them using a blender works best - just add a couple of tablespoons of Neatsfoot or EVOO and whir it up........

[goodtime annie]

When I was doing a lot of wood work a tech support person from Minwax (NOT a sales person) said that they help restore the oils back into the wood. That it is the protective finish that you apply after the stain that seals it much like neatlac. The stains them selfs still allow the wood to breathe.

[Django]

Psssst!  Hey, Django, since no one has addressed your original question, I'd like to make a suggestion.  Buy the smallest amount you can in a color you like and try it on a scrap piece of leather. Use a big enough piece so you can give it a real torture test when it's dry to see how it hold up to wear and tear, reacts to different finish coats, etc.

Let us know what you turn up.

Thanks everyone for the input!! Please  carry on posting on this "kitchen chemistry" subject

Rod i will do some experiments and post my results.

Django

[goodtime annie]

Just to clear up some facts on Minwax



Hi Anne,

Thank you for visiting the Minwax website. We appreciate your interest in
our products.

Our Wood Finish Stains penetrate into the surface and fill the pores in the
wood. They don't necessarily harden like a clear finish or paint. Once in
the wood, they are not going to dry out the wood either. I am not sure
where you heard that. On leather, the stain may work, but we have not
tested successfully that way. We are a wood care group.

I hope this helps and thank you again for your inquiry. If you have any
other questions, please reply with the complete message history and I will
respond as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,
Daniel
Minwax Product Support