Dyed Stacked Leather Handle

[FunkCoaster]

I intend to make a stacked leather handle. I've never done it before.

Is it possible to dye the leather and end up with the dyed color on the final handle?

One plan is to dye the leather, layer/adhere rectangular segments, then shape them.
My concern is that the revealed sections will have no dye soaked in.

 

[Jrmysell]

I've never made a stacked handle before either, but I've done some leather work. You could also buy pre-dyed leather. Dying then shaping I would fill a bowl with dye and put the leather submerged in there and let it soak all the way through. But I would probably just shape then dye as that seems easiest.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Dye your leather after you have finished shaping it. You can dye the pieces first, and then touch up after shaping.
Once you have all the leather compressed, start shaping the handle by grinding/filing/sanding in one direction only (usually around the handle. Doing so will give you a polished finish.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Always dye first. If you stack and then dye it would not dye the leather impregnated by the glue.

Bill is right about sanding the handle. After roughing in the shape, go in one direction. By going round and round, it will slick down the surface. I finish on a 400 grit belt and it almost looks buffed.