Dyeing or re-dying leather doesn't have to be difficult if you have the right materials. Re-dying a leather sofa, a car upholstery with worn leather, a pair of battered shoes, or a handbag gives new life to products that might otherwise have ended up in the landfill or in the back of your closet. And why settle for just touching up the color? You can just as easily change the color of the leather completely!
We have put together a coloring kit that contains everything you need to create a beautiful and durable coloring, which you can find in the category Dyeing kit . Below are step-by-step instructions on how to use the products to successfully dye your leather.
Step 1 - Cleaning and preparation: The most important thing is to properly clean the leather before starting the dyeing process. The leather is usually dirty and requires effective cleaning. cleaning agent, Furniture Clinic Ultra Clean , and maybe one cleaning brush to get into cracks and folds. The dirt penetrates the pores of the leather and clogs them and prevents the leather dye from adhering. If there is dirt left, the dye adheres to the dirt and not directly to the leather. This means that when you clean it in the future, not only will the dirt disappear, but also the dye that is on top of it. So, Proper cleaning is essential for successful dyeing of hides and leather .
Coated/pigmented leather often has an old surface finish, and it can be a good idea to remove this before applying new paint. This results in a softer and more pleasant surface, and it is common for cracks and crazing to be present in the old finish; if it is removed, most of these often disappear. To remove old surface finish from leather, use Leather Prep . NOTE : DO NOT use Leather Prep on aniline and other absorbent leathers that do not have a opaque finish.
You should finish cleaning by wiping the leather with a cleaning agent containing alcohol, Alcohol Cleaner , this is to ensure that old grease, wax, conditioner, silicone, paint residue, etc., are removed. These substances can otherwise prevent the leather paint from adhering properly, which can eventually cause it to come off/flake off.
Step 2 - Repair any damage to the leather: If the leather is so worn that cracks have formed, this can also be fixed. There is a filler for leather that is soft and flexible and that you can use to fill the cracks before dyeing the leather. Heavy Filler used for slightly shallower scratches/cracks, if the cracks are a little deeper, or maybe even a small hole, use Flexifil . If the leather is only worn, you can reinforce the worn surface with a binder, Leather Binder leather reinforcement , which pulls the leather fibers together and makes it more durable. Leather Binder can also be used to create a new wear surface on worn leather, as well as to fill minor scratches and cracks in the leather. For more detailed instructions on how to repair leather, you can take a look at one of our guides, including Guide to repairing holes in leather.
Step 3 - Dyeing the leather: Our leather colourant , Furniture Clinic Leather Colourant, is opaque, durable and flexible. It can be applied with mushroom or with a airbrush , or a combination of these. Spraying the paint with an airbrush usually gives a more even finish, but if you are careful and follow the instructions, sponging the leather paint works great. If the paint doesn't cover after the first coat, just add more coats of paint until you are satisfied with the coverage. Just make sure the paint dries thoroughly between coats.
Step 4: Sealing the leather color with finish When you are satisfied with the appearance of the leather color, it is sealed with a Leather finish . It works like the clear coat on a car; it protects the paint and gives the surface a desired shine; glossy, satin or matte . Satin is neutral, halfway between matte and glossy and gives a nice “leather feel”. Apply the finish in at least three coats. Be sure to let it dry between each coat. If you want extra durability, for example in particularly exposed areas, you can add a few drops of a hardener, Cross Linker X, in the finish.
When everything is ready and you have let the leather dry thoroughly, you can lubricate it with a Protective cream for leather . The protects the leather surface against spills and future soiling from clothing and skin. The barrier cream also has a UV filter that prevents sun fading and a fresh scent of new leather.
