Dying buckskin???

[Mike Vines]

Has anyone SUCCESSFULLY dyed buck skin from it's yellow color to a deep chocolate Brown?  

I have some buckskin leather gloves that I love, but need to change their color.

What has been your experiences when you tried doing what I'm a anything to do?

[tecum-tha]

Walnut hull dye. Don't make it too strong or it will change the leather.
As an example:
 http://www.djuanasquillwork.com/bags.html

You may ask her for her dye recipe ratio.

[Keith Zimmerman]

I dyed some buckskin reenacting breeches in the washing machine.  But it was a different color.

[Skipmaster1]

I agree with the walnut hulls. Works great with buckskin. You can smoke them darker but they will smell like smoke for a very long time

[nleroux2]

If you aren't trying to be period correct, use Fiebings Chocolate dye, cut it 50% with denatured alcohol and swab or brush it on. Then if you want it darker you can either redye it with the cut stuff or go full strength. Cutting it first helps eliminate lines and light/dark spots from the applicator.

[reddogge]

Fiebings is a good product. It's an analine leather dye.

[dhaverstick]

I always mix my dye with leather conditioner before applying it. It goes on more easily and the color is more uniform.

[Pat B]

Is it true buckskin(brain tanned) or commercial tanned leather?

[halfseminole]

I vote for Fiebings as well.

[Mike Vines]

Originally posted by Pat B:
Is it true buckskin(brain tanned) or commercial tanned leather?

I would presume commercially tanned.  I bought the gloves at Home Depot.

[halfseminole]

Chrome tanned then.  Dunno if it will take the walnut hull dye, but it should still take aniline.

[Pat B]

Any leather dye(alcohol based) should work. You could also use Rit dye and alcohol if you wanted specific colors.

[Mike Vines]

Thank you guys.  I knew I could get the answer here.

[Mike Vines]

Before...

 

[Mike Vines]

After 1 coat of Fiblings straight from the bottle...(I'm pleased with the results, but I won't be winning any trophies for "Artistic Presentation".  I accomplished what I set out to do...Change the color from yellow to Brown (ish)).

   

[Pat B]

Mike, they probably had a finish on them so that's why they took the dye so unevenly.  Makes a nice camo though.
 If you haven't already I'd give them a good rubdown with pitch blend or other leather dressing. The alcohol based dye will dry the oils from the leather some.