Overdye "gold" deer hide?

[Oregon Bill]

Guys, I have several big chunks of commercial-tanned deer hide back from when I didn't know any better. Can this be dyed to say a darker brown successfully, or does the chrome-tan process mean I am stuck with this phony color?

[Doc Arroyo]

Dying that stuff is really not a problem, if you have a big enough vat.  I have created more than a couple of pieces using commercial tan for reinactors that could not afford braintan.

I did one shirt that started with orangy-yellow colored hides (that I did not purchase) 
I used a thin solution of bleach and water with a bit of sun time to rinse out and fade the color.  Then a thinned out mahogany dye helped get the smoky color back in.  you do have to rinse like crazy to make sure you get the bleach out, but it was worth the effort.  He dances traditional fancy dancer, and most are surprised that the shirt isn't braintan.  but the rest of the painting on the shirt and real human hair added to the fringe really helps the look.

Thin out your dyes...and give it a couple of tries.  I think you will find the color your looking for.

[Wild_Willie]

How much shrinking does the hide go through with the bleaching and then the re-dye process?

  Not to hijack - but as a follow on question to this thread: I have a shirt & pants that are "Twinkie Gold" and would like them a more natural brain-tan or smoked color...

  Should I pull it apart and bleach & re-dye then stretch & dry and re-sew together OR just process each garment seperately?

  Will they shrink?

  I guess its not horrible if they do, then I can pluck the stitching and re-do each panel, then stretch it & dry - then re-sew it back together...

  Just curious.

Will

[Massive]

As with any dyeing, if you have time, your best bet is to just try a scrap and see what you get.  Good to check the broad principles, but best to run a sample.

[Doc Arroyo]

How much shrinking does the hide go through with the bleaching and then the re-dye process?

Will-
I have not done the process to a completed garment, so I have no solid answer for you.  The hides tightened up with each soaking, but stretched back out with a bit of pull and fluff.  I never noticed any large amount of shrinkage, but I never did full measurements of the hides

[Springfield Slim]

I just put my shirt in the sun for a couple of weeks. Kept turning it to even out the color. Not perfect but much better. And I have a question. Is it more original to have the fuzzy side out or the smooth side out? I have seen them both ways.

[bedbugbilly]

A number of years ago, I wanted to make a pair of leggins and I used the type of deerskin you are talking about.  I didn't want to go to the expense of buying braintanned.  I wanted them a brownish color and if I remember correctly, I think I used RIT dye and did the hids in the washing machine.  I drew the water and added the dye - tossed in the skins and let them agitate a little and then let them sit for a while - I repeated this a number of times.  They came out great.  I made the leggings with the flesh side out and I believe I greased them some with the same waterproofing that I got from Dwyers when I bought a pair of their moccasins.  You could try it on a sample and see if it gives the results you want.