seth
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Post by seth on Jul 8, 2023 18:00:30 GMT
Has anyone ever re-colored an existing grip with leather dye? Or just modified a bright color into an antique look or made mottled? Do makers lacquer the leather and would that have to be stripped first?
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AJGBlack
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Post by AJGBlack on Jul 8, 2023 18:42:09 GMT
Has anyone ever re-colored an existing grip with leather dye? Or just modified a bright color into an antique look or made mottled? Do makers lacquer the leather and would that have to be stripped first? Depends on the maker. Albion doesn't lacquer over their grips but I think Christian Fletcher might. Using a light touch with some acetone may work, but there's a danger of stripping the glue away as well so I'd maybe avoid that. If there's no coating over the leather then going darker shouldn't be a problem. If you just want to weather it then going over with a wash of thinned down dye a few coatings at a time until you get the level you want should work. |
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larason2
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Post by larason2 on Jul 8, 2023 19:23:18 GMT
Traditionally, Japanese tsuka makers would put a thinned urushi lacquer on leather or same (ray skin). This would help age and protect it.
I often put Bob Vila's home made leather conditioner on all types of leather. It's one part cocoa butter, one part bees wax, and 2 parts almond oil (sweet). Keeps it nice and supple, protects it, and gives it a darker, more aged kind of look.
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seth
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Post by seth on Jul 9, 2023 13:42:36 GMT
thank you for the suggestions.
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Post by eastman on Jul 9, 2023 21:15:10 GMT
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Alan Schiff
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Post by Alan Schiff on Jul 10, 2023 19:43:10 GMT
If the leather is hand-dyed, it was given some sort of finish or sealant to keep the dye from running. It would be necessary to remove that before redyeing, or else the new dye won't soak into the leather. Acetone usually works; the deglazer that Eastman linked to is specifically made to do that.
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Jul 14, 2023 13:37:59 GMT
re dyed a few. tan and rust to oxblood - come out antiqued oxblood brown to oxblood comes out uniform i would recommend you do light coat removals an dyes a few times. i oversoaked a core so it expanded a slight bitand you run the risk of messing up the cord impressions this one was rust* sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/70410/sale-va-ansbach |
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seth
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Post by seth on Jul 14, 2023 14:27:58 GMT
re dyed a few. tan and rust to oxblood - come out antiqued oxblood brown to oxblood comes out uniform i would recommend you do light coat removals an dyes a few times. i oversoaked a core so it expanded a slight bitand you run the risk of messing up the cord impressions this one was rust* sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/70410/sale-va-ansbachI really like how that turned out. I have an Albion with a red grip that I would like to "antique". Any suggestions on how to do that? |
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Jul 15, 2023 0:59:31 GMT
remove the protective finisher with alcohol, but leave the red dye intact. it shouldnt take more than a few passes (makeup remover round cotton works great). let fully dry and dye over red. the over-dye should create pleasing streaks or patches and re-seal. if you overdo the dye it will be hard to finish and may appear very dark
i use sponges / painters or yellow for application. avoid the cotton ball applicators as they leave far to thick streaks and look like mistakes
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Post by eastman on Jul 15, 2023 1:56:08 GMT
re dyed a few. tan and rust to oxblood - come out antiqued oxblood brown to oxblood comes out uniform i would recommend you do light coat removals an dyes a few times. i oversoaked a core so it expanded a slight bitand you run the risk of messing up the cord impressions this one was rust* sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/70410/sale-va-ansbachI really like how that turned out. I have an Albion with a red grip that I would like to "antique". Any suggestions on how to do that?
strip off the protective top coat and use a water-based leather stain to tweak the color. Repeat the applications until you like the look, then let fully dry and add a new sealer coat. The beauty of the leather stains is you can add them as thin layers and repeat the process to further darken.
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Jul 15, 2023 2:52:47 GMT
irreversible though so it can be nerve racking. also there are matte, satin and gloss finishers to consider btw. left: red grip, antique oxblood scabbard. original from VA 2nd from left: brown grip orig after cutting mid: antique oxblood grip redye, scabbard oxblood redye. noted lighter and does not match other oxblood scabbards 2nd from right: over dye deep ox, oxblood orig scabbard right: brown redye due to heavy cutting- turned out quite dark brown and was the first i practiced on I hope these color schemes helped but you can also always leather paint. very durable and also reversible/forgiving  |
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seth
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Post by seth on Jul 15, 2023 12:34:11 GMT
Thank you very much. Those all look great.
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