The above two images are of the seat thoroughly coloured. As standard the leather has a slight shine to it. This can be either increased using a gloss finish, matted down using a matt finish or kept the same using a satin finish. In this case we used a satin finish to match the original sheen. While this sanding makes it more visually appealing, it also removes a lot of the strength and some water-repellent qualities of full grain leather. This we begin to see a tradeoff between leather strength, and leather look and softness. Semi-aniline leather is a type of leather that is dyed only with soluble dyes. It is similar to aniline leather, though it is only slightly pigmented. Semi-aniline leathers allow the natural surface of the leather to show through (blemishes, cuts, etc.). Oil Leather, also known as pull-up leather, waxy leather, and waxed leather, is a type of leather that has a larger volume than average amount of oils and waxes in the surface finish. When the leather pieces are flexed and moved, the surface catches the light in different ways, do to the reflections on the oils and waxes. This provides for a varied look across surface tones, which could be quite visually appealing. Patent Leather

Number one hides are top grade hides. They generally have no major surface imperfections, holes, or cuts. If there are holes approximately 3-4 inches from the edge of the hides, and they can be trimmed away, they won’t affect the overall grade. About 80% of hides shipped to tanners should be a number one grade. Leather Hide Grade – Number TwoBrush colored leather is a type of leather that has pigment applied via a brush. This creates a unique pattern of color on each piece. The variations might be in gradient, blending, or overall tone. Bruch colored leather is nice for finished pieces that seek a distinct and creative visual appeal. Degrained Leather Dry milled leather- The leather is tumbled in a large drum to produce s While very easy, dipping does require a lot more of the dye substance. For example, applying dye with a dauber or brush requires relatively little dye. The applicator is dipped into the dye then spread over the item. With dipping, there needs to be enough dye for the entire item to be submerged into it. This often can be more expensive. The sun is a natural leather dye. When exposed to the UV rays from the sun, unfinished, vegetable tanned leather will darken over time. It does take time, though some leather crafters use this method to naturally change the colors of leather to a darker color. Paint as a Leather Dye

There are a few basic steps when learning how to dye leather. Each has variations that can be performed based on the preference for the process, and the look/feel of the final product. Let’s explore each. 1. Preparation – How to Dye Leather NOTE: It is fine to apply another coat of Binder on top of the Flexifil if necessary. Even if you apply colour and think it could be re-filled, it is ok to apply Flexifil on top of the colour. This helps to achieve a smooth finish. Lacquering is another finishing method of applying a thin layer of lacquer onto the surface of leather products to give it a protective layer and a nice sheen. While the clear type of lacquer finishes like most finishes produce a high gloss finish, it’s, however, difficult to apply when spirit solvent dyes have been applied to the leather. This is because the lacquer ends up reacting to the color of the product. Oiling is a leather finishing process of applying oils such as castor oil, jojoba oil, Shea-butter, mink oil, neatsfoot oil like this neatfoot compounds, groundnut oil or any vegetable oil on the surface of leather to make is soft and supple.When dyeing leather, with any technique, it’s usually best to apply the dye in light, even coats. This will allow for an even, consistent application across the leather piece. It will also allow for more subtle variations in the final color choice, since the color has been applied in layers, getting a bit darker each time.