A Comprehensive Guide to Leather Paints & Dyes

A Comprehensive Guide to Leather Paints & Dyes

Whether you're a seasoned leather craftsman or just beginning your journey into leatherwork, understanding the difference between leather paints and dyes—and knowing when to use each—is essential to achieving professional results. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about colouring leather, from the fundamental differences between paints and dyes to specific product recommendations and application techniques.

Understanding the Basics: Paints vs Dyes

Before diving into specific products, it's crucial to understand the fundamental distinction between leather paints and leather dyes, as each serves different purposes and creates distinctly different finishes.

Leather Dyes penetrate deep into the leather fibres, becoming part of the material itself. They're transparent or semi-transparent, allowing the natural grain and texture of the leather to show through. Dyes are ideal when you want to maintain the leather's natural appearance whilst changing its colour. However, they work best on vegetable-tanned or unfinished leather, as they require the ability to absorb into the material.

Leather Paints, on the other hand, sit on top of the leather surface, creating an opaque coating. They're more versatile than dyes because they can be used on virtually any type of leather, including finished surfaces. Paints are perfect for creating bold colours, decorative designs, or covering imperfections, though they do obscure the natural grain of the leather.

Leather Dyes: Deep, Lasting Colour

Types of Leather Dyes

When exploring the leather dyes collection at British Leather Supplies, you'll encounter several types of dyes, each with distinct characteristics.

Acrylic Dyes are water-based and offer excellent colour fastness without the harsh chemicals found in alcohol-based dyes. Fiebing's Acrylic Dyes are particularly popular among crafters, available in a wide spectrum of colours including classic browns (Dark Brown, Medium Brown, Light Brown) and vibrant hues like Blue, Green, Red, Yellow, Orange, and White. These dyes are less toxic than their alcohol-based counterparts, making them ideal for home workshops with limited ventilation.

Pro Dyes represent the professional standard for leather dyeing. Fiebing's Pro Dye range offers superior penetration and colourfastness, available in sophisticated shades such as Black, Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Mahogany, Saddle Tan, Royal Blue, and Walnut. These alcohol-based dyes penetrate deeply into vegetable-tanned leather, creating rich, permanent colours that won't rub off when properly applied and sealed.

Antique Finishes

Antique finishes occupy a middle ground between dyes and surface treatments. Products like Fiebing's Antique Finish create a time-worn, aged appearance by settling into the grain and tooling marks of leather. Available in shades including Cordovan, Dark Brown, Light Brown, Tan, and Neutral, these finishes add depth and character to your leatherwork, emphasising tooling and creating a vintage aesthetic.

Preparation Products

Successful dyeing begins with proper preparation. Essential products include:

Fiebing's Deglazer removes factory finishes, oils, and previous coatings, allowing dye to penetrate properly. This step is crucial when working with chrome-tanned or finished leather.

Fiebing's Dye Prep conditions the leather and ensures even dye absorption, preventing blotchiness and creating a uniform colour application.

Application Tools

The right applicators make all the difference in achieving professional results. British Leather Supplies offers several essential tools:

• Wool Daubers (available in small and medium, 10-pack) are perfect for applying dyes to larger surfaces, providing even coverage without streaking
• High Density Leather Dye Applicator Sponges offer precision for detailed work and edges
• Heavy Duty Leather Buffing Cloths are essential for buffing and polishing after dye application, removing excess product and creating a smooth finish

Leather Paints: Vibrant Surface Colour

The leather paints collection at British Leather Supplies showcases an impressive array of options for surface colouring, from everyday basics to speciality finishes.

Standard Acrylic Paints

Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint has earned its reputation as the gold standard for leather painting, particularly in the trainer customisation community. These flexible, durable paints won't crack or peel when applied correctly, making them ideal for items that will be flexed or worn. The standard range provides excellent opacity and coverage in classic colours.

Speciality Finish Paints

Pearlescent Paints add shimmer and depth with metallic lustre. The Angelus Pearlescent range includes stunning shades like 18K Gold, Rose Gold, Sterling Silver, Pacific Blue, Emerald Green, Prince Purple, and Riot Red—perfect for adding luxurious accents to leather goods.

Neon Paints make a bold statement with high-visibility colours. The Angelus Neon range includes eye-catching shades such as Bahama Blue, Lava Orange, Sunset Yellow, and the tropical collection featuring Rio Red, Parisian Pink, Paradise Purple, Popsicle Green, and Sun Yellow. These are ideal for modern, fashion-forward projects.

Glitterlites combine sparkle with colour. Available in shades like White Sugar, Tuxedo Black, Starlite Blue, and Holographic Star, these paints add glamorous texture and light-catching properties to leather accessories.

