Fiebings leather dye keeps staining hands

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Drucquers Banner

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Gabes

Lurker
Jan 9, 2019
28
61
Rusticated and restained my old no-name briar pipe green with Fiebings leather dye. Two coats, both of them set on fire. Let it dry overnight. After buffing it still might stain hands a little bit. What am I doing wrong?
 

xrundog

Lifer
Oct 23, 2014
2,340
26,318
Ames, IA
You don’t have to burn it. Let it dry, wipe off excess, hand buff vigorously with a soft cloth and then finish with wax or whatever. Also don’t use the provided giant swab to apply, use a q-tip. The giant swab probably slops it on. It’s like using a 4”brush to paint your window trim.
 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
20,019
15,754
Covington, Louisiana
postimg.cc
I’ll bet people have a tendency to use too much dye. It really doesn’t take a lot. When the q-tip goes dry I dip it in alcohol and finish. Those swabs that come with the Fiebings is probably intended for dying a pair of boots or an attache case.
Yep, ditch those swabs. I glove up, dip in an corner of a paper towel. And I can't recall ever using it full strength. I put a very small amount in iso-propyl alcohol.

I did actually use some on shoes a few months ago. I have a pair of fairly new oxblood wing tips for work. They had something in the restaurant splatter on them. The leather was a lot more soak resistant than briar! It took a few coats but I finally got them looking good.
 

Gabes

Lurker
Jan 9, 2019
28
61
I’ll bet people have a tendency to use too much dye. It really doesn’t take a lot. When the q-tip goes dry I dip it in alcohol and finish. Those swabs that come with the Fiebings is probably intended for dying a pair of boots or an attache case.
Yes, I think it was the swab and excess of dye. Well, knowledge comes at a price of errors made 😁