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Veteran
Posts: 101
| Has anyone ever made their saddle darker?? Is it possible? I don't know what the proper color would be called it's the common light natural leather color now, wanting a dark almost chocolate colored leather... Possible or time for a new saddle?? Thanks!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 832
 
Location: Kansas (but Great Lakes member since 1978) | I dyed a saddle years ago. Just used leather dye and it turned out great. I'd start with medium brown. Be sure to wear good heavy rubber gloves or you will be wearing it yourself for months. I cleaned my saddle really well, let it dry completely and then just liberly applied the dye. After it dried I rubbed it down with soft cloths until the color quit running off. After that I oiled it and rubbed it down again. It stayed nice for years and I sold it looking like new many years later. |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I think it depends on how much work you want to put into it! I have a nice tack set that I'm trying to darken (using fiebings dye) once I find the right color.... I know it will take many hours as it's very intricate, but I don't want to have to order another to get the color right! Also be sure to keep in mind how the roughout areas (if applicable) and seat will look if your saddle makes a drastic color change. |
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | It depends on how new the saddle is and how much darker you want it to change. Newer saddles, more than likely, have a “sealer” that must be removed first before ever trying to dye the leather. Additionally, be prepared for the leather to not take the dye evenly. Sometimes, in a saddle, not all leather is the same (pieces from different hides). Clean the saddle well (in all the crevices, etc if tooled) and then prepare the leather with a “deglazer” which is sold in stores like Tandy’s. I would use the "deglazer (preparer) even if it is an older saddle to remove any finish. After dying the leather, be sure to buff it well and apply a sealer (also sold in stores like Tandy’s or Springfield Leather). Good Luck….it is not a 10 minute job…….lol
Edited by NJJ 2015-04-21 11:11 AM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I think its time for a new saddle, LOL |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | It's a lot of work and sometimes if you don't do it right (over do it, or under do it) the dye will either rub off on your jeans or it will fade from not having enough dye on it.
I would either send it to a saddle shop to get it done or just get a new saddle.
I had mine re-dyed at a saddle shop for $50 and have never had a problem with it but it took 4 weeks for the whole process. (shipping, oiling, cleaning, checking out, shipping back.) |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 407
| Your saddle will darken if left out in the sun. It will not get chocolate brown but would be a rich light brown color. If you dye it you will have to do it right and that will take time. Also it might run if left in the rain if the dye is not sealed right |
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