leather paints and dyes

[bunn]

Does anyone out there know about colouring or painting leather?

I have what was once a blue collar with gold bits but is now faded, and a black collar that I'd like to decorate in silver. I am wondering if it's possible to dye the blue one back to a truer blue, and what sort of paint would be most durable to create a pattern on a thick leather surface. Any tips or links would be appreciated!

Comments

[the-marquis.livejournal.com]

Depending on how much the collar flexes or is rubbed you might be able to get away with painting the silver on and then varnishing it to make it shinier. Otherwise I'd suggest the shoe dye for the leather itself, or talk to some of the viking re-enactor crafts people as the people that have been at Sarehole Mill (with the TS) have been busy making leather goods with worked-in designs and they use vegetable dyes.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of silver paint and a varnish for the black collar where I want to make a curvy design - any suggestions about what sort of paint though?

I was thinking - as chainmailmaiden says above -that standard fabric paint would probably not stick well enough.

[king-pellinor.livejournal.com]

You can always take the top of the leather off with a sharp blade, so the paint has the rough inside of the leather to stick to.

[chainmailmaiden]

That sounds like a very good idea, I'll try that next time too :-)

[the-marquis.livejournal.com]

I'd have used ordinarily modelling enamel or acryilic paint, and as Pellinor says you're best off roughening the surface to give the paint a key. Ideally a white base coat will help the silver show up if using paints.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I have a good set of gouges, so I should be able to make an indented pattern OK.