Dying Leather / What's On The Bench

Sounds simple......just dye this holster this color.

There are so many things that affect the outcome of dying leather. To attempt to copy the exact same color is a game of chance considering that each hide is different and the tanning process is different with various tanneries. On top of that, there is the way each hide was stored and what it has been exposed to? There is the weather conditions, included exposure to heat, sun, moisture ect. All of my dyes are a mixture, and even though I have  a very methodical method, the out come can vary slightly.

I would have to be honest and say that I have never read or seen anyone dye leather the way I do. There are typically three ways to dye leather.  1. Dauber application (wet the dauber and apply)  2. Dip dying (literally dip it in a container of dye).  3.  Airbrush.  I have never been happy with typical dauber application which is to apply an even coat.  My method is the dauber, over and over and over and over. When done the leather is limp wet, and takes a good little while to dry but the penetration is extreme.

An airbrush can get a color exact, since it is an application applied with great control. The only problem is the coating is so thin that when scratched, the raw color will show through.  The air brushing that I do is an accent, on top of the first coat, and purely aesthetic. The one thing I have learned is that when that top coat is applied it sometimes surprises me with the outcome. Blending a two colors with "variables" just does not always come out to be the same.

The hardest part to comprehend is that the whole coloring changes when the holster is dunked in a bucket of water and  then formed or "boned in" to the gun. Depends, on the dye and the process but some of them change dramatically.   The "washed brown" that I offer is a completely different process as the dye is a water based antiquing process. When dunked I can rub it and wash a away as much as I want. This is purely a guessing game as to the outcome.

I used to get a surprise on a regular basis (the outcome), but with practice I get more and more accustomed to knowing what the outcome will be.

 What's On The Bench

 Finished up my personal Gun Belt. These are two pieces of Herman Oak leather totaling .2 inch in thickness. They can be made thicker or thinner.

 A Skinny for a Shield. Dyed Brandy and airbrushed black accent

 A little Skinny for a Taurus TCP

 A Wingman for a Glock 19.  Was an order from my Etsy site. I offered any changes like stamps, initials, color ect and the customer said that one was perfect. So I made a copy.

 A belt I can't show to close as it is a gift.

Still on the Bench

An XDS Skinny

 A Slider for a Glock 17

 A little Cowboy 22

 An Omni for a CZ75B , it has 3 mag pouches as well

 An Avenger made to be worn on the small of the back for a Taurus PT111

 A OWB Cross draw for a Glock 30

 A OWB Cross Draw for an XD 9