To use your vinegaroon, simply apply it to leather using a brush, sponge, or by dipping the leather straight into the mixture. Any leather that comes in contact with the solution will turn grey instantly, deepening into a darker black as the liquid penetrates the leather.
Mix two commercial products: leather conditioner and shoe polish. Mixed in equal parts. This solution can be rubbed onto leather, allowed to dry, and buffed into the material. Darker shades can be achieved by repeating the application several times.
Adding vinegar to the dyebath: The vinegar acts as a pH modifier to change the color of the dyebath. You can add lemon juice or vinegar to make your dye more acidic or add baking soda to make it more alkaline. Experiment and see what different colors you can make with just one dye.
Thoroughly clean a large mixing bowl or cleaning bucket, and then fill it with one gallon of fresh, clean water. Add one-fourth cup table salt and one cup vinegar. The vinegar and salt work together to naturally lock the color into the fabric.
First of all, yes, you can use coffee as a leather dye. It works best on vegetable-tanned leather, and you must have sufficient leather conditioner around in order to dye your leather without ruining it, but you can very easily use coffee dye instead of a brown dye manufactured somewhere.
The main coloring component of turmeric, which produces yellowish color on the materials is good for the dyeing of fashionable garments or leather products due to its pale effect.
One of the most popular is Fiebing's leather dye. Alcohol-Based Dye is widespread because it has a good penetration of leather. Once penetrated into the leather, it carries the coloring substances with it, then the alcohol evaporates leaving the coloring substances inside the leather fibers.
You have many, many choices when it comes to dyes - there are oil, water and alcohol based dyes out there. You may need to do a bit of testing to see which one you prefer. Water-based leather dye is my go-to because I feel that is more forgiving on the leather and it's easy to clean up with soap and water.
- Hydrate the leather with a light coat of olive oil; hydrated leather will better receive the dye. Apply a thin layer in a circular motion with a clean cloth. (Don't forget the edges.) Be sure you're using olive oil or jojoba oil -- not a leather conditioner -- for this step.
Excess dye will produce dye rub off
While you want to apply the dye to ensure it stays on, applying a generous amount has the opposite effect. Too much dye leads to oversaturation, which means the dye washes away easily. If you have a water-based dye with solvents, water based dyes might permeate into the leather!
Leather, like wood, is a fiber. It can be stained (dyed) or painted (pigmented finish or coating). Leather dyes penetrate and accentuate the natural variations (including stains) in the fiber.
Dye or stain? Leather shops and online stores sell leather dye, but you can also use a Minwax oil-based wood stain: brush on, keep wet for five minutes, then wipe off the excess, just like you do wood. I find the oil-based stains give me a longer working time and are less apt to leave lap marks.
It is usually easier to dye dry, especially for those new to dyeing. Since there is no water involved, one can see exactly where the dye has been applied and how much is needed to result in an even coat. What is this? Both wet and dry dying can provide excellent results.
Treating leather with coconut oil does have a few upsides: it will soften the leather and provide a thin layer of waterproof protection. Because coconut oil is a natural oil (like neatsfoot oil, olive oil, and mink oil), it will darken leather boots when applied.
Using shoe polish to dye leather can also have the added benefit of adding a protective layer to the material. Unlike when you apply the leather dye, shoe polish have wax bases that provide a barrier between your leather product and the outside world.
Gently poke the yarns to help the dye penetrate evenly. Set dye by adding 2 cups of white vinegar (if dyeing 1/2 pounds of yarn, add 1 cup of vinegar). Stir gently first 5 minutes or so after adding vinegar, then every 4-5 minutes. It should take 30 minutes or so for the dye water to reach a full simmer.
Add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle or one-half cup salt to the wash to help hold in colors. Use color-catcher sheets, which trap extraneous dyes during the wash cycle to prevent bleeding. Don't overstuff your dryer.
Leave the garment in the 140 degree water for 20 minutes, launder in cool water and rinse in cold water.