How to Dye a Leather Coat Darker

Leather coats can often fade with time and an easy dye job can restore the natural shine and vitality of that old beat up leather jacket. Dying a leather coat into a darker color can sometimes hide small imperfections and scuff marks accumulated throughout the years. Practice using leather dye on an old discarded piece of leather to help ensure a more evenly painted leather coat.

Things You'll Need

• Leather prepping agent
• Bucket
• Sand paper (400 to 600-grit, 600 to 1000-grit)
• Paper towels
• Leather dye
• Acrylic brush (large and small)
• Finishing leather spray

Instructions

1. Prepare the surface. Pour a few ounces of prepping agent into a bucket. Dip fine grit sand paper (400 to 600-grit) into the agent and rub on the coat's surface. Rub to smooth out any cracks and to get rid of oxidized leather dye, oil, wax, or silicone but not so much that the leather turns into suede. Use paper towels to wipe away dirt and excess solution. Then re-sand with 600 to 1,000-grit sand paper for smoother finish.

2. Apply dye. Pour leather dye into a container where it can be stirred. Stir in water if the consistency is too thick. Use soft, synthetic acrylic brush to paint dye onto the leather coat. Start off on inconspicuous areas to get a feel for the dye. Use wider brushes for larger areas. Begin with seams and piping before going into larger areas. Apply several thin coats or until reaching the color desired. Let the dye dry for 48 hours.

3. Finishing the leather coat. Wipe the leather coat with a towel to absorb any excess pools of dye. Then spray the coat with a waterproofing leather finish. This will ensure the leather coat will last longer while conditioning the fabric.

References

• Leatherique: How to Redye Leather