Setting dyes

[Pappy Hayes]

I dont know if setting is the correct word to use here. I am working on a holster that I put on a hi-light color stain and I sprayed it with Leather Sheen. When I put water on it to bend it over to start stitching it caused spots on the dye and some of the dye came off on my fingers. What is the best thing to set or protect the dye? The holster still needs to be shaped to the gun it is for but I am affraid what will happen if the holster is submerged in water to form it.

Also what techniques do you use to dye your holsters and belts?

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

   Pappy, I use natural dyes, you never have the problem of rub off or the dye coming off, when I have used bottled dye, I most always had to go back over the piece to touch up where the water caused it to streak I always got nice results this way, but for a long time now, for holsters that need to be wet molded, I stay with the natural dyes, I'm a  big believer in them and prefer the results, but if you can't do the natural thing, because of time, I suggest the professional oil dye from Fiebings, maybe others will chime in on this with there methods, one thing I will say about using bottled dyes, you need to let them dry completely, and buff off any residue that might be left on the leather from the dye before putting on your finish /sealer.

                       Hope this helps

                  tEN wOLVES  

[Cliff Fendley]

I always fit a gun in the holster and let it sit and get happy before dying. Then regardless of the type of dye used I always shove a gun in the holster while its wet with the dye. I do the same thing with knife sheaths, I wet form the sheath to the blade when dying.

You can use a rag, masking tape, rubber band and rubber glove, etc. to keep the dye from getting on the handles.

[Pappy Hayes]

TenWolves Fiveshooter when you talk about natural dyes are you talking about the ones made using vinegar?

[Cliff Fendley]

I think he's talking about Vinegaroon, Walnut Husk, Coffee, etc. I agree those are the best.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Pappy and Cliff

         I use several natural dyes, and have some in different strengths

    1- walnut die/stain
    2- Coffee- darker brown
    3- Pecan- reddish brown
    4- Vinegaroon- deep dark black
    5- TEA- different shades of brown

       You can also mix these to get various colors / tones/ shades, or just straight and because you make a lot of it at one time it frees you up to experiment with it, and cost a fraction of what the bottled dyes do, but the big plus is, these dyes are in the leather, not just the surface, so dip dyeing is a great way to get the color where you want it.
       Also, I do all my sewing and putting together before dyeing, with exception of money belts, so when your holster is wet with dye, I wipe it off a little with paper towels  and then mold my gun to the holster, I only leave my gun in the holster for no more that 30 minutes then carefully remove it and use a one sided hanger to hang it up and dry.

                 Hope this will be of some help to you

                          tEN wOLVES

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

Howdy Pappy and Cliff

         I use several natural dyes, and have some in different strengths

    1- walnut die/stain
    2- Coffee- darker brown
    3- Pecan- reddish brown
    4- Vinegaroon- deep dark black
    5- TEA- different shades of brown

                          tEN wOLVES

Ten Woves, I have mixed a couple gallons of Coffee and will start my first batch of Vinegaroon the week.  Next I plan to do a batch of wallnut, do you do the same steps for the Pecan as walnut?

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Ten Woves, I have mixed a couple gallons of Coffee and will start my first batch of Vinegaroon the week.  Next I plan to do a batch of wallnut, do you do the same steps for the Pecan as walnut?

  TwoWalks, the pecan is prepared the same as the walnut dye, but I found it is much stronger, and takes less time in the dye to get color, you will need to do a test on scrap leather from your project, and remember when you oil the leather it will pop with color, but will darken also.

         tEN wOLVES 

[Cliff Fendley]

Just did a walnut rig today. After a good day drying will oil and let the color come out It doesn't look like much until the oil hits it.

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

  TwoWalks, the pecan is prepared the same as the walnut dye, but I found it is much stronger, and takes less time in the dye to get color, you will need to do a test on scrap leather from your project, and remember when you oil the leather it will pop with color, but will darken also.

         tEN wOLVES 

Thanks Ten Wolves:  I am also harvesting some "Oak Galls" to try as a dye also. 

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  That's good Two Walks, lets us know how that comes out

[Pappy Hayes]

So when you dip dye you dip the whole holster in so it dyes the inside also? This wont come off on your gun since you cannot get at good coat of sealer in there?

[Dalton Masterson]

Nope, it wont come off on the gun.

10W, you mentioned tea. What are you using for tea and are you reducing it down like the other dyes?
DM

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Nope, it wont come off on the gun.

10W, you mentioned tea. What are you using for tea and are you reducing it down like the other dyes?
DM

Dalton, I made the tea as an agent to help make the tannins a little stronger in the Vinegaroon dye, Chuck suggested it in a post a while back, and said it would give a deeper darker black, and it does, I Had a box of Black Tea, which is what he suggested, and I made about four QT. of it, used the whole box, I haven't tried it alone as a dye, but I'm sure it would give nice color, as a Tannin agent, for Vinegaroon, you use it as a tea bath before dyeing with the Vinegaroon. I stored the tea, in a plastic cat litter jug to use again as needed.

         tEN wOLVES 

[Pappy Hayes]

TenWolves do you dip it before stitching together of afterwards? What will it do to the thread?

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Pappy, I do all my stitching before doing my dyeing, my leather piece is done except for burnishing and finishing.


   tEN wOLVES 

[Cliff Fendley]

Regarding finishing the inside I spray some bag kote in there and run a rag in and out a few times with a stick.

I've never been too worried about dye coming off on a gun, Ivory and other knife handles are my biggest concern. Heck I shove guns and knives in a wet holster I just dip dyed, even then the dye will just rub off the metal, if it sets to long a little WD-40 will take it off. I wrap a rag around the grips if they are wood, ivory, stag or something else that will take the dye.

I would still like to know if there is a magic solution to setting the store bought Fiebings dyes so they wont rub off on ivory handles. I've tried everything and still have the problem sometimes. Never a problem with home made dyes, even ones I use oil in.

[rickk]

Cliff Fendley,

have you tried Resolene?

I have never had an ivory handle, so I can't say if it will help there, but it does seem to keep the die away from just about everything else, including sweaty human skin.

Rick

[Cliff Fendley]

I use Resolene a lot on modern stuff like knife sheaths. Never use it on period stuff. It still doesn't keep the Feibings dyes from staining ivory though. After the dye dries I buff off any residue really good before applying the finish but still have the problem.

[rickk]

Thanks for saying that. If I ever do anything with ivory I will be warned.  Would ivory do the same thing as stag antlers? I would assume they are both calcium mostly, but have played with neither.