It will ultimately be up to personal preference, and a little testing, as to what the proper amount of dye:thinner is. A common ratio to start with is 50:50 (1/2 amount of dye to 1/2 amount of thinner).

Split grain leather is a layered cut of leather from within the lower levels of the top grain area of the hide. It is usually a lower layer of the hide, above the flesh. Also, below the full grain and the best top grain cuts. Though, it still provides a useful leather material. Before applying any type of oil when finishing leather products, it’s important that dirt, dust or debris on the surface of the leather must be removed. The type of oil used depends on which part of the world you are and what’s readily available to you within your location. The belly cut of a leather hide is from the left or right edges of the hide. The belly of animals naturally expands and contracts as food and water are consumed. This makes the belly leather a little softer, and stretchier, than from other areas of the hide. While not considered prime leather, belly cut leather can be used for a variety of leather working uses. Double Belly Leather CutA honed finish is gaining in popularity, especially for contemporary spaces. It features a smooth premium surface with no bumps but without the polished reflection. Granite gets its satin or matte appearance when the finishing process is stopped just before the slab becomes buffed, and darker granite colors will result in a lighter or more grayed look. Note that it is important that excess binder that may build up around areas of stitching should be wiped away before it dries. Wool daubers are little balls of wool attached to a wire handle. The balls are approximately 1/2”– 1” wide, and the wire handle about 5” long. Daubers are great for dipping into leather dyes and finishes, then rubbing onto the leather surface to apply the dye or finish. Number one hides are top grade hides. They generally have no major surface imperfections, holes, or cuts. If there are holes approximately 3-4 inches from the edge of the hides, and they can be trimmed away, they won’t affect the overall grade. About 80% of hides shipped to tanners should be a number one grade. Leather Hide Grade – Number Two The grain is the outermost surface of the leather hide. It is comprised of tight, dense fibers. The grain is the layer that was exposed to the elements (air, rain, sun, etc.), and is usually very strong and smooth once the hair is removed. Leather Hide – The Grain and Corium Junction

While very easy, dipping does require a lot more of the dye substance. For example, applying dye with a dauber or brush requires relatively little dye. The applicator is dipped into the dye then spread over the item. With dipping, there needs to be enough dye for the entire item to be submerged into it. This often can be more expensive. From what’s been explained above, finishes are carefully formulated chemicals in the form of products specially designed in a way that when they’re applied on the leather product, it enhances its look. A finished leather hide has a fairly large amount of leather to choose from when deciding where to cut from the use pieces on a project. Based on the area of the hide in relation to the animal’s body, some pieces will be a little higher quality and a little easier to work with.For a full list of our products used for restoring leather, please visit our Leather Restoration section. Interwoven Leather is a type of leather that has been braided together. Often seen in belts, the weave of the leather laces or strips creates a unique looking , textured piece. Weaving leather can be used for straps or belts, as well as small bags and pouches, depending on the skill of the weaver. Metallic Leather The above two images are of the seat thoroughly coloured. As standard the leather has a slight shine to it. This can be either increased using a gloss finish, matted down using a matt finish or kept the same using a satin finish. In this case we used a satin finish to match the original sheen. Any flat surface can do. Working on the ground is possible. Even a wide board placed on some saw horses can work. The key is that it is a stable surface so that as you’re working with the dyeing, everything stays in place. Dry milled leather- The leather is tumbled in a large drum to produce s

Resolene is a synthetic finish for leather. While waxes can be used to seal and protect leather, resolene is comprised of acrylic. It is usually applied in thin layers, each building a thinner layer of acrylic. When dried, it will result is a smooth, durable, shiny surface that provides a fair amount of protection for the underlying leather. Resolene is available in several colors, so a match can be made closely to the leather color that is being coated. 6. Cleanup – How to Dye Leather One characteristic of antique finishes is that it doesn’t give a waterproof finish and may require to be given an extra polish when the antique finish substance dry. What’s the Difference between Finishing and Finishes?Embroidered leather is a type of leather that has had embroidery applied to it. Embroidery is the craft of embellishing materials with needle and thread. The pattern of the thread is usually placed in such a way as to result in a decorative pattern or motif that is now part of the embroidered material. this is done mainly for visual or aesthetic reasons. Faux Leather Burnishing is a glass-like surface treatment given to the grain surface or edges of leather. How this is done is to continuously rub the surface or edges of leather with any suitable item which is rounded, hard, and smooth. Corrected Grain - This is a leather that has artificial grain applied to its surface and this leather does not meet the standards that is required for creating vegetable-tanned or aniline leather. The imperfections are corrected or sanded off and an artificial grain is embossed into the surface with dyes. Dairy cows are female cattle that are bred primarily for the production of milk. Their hides are generally soft and thin. This makes it a great leather for lighter belts, wallets, clothing, upholstery, and straps. Cattle – Calves

While this sanding makes it more visually appealing, it also removes a lot of the strength and some water-repellent qualities of full grain leather. This we begin to see a tradeoff between leather strength, and leather look and softness.

Ionic Red Leather Biker Jacket

Honed granite provides a more subtle appearance but may be more susceptible to staining. Leathered granite provides a textured look and feel, yet some claim that it might be easier to care for than a honed finish. While it’s always a good idea to see and feel samples in person, it is more so for those considering one of these choices since the two textures are quite different.