In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

sling dyeing experiment not going well

GreenLanternGreenLantern Member Posts: 1,647 ✭✭✭
edited July 2002 in Ask the Experts
Ok, bought a military-style leather sling a while back and wanted to make it black. Put on 2 coats of black dye and a fellow boarder recommended using Neatsfoot Oil since the black would leach onto anything the leather touched. I've put on 2 rather healthy applications of the oil (about 3 weeks apart) and still the black will wear off even if I lightly run a cloth over the sling. Guess I had higher expectations. Any suggestions? I'm wondering if I did something wrong.
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • gap1916gap1916 Member Posts: 4,977
    edited November -1
    Did you remove the oil from the sling before you used the leather dye? If this was a brand new sling it is coated with a silicon protectorant. Was this removed befor dyeing the sling. Just a few ideas.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I tried the same thing a few years back, and ended up having to buy a new sling.Gap1916 Probable just explained my problem.


    Good Luck.

    Rugster
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bullelkbullelk Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Guys,
    Some leathers are tanned in such a way that it is extremely hard to dye them. Seems that the dye won't penetrate whatever they tanned the leather with. Have you ever noticed how some holsters and belts seem to have like a hard glossy finish on them? I think that is the problem.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GreenLanternGreenLantern Member Posts: 1,647 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks guys. I guess I'll chalk this one up as a learning experience. Wouldn't be so bad but I accidentally dyed my 1 1/4" sling instead of the 1" one. Doh!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 101AIRBORNE101AIRBORNE Member Posts: 1,252 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Green,
    Some of the leather slings have silicone on them. I have darkened
    some quality Brownell's slings by just placing in the sun.
    Just a suggestion, Steve
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dancing BearDancing Bear Member Posts: 45 ✭
    edited November -1
    Go to a leather shop and buy some dye there, I can't remember the brand name, but it was labeled as being USMC black. Wipe down your sling with lacquer thinner, let it dry, dye it. When it dries put on a coat of liquid shoe polish, let that dry and then wipe off any excess. I have been doing holsters and belts this way for a long time with very good results.

    The more people I meet, the more I like my dogs.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • snarlgardsnarlgard Member Posts: 1,310 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The oil dye usmc black is from feibleing but before you redye you have to break up the old sealer. Tandy leather has a product that will do that for you then after redyeing the leather you must reseal it or you are just waisting your time
    I have done leatherwork for 25 years so I know what i am talking about
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • captkirk3@dslextreme.comcaptkirk3@dslextreme.com Member Posts: 3,804
    edited November -1
    Greenlantern: If you live in one of the SIX states where there is a Tandy Leather Store, or in Toronto, Canada...You'll find that the Seven Stores are all thats left of Tandy Corporation..Here is Tandy's email address...You might see if they can supply you with a Catalog...
    tlc@tandyleather.com
    I pulled them up on the WEB Site and they claim that the Stores will be back Nation Wide as soon as possible...Thats to say...within 2 years... The address's of the SIX Stores in the U.S. are posted on the Web Site..If you have difficulty in locating them let me know and I'll Post them for You....Best...

    Captain Kirk, Tech Staff
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gruntledgruntled Member Posts: 8,218 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    When I went into the army we were issed brown boots which we had to dye black. We were never able to keep the tops of the boots black.
    When you bloused the boots the pants would always rub the dye off no matter how many times you redid it.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • modocmodoc Member Posts: 474 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You can thank those crazy assed politicians for that blunder.Seems to me McNamara was the idiot who decreed that all branches wear black boots holsters ETC.Big on saving money.

    BILL
    KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY.BUT NOT HOT.....
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bullelkbullelk Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Green,
    I have a scabbard that has a light brown finish. I tried to darken it with some brown dye, and it wouldn't take at all.

    The original finish, and I don't know if it's in the tanning, or the finishing process, but it's just impenetrable. I've tried scuffing it and also using a blow bryer to try to get it to sink in, and it won't.

    You could try mixing some of the dye in a little bit of gasoline, and see if that won't penetrate it. Eventually the gas smell will go away.

    DON'T USE THE BLOW DRYER IF YOU USE THAT METHOD!!!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.