Leather Dye rubbing off onto Knife Handles

[Big Chris]

I have a couple knives I got ready to take to Blade and stuck them in their respective sheaths last night. When I pulled them out this morning the dye had rubbed off onto the scales and is very obnoxious looking.
The scales are some very light colored wood that was stabilized and finished with a light coat of Danish Oil.
The sheaths are 8 oz leather dyed with a saddle dye (I was told).

Getting the dye off the scales is not a big deal, I just do not want this to happen again.

Please help!!!

Is it possible that even after setting for a while they are still wet or damp? Will drying with a heat gun help?

 

[Big Chris]

Here are some pics of what I am referring to

The scale in the first pic was worse. I have already sanded through the finish and removed the stains and reinserted to see if that helped.
Seemed to help a little, but not solve.

 

[Clem Kadiddlehopper]

I have a couple knives I got ready to take to Blade and stuck them in their respective sheaths last night. When I pulled them out this morning the dye had rubbed off onto the scales and is very obnoxious looking.
The scales are some very light colored wood that was stabilized and finished with a light coat of Danish Oil .
The sheaths are 8 oz leather dyed with a saddle dye (I was told).

Getting the dye off the scales is not a big deal, I just do not want this to happen again.

Please help!!!

Is it possible that even after setting for a while they are still wet or damp? Will drying with a heat gun help?

Some guys dye the inside of the sheath - And if it is not sealed?
It CAN rub off on the knife handle.....

It has to be sealed with something especially with a oil base finished knife handle.....

 

[leatherman]

That is the particular reason that I stopped dying the insides of my sheaths, micarta loves to suck the color out of leather as well.

I just simply wax the insides of my sheaths and haven't had a complaint since.

Now, on to your problem, the Danish oil is acting on the dye on the surface of the leather, and also it could simply be rubbing off a little. Did you use any kind of sealer in there? Gum Tragacanth first with a coat of wax or your usual sealer should help, but wont stop it completely. I've never been able to keep a dark color leather from putting at least a little color on the knife handle.

If you have an acrylic based leather sealer, or Resolene that would be a good finish as well.

 

[Big Chris]

Thanks for the advice guys. I will give things a try and see where I end up.

 

[bizmarkie]

Bag or Tan Coat on the inside works well.

 

[Rick Lowe]

I dye the inside and outside and seal both with Tan-Kote if the handle material is a light color. Haven't had any problems doing it this way. If these handles were stabilized, the Danish oil would not have penetrated into the wood and probably leeched the dye right out. With good stabilized wood, you should be able to use a little acetone and remove the dye color from the wood and with a little wax and buff, brand new.