Leather question

[Perd Hapley]

I have a gun belt and mag pouch that are a medium brown. I'd prefer they were dark brown for various reasons. I like that shade better, it would match my holster, and besides, sweat has begun turning my belt dark brown in spots, anyway.

What do I use to darken the leather? Lincoln Stain Wax doesn't seem to do the trick. Neatsfoot oil is out, as it would soften it too much. Some kind of leather dressing, or dye?

[zxcvbob]

You can get leather dye at Tandy Leather, or use a waxy liquid shoe polish with a high dye content, like Cavalier or Griffin.

[vaskidmark]

Before you start slapping stain or wax on, you are going to need to strip the sealant that is already there keeping your stains or waxes from doing anything to change the color.

Proceed delicately - you want to only strip away the finish layer without going down into the leather fibers.

Acetone works wonders, but has the nasty habit of tricking folks into using too much too fast.  It should be done like re-doing the shellac/varnish finish on a priceless antique.  Far better to take the seal coat off in three or four layers than to soak down into the finish.

Once you get the seal coat off you can hope and pray that you have figured out which dye will react with the dye already on the leather to produce what final shade.  (Unless you are hoping for muddy black, in which case you will have no problems.)

stay safe.

[lee n. field]

What do I use to darken the leather? Lincoln Stain Wax doesn't seem to do the trick. Neatsfoot oil is out, as it would soften it too much.

Dang dislexica.  The first time my eyes went over that, they read "Lorcin Stain Wax."   Euu.

[RoadKingLarry]

If you can find a Tandy's Leather store they should carry what you need. Something to strip the old finish and then a dye, I prefer Feibings oil dyes, then a new finish. A couple of options there from oil based to water based to just a hand buffed hard wax finish.