Dye Mixing ??

[Reverend]

Howdy,

      I notice that one of the Holster Makers advertised Mahogany Brown in one of their colors to pick from. I haven't found it anywhere. So does a person mix the 2 together? Or swipe with one color & then swipe with the other color like Al Stohlmans Coloring Leather says to do? What do you all do.I have a Cowboy ask me to make a Bullet Strip & Shotgun Slide for his new rig he was given for Fathers Day. I usually can match close , but having problems.

Rev

[TN Mongo]

You can mix dyes.  I normally try to stay with Fiebing's and I like their professional oil dye the best.  You can also cut the dye with alcohol (some makers use plain water) to get different shades.  I have also applied a different shade of dye over an already dyed piece.  You can also apply neetsfoot oil over a dyed piece and it will change the color.

Just use a bunch of test strips.  I really hate trying to match someone else's color because even if you get it close, every piece of leather takes dye differently.  Good luck!

[JD Alan]

Rev, Fiebing's makes a Mahogany dye. That being said as TN Mongo said you can mix and blend dyes. It's been my experience that you quickly end up with a darker project than you planned once you start layering dyes. I agree with Mongo, do lots of testing, which will also help you practice applying it smoothly.

When I started this just a few years back I bought every color I could get my hands on of Fiebings dye, all in the small bottles, 4 oz I believe. That way I could see for myself what the the colors were going to look like. Fortunately I have a local company, Oregon Leather, that stocks pretty much everyhing that Fiebings sells. They also handle Herman Oak leather and Osborne tools, not that I can afford either the leather or the tools!

[outrider]

Rev,

One of our pards (Don 101) who lives in Germany, gave us a really nice brown a few years back.. He mixed Fiebings Saddle Tan with Medium Brown.  If I remember correctly it was 3 parts saddle tan to one part med. brown.  I have used it and it gives a really nice rich looking brown color

[Reverend]

Thanks guys,

    I have all the colors of Fiebings dyes. I prefer the Med Brown. I will mix some Mahogany with it Monday Morn. I will let you all know how it turns out. Thanks again for the responses.

Rev

[outrider]

Ahhhhh...we have created a "mad scientist"  mixung all his chemicals (dyes).

[Cliff Fendley]

I never use anything right out of the bottle, my dye bench looks like Dr. Jekyll's laboratory 

[TN Mongo]

Outrider,

The rig I just finished for myself is dyed with about the exact dye blend you mentioned.  Saddle Tan with a touch of Medium Brown.  My wife, however, has commandeered my new holsters and my new stainless Black Hawks.  I'm still using the new belt with 7 year old holsters.  The only way that she's going to give the holsters back is when I finish a new rig for her.  It looks like I'm looking for another set of Black Hawks too.

[Springfield Slim]

I mix a quart of Tandy's Briar Brown with a small bottle(4 oz) of Mahogany. Makes a nice antique reddish brown that look almost exactly like Wickett and Craigs pre-dyed Chestnut. I make the holsters from the W&C 'cause the Tandy Eco-Flo dye runs all over when I wet mould, but I can make all the accessories using theTandy dye.

[Reverend]

Hey Mongo,

      I have learned one thing after 5 wives, WOMEN ARE EVIL & men are STUPID


Rev

[Slowhand Bob]

Reverend, I have been using the dyes from Weaver, five basic colors.  Weavers mahogany is a very strong color that I use to obtain reddish blends with the browns or tan.  I call five parts dark brown to one part mahogany a chocolate color and five parts tan to one part mahogany is my version of chestnut.  I'm not sure how dominate a color the Fiebings mahogany is but one part to two parts dark brown might work.  Weavers browns are a bit weak and splotchy without extra work. 

[Reverend]

Thanks guys,

    Thank you so much. I have a Cowboy that was given a brand new holster set. Evil Roy Rig in Mahogany Brown. He ask me to make him a bullet caddy & shotgun slide to match. I always thought I was pretty good at matching colors. I have met my match now. Bob thanks for the formulas.

Rev

[TN Mongo]

Reverend,

Five wives!  You're a glutton for punishment.  I've had the same one for 34 years and I'm not ready to trade her in yet.  It would take too long to train another one.  Yes, I am also guilty of doing stupid stuff, but it makes life interesting.