Leather Edge Paints: The Finishing Touch

Raw leather edges can look unfinished and are susceptible to moisture damage. Edge paints seal and beautify these exposed areas, creating a polished, professional appearance. The leather edge paints collection offers two excellent brands.

Fiebing's Edge Kote

This accessible edge paint comes in various colours including Black, Brown, Dark Brown, Light Brown, Tan, Yellow, Orange, Green, and a versatile Neutral. Edge Kote provides good coverage and durability at an affordable price point, making it ideal for beginners and production work.

Fenice Diamond Edge Color

Representing the premium option, Fenice Diamond Edge Color offers superior quality with exceptional shine and durability. Available in sophisticated colours including Black, Dark Brown, Hazelnut, Russet, Red, Yellow, and Pine Green, this Italian-made edge paint creates a glass-like finish that's both beautiful and protective. Though more expensive, the quality justifies the investment for high-end leatherwork.

Choosing Between Paints and Dyes

Your choice between paints and dyes depends on several factors:

Choose Dyes When:

• Working with vegetable-tanned or unfinished leather
• You want to preserve the natural grain and texture
• Creating a traditional or authentic appearance
• Working on tooled or carved leather where you want to emphasise detail
• Seeking maximum flexibility in the finished piece

Choose Paints When:

• Working with finished, chrome-tanned, or synthetic leather
• You need opaque coverage or want to hide imperfections
• Creating bold, contemporary designs or artwork
• Adding decorative details or patterns
• Working with light leather and want to avoid darker base colours showing through

Choose Edge Paints When:

• Finishing any cut leather edges
• Creating a polished, professional appearance
• Protecting edges from moisture and fraying
• Matching edges to the dyed or painted surface colour

Application Tips for Success

For Dyes

1. Always test on scrap leather first, as dye colour can vary depending on leather type
2. Apply in thin coats, building up colour gradually rather than saturating in one application
3. Work quickly to avoid lap marks, maintaining a wet edge
4. Apply perpendicular to edges to prevent darker borders
5. Seal with a leather finish (such as resolene or leather sheen) to prevent dye transfer

For Paints

1. Clean the surface thoroughly; use deglazer on finished leather
2. Thin paints slightly with water or manufacturer-recommended thinner for smoother application
3. Apply thin, even coats, allowing each to dry before adding the next
4. Use proper brushes or airbrush for best results
5. Finish with a sealer to protect the paint and add flexibility

For Edge Paints

1. Burnish edges smooth before applying edge paint
2. Apply with an edge roller or small brush for precision
3. Use multiple thin coats rather than one thick application
4. Sand lightly between coats with fine-grit paper for a glass-smooth finish
5. Buff the final coat with canvas or denim for maximum shine

Building Your Colour Collection

When starting out, consider building a basic palette that covers most projects:

Essential Dyes:

• Black
• Dark Brown
• Medium Brown or Saddle Tan
• One accent colour (perhaps red or blue)

Essential Paints:

• Black
• White
• A selection of colours matching your design style
• At least one metallicor speciality finish for accents

Essential Edge Paints:

• Black
• Brown tones matching your most-used leather colours
• Neutral for versatile applications

As your skills develop and your style emerges, you can expand into more specialised colours and finishes.

Caring for Dyed and Painted Leather

Properly dyed and painted leather requires appropriate care to maintain its appearance:

• Allow new dye or paint to cure fully (24-48 hours minimum) before use
• Apply appropriate finishes and sealers to protect the colour
• Condition painted leather carefully, as some conditioners may soften paint
• Store dyed items away from direct sunlight to prevent fading
• Clean gently with appropriate leather cleaners, testing on inconspicuous areas first

Conclusion

Mastering leather paints and dyes opens up a world of creative possibilities in leathercraft. Whether you're restoring vintage leather goods, creating custom accessories, or producing professional leatherwork, the right colouring products and techniques will elevate your projects from amateur to artisan quality.

British Leather Supplies provides an excellent range of professional-grade paints, dyes, and edge finishes, along with the necessary preparation and application tools. By understanding the properties of each type of product and following proper application techniques, you'll achieve beautiful, lasting results that showcase both the natural beauty of leather and your creative vision.

Remember, like any craft, working with leather colours improves with practice. Don't be discouraged by initial experiments—keep practising, and soon you'll develop the instinct for which products and techniques will achieve your desired results. Happy crafting!

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Post authored by Becky Cocker, leather artisan and owner of British Leather Supplies. If you'd like to explore a curated selection of quality leather tools, paints and dyes, check out our collection at British Leather Supplies. We’re here to help you take your leatherworking skills to the next level.