can burnished leather be dyed?

[anon]

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

It won't- just don't soake the shoe in it. Use a few clean rags, get themdamp and use your elbow grease. You -DO- want to be patient with this part.

some spots I just don't care about, like way down where the welt is. these are also full brogues, so the broguing is holding on to a lot of color. I've found that I can't get any color in there just using shoe cream

How many layers did you have to do?

 

[Cary Grant]

Just a couple, really.

 

[anon]

pretty much done with the first shoe. old:

comparison:

I don't know if it's just my perception, but the leather now seems a lot more pliable, like the old color and crap was making it sort of stiff.

 

[Nexus6]

ooooooo Looking Good! Don't forget to work the cloth over the sole welt stitching too! The sole edges can be retouched later, but see if you can lighten the stiching round the welt. Don't forget ..after the Acetone, use Lexol or Leather Lotion to re-instate moisture to the leather. This is critical. You are doing great so far. You may even want to consider staying with the lighter colour. Don't stop now! Keep us updated

 

[anon]

the picture is doing a good job of hiding the spots where the finish didn't come off as easily. I might even consider going black with this pair because of how uneven the finish is

 

[Nexus6]

Anon...proceed with the other shoe & acetone.
Then give us a picture

please do not go black
Black is only a last resort.
I think others will agree there is no need to go black because the leather offers better possibilities.
I made that mistake before, and regret it.

Just do the acetone on the other shoe and update us.
We'll take it one step at a time...if you'll agree?

 

[anon]

yeah, I'll get around to it when I have time and post the pictures with a better camera under better lighting.

 

[bigbris1]

Post a closeup of the leather on the stripped shoe. Maybe years of layers of wax was making them appear to be CG.

 

[anon]

will do, once I get home.

you definitely don't see the pore dimpling like my other pair of calf AEs

 

[anon]

here are a couple of pictures. light was low so I got a little bit of blur on these.

 

[bigbris1]

Originally Posted by anon

here are a couple of pictures. light was low so I got a little bit of blur on these.

Hard to tell. Are you keeping the trees in during and after these procedures?

 

[anon]

yes

 

[Nexus6]

Use an old toothbrush to work the acetone into the broguing (holes) and ridges Also, stuff your hand inside the shoe while working the rag with acetone over the instep areas of the shoes. your fingers can provide resistance from underneath

You can further lighten the colour trapped in the wrinkles. Or use that toothbrush with acetone into the wrinkles, and that gash on that one toe. Follow quickly with the rag. brush with acetone clean rag follows repeat until satisfied. Give a few seconds to see it lighten after each ragging. You are doing great so far. Also, remember to work the stitching of the welt all round the shoe. That stitching should also start to pop up lighter too.

 

[anon]

got the other (left) shoe done as well. I may go over them again with acetone, but I think they're ready for dye. the cracks and creases you see here aren't filled with old wax/color, the leather is actually raw. if I put acetone on them it just soaks right into the leather.

 

[bigbris1]

Originally Posted by anon

got the other (left) shoe done as well. I may go over them again with acetone, but I think they're ready for dye.

the cracks and creases you see here aren't filled with old wax/color, the leather is actually raw. if I put acetone on them it just soaks right into the leather.

Dood, I would just use some clear/neutral wax polish to seal them up after a good conditioning & be done. They look charming as is.