re-dying leather question

[hylander]

I have a hide, to make a sporran, that I got off of eBay and it was supposed to be black, but it is medium gray. I wondered what the best way to go to either black or brown on it would be. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated!

[1oldsarge]

It'll have to be dyed darker to work. Tandy Leather has dye and leather finish -fcan be ordered on-line. I'd pick a small area on the back of the sporran first to see if the dye set in OK before attempting the front.

[Donnie]

What 1oldsarge said! Tandy has a Feibings brand Marine Corps Black that will cover just about anything.

[Joe Gondek]

if you dye it black be sure to polish it with a neutral shoe polish at least twice
black is a hard color to dye and will rub off on your kilt
the neutral polish prevents that from happening

factory dyed black doesn't have that problem

[Matty Ross]

Once upon a time I used to dye shoes quite often. I even worked in a shoe store where I learned to dye new shoes and sell them in new condition. We always used Lincoln black shoe dye. I have no idea if it is still available.

[hylander]

I went with the Tandy in an Acorn Brown and it appears to have worked great. I am just wondering if it needs to be sealed somehow so that it doesn't rub off onto the kilt. I'll post some pics when the sewing is done.

[Carolina Kiltman]

if you dye it black be sure to polish it with a neutral shoe polish at least twice
black is a hard color to dye and will rub off on your kilt
the neutral polish prevents that from happening

factory dyed black doesn't have that problem

Joe said it all. It is always a good idea to seal any leather that has been re-dyed.

[Robert Lamb]

I have used black Lincoln dye on some brown belts and it works wonderful. I purchased it at a shoe repair shop here in town so I know it is avaiable.