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 Veteran
Posts: 138
 
| Looking at dying a saddle black and curious what success or struggles others have had in this department.
Any experience dying suede? Smooth leather prep? |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
 
Location: North Dakota | I wanted to do that and made a thread about it on here....literally everyone told me it was a terrible idea. Apparently dyeing saddles is more difficult than it sounds. If it's something old/cheap you could probably risk it though (my saddle was brand new). I can't remember the name of the website but I googled and found black dye for roughout and normal leather and the supplies to do it. |
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | My husband is a saddlemaker and he would not recommend the project for a novice. First, to do a thorough job, you would have to take the saddle apart to be able to completely dye most parts. Secondly, the leather must be clean and stripped of any finish that was applied when made. You can purchase leather stripper and leather dyes from places like Tandy’s and Springfield Leather, etc. They make dye for smooth and rough-out leather. After dyeing, you MUST apply some kind of leather sealer or you will be wearing the dye on your pants, etc…..It is NOT a job for the “faint at heart”……. |
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Veteran
Posts: 138
| NJJ - 2015-05-17 9:06 AM
My husband is a saddlemaker and he would not recommend the project for a novice. First, to do a thorough job, you would have to take the saddle apart to be able to completely dye most parts. Secondly, the leather must be clean and stripped of any finish that was applied when made. You can purchase leather stripper and leather dyes from places like Tandy’s and Springfield Leather, etc. They make dye for smooth and rough-out leather. After dyeing, you MUST apply some kind of leather sealer or you will be wearing the dye on your pants, etc…..It is NOT a job for the “faint at heart”…….
Thank you! If I can find an experienced professional in the area, I'll send it to them, but otherwise will do some research and testing prior. It's not an expensive saddle, but is my only saddle at the moment, so I may wait until I have a barrel racing dry spell before I do it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 138
| cavyrunsbarrels - 2015-05-17 7:50 AM
I wanted to do that and made a thread about it on here....literally everyone told me it was a terrible idea. Apparently dyeing saddles is more difficult than it sounds. If it's something old/cheap you could probably risk it though (my saddle was brand new). I can't remember the name of the website but I googled and found black dye for roughout and normal leather and the supplies to do it.
Thank you also! I know it's not for the light of heart... I'm torn between darkening the leather up a ton and just dying black. It's an older saddle that needs some revamping. I don't blame you... probably wouldn't have the heart to do it to a new one either! lol |
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Member
Posts: 12
| I know a girl who had one dyed black and it looked really good! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| Black is probably one of the hardest dye colors to master. I would not recommend you do this to your saddle without professional help or oversight. Black dye has a tendency to bleed very easily and if not sealed properly, will stain everything that comes in prolonged contact with it especially if it gets wet.
ETA: Older leather is especially hard to dye as the consistency in grain will very drastically. Some areas will take dye much easier than others.
Edited by cyount2009 2015-05-18 1:32 PM
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Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | cyount2009 - 2015-05-18 1:30 PM Black is probably one of the hardest dye colors to master. I would not recommend you do this to your saddle without professional help or oversight. Black dye has a tendency to bleed very easily and if not sealed properly, will stain everything that comes in prolonged contact with it especially if it gets wet. ETA: Older leather is especially hard to dye as the consistency in grain will very drastically. Some areas will take dye much easier than others.
I was just going back to add this comment.  |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I think the best way to get a black saddle is to just buy one thats already black, are special order one. I think by the time you tear one apart to get it dye and pay for getting it done it might be cheaper if you find one that is already done. I know there is alot of work in doing this.  |
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