Leather Dye

[eagle24]

I formed a leather handle for one of my TD risers last night.  It is formed from a piece of 2oz. vegetable tanned split side leather.  Is there anything I can use to dye it black other than ordering some leather dye?  I have some Tandy leather antiqueing stains and some of the sheen type finish, but don't have any black.  I can order some dye, but was hoping to get it finished this evening and probably won't need any more black once this handle is done.

[Marvin M.]

Go to your local Wal-Mart and get some shoe dye.  Some of the colors don't work as well as others, but I've had good luck with black.

[eagle24]

Thanks for the offer Doug.  Marvin gave me the answer with his reply about the shoe dye from Wally World.  I just went down the street to a shoe shop and they had some black leather dye.  $4.25 and I'm all set.  Big thing was I did'nt want to have to order it and wait.

[Roadkill]

I dyed some feathers and leather with RIT dye mixed half with very hot water and denatured alcohol.  Those yellow barred turkey feathers match the stain on the shafts perfectly.  It does dye leather too and keeps-so far-in a sealed bottle for future use.  Just some options for future use!

[Hawken1911]

On many occasions I've used a black 'Sharpie' marker with a wide chisel tip (available at any drug store).  Go over the edges and the outside of the leather with overlapping strokes two or three times, and it will be solid black with no marker lines visible.  It is permanent ink and it can be finshed with the Tandy Sheen or any other finish you would use on leather...quick and simple for smaller projects    .

[Shakes.602]

I have set Big Black Markers, cant Recall the Exact Name though, to Make My Tan Suede Steel Toed "Tenny Shoes"  BLACK!!  Works Like a Charm Too!!
  The Only Problem I ran into was The Marks Could Be Noticable on Long Marks with The Pen.
  "Black Leather  IS  My Signature Color!!" Aint that Right Mike G.??      

[eagle24]

Originally posted by Hawken1911:
On many occasions I've used a black 'Sharpie' marker with a wide chisel tip (available at any drug store).  Go over the edges and the outside of the leather with overlapping strokes two or three times, and it will be solid black with no marker lines visible.  It is permanent ink and it can be finshed with the Tandy Sheen or any other finish you would use on leather...quick and simple for smaller projects     .

Thanks Paul,  I thought about trying that but did'nt know whether it was compatible with the Tandy Sheen.