Can I dye leather with RIT dye?

Question

I have a dark aqua colored leather bag, and I tested a concealed spot with RIT dye to see if it's dyable...and it looks like it is...

But overall? Can it still work? Will it remain soft?

Answer 1

you really should use leather dye, go to a shoe shop or tandy leather stores or on line tandy or the leather factory, fabric dye would likely be uneven and since its water, it will make the leather stiff and even leave water spots as it dries, ive done some leather crafting over the last 30 years or so, though my husband was the real expert in it.

Answer 2

Generally when you dye or color leathers, you have to either clean an undyed piece or you have to chemically remove the old dyes and oils from the previously colored piece of leather.

When leather gets dyed or colored, it's only part of a larger process of having a piece of leather gain a color and retain leather like qualities. Not only does the piece in question get dyed, but it is also treated with oils to make it supple and it also gets a sealing coat or two to not let the liquids inside the leather escape, and it can also be polished to achieve a shine.

The RIT dye you used is probably on the surface of whatever coatings and treatments the leather already has. If you were to coat the leather bag with this, that color layer would most likely crack and peel, like a fine dried layer of paint.

If you somehow were to put some sort of clear coating on top of that RIT dye that is strong yet pliable, you may have a chance of making this work. But I am not aware of what coating or shellacking mixtures would be involved, outside of those liquid shene finishes that are sold at Tandy Leather. Those finishes are in the neighborhood of what you need to preserve your dye job. But I cannot give any guarantees that it would work.

If you can make it work and it still has that new color without peeling or flaking or cracking, especially after a few months, please send me a pic. This is one type of thing I'd like to see.

Also, before you start the project, please take a "before work" photo, so that you have a reference.

Thanks,
Alvin R.

Answer 3

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From your description you have a two tone leather - darker over a lighter colour. These leathers are not created with dyes (these soak into the leather) but with pigments that sit on the surface. You will need to replace the top colour. Shoe polishes and rit dyes are not recommended as theybwill come off on clothing etc. Try finding a Leather Repair Pen that matches the colour and this will cover over the lighter colour and be permanent without fear of irpt coming off on clothing. Hope this helps Judyb Leather care consultant

Answer 4

I wouldn't use the dye on leather. I would take the bag to a leather shop, or one who specializes in leather. You could damage the bag for good. How much does it cost? It will vary from place to place. I'm not sure if it will remain soft or not.

Answer 5

You would probably be better off using a leather dye made for leather. They are not that expensive:

http://tandyleatherfactory.com/products.asp?dept=173

Answer 6

It looks possible. The only problem would be that you are dyeing over a dark color, so you may not be able to get a color you want. Check this out
http://www.ehow.com/how_15423_dye-leather.html
.