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Is it possible to DYE leather?

16 years ago

DH's grandmother is giving him 2 leather chairs and an ottoman that were his grandfathers. THe chairs themselves are in excellent condition, so is the leather.

The problem is, they are a greyish black. THe desk we want for our office is brown. I think they would look fantastic in a chocolate brown. I'd even settle for a black desk if I could dye them a darker black.

Can I dye the leather myself?

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Comments (6)

cearab
16 years ago
Not without having the color rub off on your clothing, hands, etc. The only person who MIGHT be able to do this successfully would be a leather restoration company. Start with Spinneybeck leather or Edelman Leather (google them) and see if you can get them to refer you to a leather restorer in your area. Both companies are very reputable suppliers of various grades of leather for commercial use. I would imagine the cost for dying leather would be fairly high.
kim2007
16 years ago
I agree that a professional would probably be the best route. Or you may be able to locate a local craftsperson who works with leather and work something out. The problem I see is not so much in dyeing the leather as much as it is that wet leather dries very hard! I'm not sure how it is supposed to be handled in order to avoid ending up with...leather jerky!
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What you describe is not 'normal'. Wet or dry crocking which results in dye transfer or loss is a result of insufficient or defective top coating. After the leather was pigmented in the tannery it should have had a top coat applied to seal the leather and prevent such occurances. Bottom line: your piece was made using a bad hide or a bad batch of leather. Since Natuzzi owns their own tannery they are responsible for the problem. In my opinion, It cannot be repaired and should be replaced. Here is a link that might be useful: The Comfortable Couch Co.
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It can be done. I know it can, because it's what I do for a living. It does take patience, and the right materials. There are DIY progams out there that work. It'll take some research, though, like any other DIY project. BTW, leather is a "fabric" - no, "material" - yes, "that can last for generations." I've worked on 100 year-old leather, and that covers several generations. For what it's worth.
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Be cautious with analine dye. It makes leather..."not" look like leather. You will need to prepare the leather prior to dying. Also it can come out streaked rather than as original. Suggest finding a farm supply or someone who works on saddles. They know the right solutions to use. May be difficult depending upon where you live. Or purhaps a shoe repair, if any still exist. Last would be an upholsterer working with leather..home or auto. Link is a simple explanation. But I would still ask someone with ongoing experience. Your leather sounds worth saving. Here is a link that might be useful: Dying leather
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oceanna
16 years ago
Black leather has always been used around brown desks. But if you want them all to match, I'd paint the desk. Easy and cheap.
graywings123
16 years ago
Yes, it is possible. I have used this stuff, or possibly a competitor, will have to check, on my leather headboard for touchups. It does not rub off.

Don't know whether it is cost effective, however.

Here is a link that might be useful: Leather Magic
patricianat
16 years ago
It is best left to a professional and depends on what kind of finish you have on your leather, what kind of dye you are going to use, what results you expect. Some leathers have been finished such that the pores are closed and it would be difficult to dye, like plastic is. While others have very open pores but does not ensure that it would be a breeze to do.
Ina Plassa_travis
16 years ago
if the chairs are less than 20, maybe 30 years old? not really - they started 'glazing' leather to protect the color, and screwed up the whole process - and I have yet to find anything short of the orange-based paint stripper that will remove it, and using that creates its own issues - which are wonderful if you're going for post-apocalyptic, not so good for a home office or den.

I do agree that there isn't so much of a problem - I think they would look better in the space than matchy-matchy chairs, myself - a good indigo or deeper cobalt blue would be a 'traditional' bridge between the two colors.

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