dyeing a brown leather sheath black?

E

edb

Joined
Aug 30, 2002
Messages
740
I have a Queen Mountain Man in Stag that came with a brown leather sheath. Everything else I carry on my belt (Inova X1 flashlight, Leatherman Wave,
cell phone) is in a black sheath.

So, rather than spend money on another sheath, I'm thinking there's an effective way to dye the brown sheath black - so that it's permanent, doesn't
smudge/bleed onto my jeans and shirts, etc.

Any suggestions/recommendations? Maybe a product I could buy in a
brick and mortar? If not, then of course, by the time I buy dye online,
and pay shipping, maybe I'd be better off to just get a plain black leather sheath.

If so, any suggestions on where to find a plain sheath? I don't really want one that has "Buck", or "Leatherman", etc. imprinted on the leather. Snap shut assumed...

Dye, or new?

Thanks
 
I'm thinking there's an effective way to dye the brown sheath black
Click to expand...
I find that black dye is usually pretty useful when dyeing things black.
smack-2.gif


Most any arts & crafts store will have several options, or you could just look up Tandy Leather online and order some leather dye.
 
I use Kiwi brand leather dye. It's available in the shoe care section in supermarkets. I find roughing up the leather first, helps. I use very fine sandpaper and give the sheath a good going over before I dye it. Sometimes one coat is enough, sometime I have to do it several times...it depends on the leather. I too, have all black stuff so a brown sheath is never something I use. Good luck.
 
Yes, Fiebings is the most used leather die.

You can buy it in shoe/luggage repair stores and sometimes hardware & hobby stores will also carry it. One bottle should last you the rest of your life if you are not a professional sheath maker.
 
Dye it and seal it. You must clean the sheath with saddle soap or similar cleaner and let it dry thoroughly. I would even finish up with a few swipes of a shop towel dampened with lighter fluid or denat alcohol. Then use Fiebing's oil based black leather dye (you don;t say where you're from [which should be a crime in these forums] but maybe there's a Tandy leather store nearby). It may take a couple of light coats.

After the sheath has dried for a day, put a coat of leather finish/sealer on it, available at Tandy (see above reference to "Tandy" and "crimes"). The sealer will prevent the rubbing off of dye onto other fabrics. After that has dried, use some Kiwi black shoe polish on it, and you should be good to go.

Now, bear in mind this is not a scientific approach, as there are master leather crafters in the other forum (where this post probably belongs) that might have much better advice, (look especially for any posts written by a master of masters, Gary Graley, and others). However, I have done precisely what you seek to do and, using the method I've described, it has worked well for me.

Here're a couple of links to products, EdB:
Black Oil Dye: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/...gs-Leather-Dye/2110-01.aspx?feature=Product_1
Acrylic Sealer: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/2270-01.aspx?feature=Product_1&kw=sealer

You might also post your question here (http://www.customknivesandguns.com/ckgforums/forumdisplay.php?f=27)
 
Last edited:
StretchNM said:
Dye it and seal it. You must clean the sheath with saddle soap or similar cleaner and let it dry thoroughly. I would even finish up with a few swipes of a shop towel dampened with lighter fluid or denat alcohol. Then use Fiebing's oil based black leather dye (you don;t say where you're from [which should be a crime in these forums] but maybe there's a Tandy leather store nearby). It may take a couple of light coats.

After the sheath has dried for a day, put a coat of leather finish/sealer on it, available at Tandy (see above reference to "Tandy" and "crimes"). The sealer will prevent the rubbing off of dye onto other fabrics. After that has dried, use some Kiwi black shoe polish on it, and you should be good to go.

Now, bear in mind this is not a scientific approach, as there are master leather crafters in the other forum (where this post probably belongs) that might have much better advice, (look especially for any posts written by a master of masters, Gary Graley, and others). However, I have done precisely what you seek to do and, using the method I've described, it has worked well for me.

Here're a couple of links to products, EdB:
Black Oil Dye: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/...gs-Leather-Dye/2110-01.aspx?feature=Product_1
Acrylic Sealer: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/2270-01.aspx?feature=Product_1&kw=sealer

You might also post your question here (http://www.customknivesandguns.com/ckgforums/forumdisplay.php?f=27)
Click to expand...

Good advice! I work in a shoe store and I do repair and custom leather work so people ask me to dye shoes belts and all sorts of holsters and sheaths frequently! first strip the shiny finish off of the leather then use fiebings dye it really is the best and not really expensive then put a finish of some sort after its dry to protect the leather! Many things work for the finish acryllic, resolene, or even black shoe polish would work but for my uses the resolene lasts the longest!
 
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