5* A2 Doniger re-dye - a successful experiment?

[Adama36]

Got an Doniger A2 from Shawn few years ago. While I liked the jacket itself, I had some issues with the "russet" color.
The leather was honestly kind of dull (no shine at all) and the color , depending on the lighting, would be too pink to my taste (see below)

Long story short, I used some ethanol to remove some of the old dye (not completely though, so I could still have "pinkish " shines underneath) and re-dyed it in a darker brown color.
In order to remove the excess of dye, I used a water hose and drenched/rinsed the jacket abundantly (did that outside, in my back yard) and try to wear the jacket as much as I could while it was drying.
After treating it with some Pecard, I am pretty happy with the result. I now like the color, the shine and it added a lot or wrinkles and grain to the leather
It worth noting that the jacket did not shrink or anything despite being completely drenched

 

[Micawber]

That's better. Now wear it to hell and back!

 

[Enigma1938]

Congratulations well done, that looks beautiful !
What a difference

 

[B-Man2]

Wow!! That looks so much better ….
Nice job ! Any chance of seeing a fit pic?

 

[flyincowboy]

Wow look definitely better! like this colour

 

[Brettafett]

That looks much better

 

[ties70]

Well done, I like the results a lot!

I have the same issues with my FS Doniger...it's probably the same leather and, yes, the pinkish hue is not getting better....

May I ask what brand of dye you did use?

Ties

 

[Adama36]

Well done, I like the results a lot!

I have the same issues with my FS Doniger...it's probably the same leather and, yes, the pinkish hue is not getting better....

May I ask what brand of dye you did use?

Ties

Fiebing's LeatherColors 4oz Dark Brown

Amazon.com: Fiebing's LeatherColors 4oz Dark Brown - Water based penetrating & permanent leather dye : Automotive

Buy Fiebing's LeatherColors 4oz Dark Brown - Water based penetrating & permanent leather dye: Leather Care - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[B-Man2]

Fiebing's LeatherColors 4oz Dark Brown

Amazon.com: Fiebing's LeatherColors 4oz Dark Brown - Water based penetrating & permanent leather dye : Automotive

Buy Fiebing's LeatherColors 4oz Dark Brown - Water based penetrating & permanent leather dye: Leather Care - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

How did you apply to dye ? With a rag or a paint brush?
Did you apply the dye in layers or just one coating ?
After the dye dried did you buff it out ?
I’m asking all of these questions because I have a jacket that I would like to try this on ..,..but I have no experience working with dyes etc.
Thanks for any answers you can give me .

 

[Adama36]

How did you apply to dye ? With a rag or a paint brush?
Did you apply the dye in layers or just one coating ?
After the dye dried did you buff it out ?
I’m asking all of these questions because I have a jacket that I would like to try this on ..,..but I have no experience working with dyes etc.
Thanks for any answers you can give me .

I used a rag and applied several coatings until I got the color I liked.
I then try to clean it with a dry clean rag but later realized, the hard way, that the excess of dye would come off with the rain.
I, therefore, decided to water hose it until all the excess of dye was removed

Do not forget to prepare the leather before re-dyeing it. I used 70% ethanol but I am pretty sure any type of solvent, such as acetone, would work too.

 

[mulceber]

Leather looks way better - well done! How did you prevent the run-off dye from getting into the knits and messing them up?

 

[CBI]

looks good

 

[billwong]

Its like a new hide! well done.

 

[ties70]

Have you taken a photo after the ethanol wash but before the re-dye? Would be interesting to see how much of the old color you took off...

 

[Adama36]

Have you taken a photo after the ethanol wash but before the re-dye? Would be interesting to see how much of the old color you took off...

no pics sorry. I did not remove the old color completely though. I was kind of worry that I would not be able to re-dye it correctly and I thought it would look better with the "pink" hues coming through the darker brown dye

 

[Adama36]

Leather looks way better - well done! How did you prevent the run-off dye from getting into the knits and messing them up?

Good question. I was really worry about that at first but I quickly realized that if I used enough water (therefore the water hose) the dye would be very diluted and drip through the knits without any issues.

Fortune favors the bold , I guess

 

[OperationCoffee]

Looks great. Definitely the right decision. Couldn't have done better.

 

[daw]

I agree with positive comments above-much improved! You should be pleased.

 

[Micawber]

I have refinished a good few jackets. Good effects can be had by using a combination of the water based and pro oil based Fiebings dyes - but not at the same time of course.

 

[ausreenactor]

Got an Doniger A2 from Shawn few years ago. While I liked the jacket itself, I had some issues with the "russet" color.
The leather was honestly kind of dull (no shine at all) and the color , depending on the lighting, would be too pink to my taste (see below)

View attachment 74548View attachment 74550View attachment 74552View attachment 74553

Long story short, I used some ethanol to remove some of the old dye (not completely though, so I could still have "pinkish " shines underneath) and re-dyed it in a darker brown color.
In order to remove the excess of dye, I used a water hose and drenched/rinsed the jacket abundantly (did that outside, in my back yard) and try to wear the jacket as much as I could while it was drying.
After treating it with some Pecard, I am pretty happy with the result. I now like the color, the shine and it added a lot or wrinkles and grain to the leather
It worth noting that the jacket did not shrink or anything despite being completely drenched

View attachment 74557View attachment 74558
View attachment 74559View attachment 74560View attachment 74561

Well done..