shoe polish or dye to darken jacket??

[skyhawker]

I have a Wested LC in Shrunken lamb and whilst I like the fit I believe the colour is slightly too light.
I have used brown Pecards to darken the colour but this eventually dries out and the jacket goes back to it's original colour.
Has anyone ever tried using either brown shoe polish or leather dye to darken their jackets?

[Hollowpond]

I've used dye. More specifically black dye on a brown jacket. The brown will barely change the color, the black will deepen the brown. It's kinda like wood stain. The longer you leave it on, the darker it gets.
I had good results with it, but I only used it on a small area. I've seen entire jackets done with black dye though, and they looked great.

[Indiana Jeff]

Shoe polish sits on the surface and will rub off on anything your jacket rubs up against.

Dye can do it, but is irreversible.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[Hollowpond]

Yeah, I should have prefaced my comment with PROCEED WITH DUE CAUTION

[Hollowpond]

Here's a before and after. This is not my jacket btw...
Before:


And after:

[Michaelson]

It's all subjective, but I honestly prefer the 'before' myself.

Regard! Michaelson

[Hollowpond]

Me too! But if your goal is to darken it, you're pretty limited in your choices...

[Michaelson]

...wear it at night?

[Hollowpond]

An idea so crazy it just may work!!!

[Michaelson]

[Texan Scott]

This sorta gets back to another discussion, but an Indy jacket probably isn't one right of the box or package, it becomes one. Yet, with use, exposure to sun, moisture and dirt, etc., it retains the flavor. Leather tends to darken with use, especially earthy elements. Your work gloves are one example. The hide darkens, looks worn and gets permanent creases from regular use, as does the jacket at the elbows, etc.

As an aside, you wonder how many good Indy jackets in the making had good starts or showed promise, only to be ruined by abrasive treatments and experimentation? Nothing at all against trying, but we cant know exactly what they did to the film jackets behind the scenes...? Just another point of real world vs prop.

[Kt Templar]

I'm thinking a mix of dark brown and black Buffalo colour restorer plus the topcoat they suggest. The brown on it's own is nice but doesn't quite darken enough.

[lantzn]

Take a look at my before and after pictures of treating my jacket with Obenauf's oil years ago.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35223822@ ... 476855664/

This was taken this past spring and it's still dark. That's ONE treatment and years later. Best leather treatment I've found.

[drjameswing]

Take a look at my before and after pictures of treating my jacket with Obenauf's oil years ago.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35223822@ ... 476855664/

This was taken this past spring and it's still dark. That's ONE treatment and years later. Best leather treatment I've found.

Looking good. What jacket is that? If you don't mind me asking.

[lantzn]

Take a look at my before and after pictures of treating my jacket with Obenauf's oil years ago.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35223822@ ... 476855664/

This was taken this past spring and it's still dark. That's ONE treatment and years later. Best leather treatment I've found.

Looking good. What jacket is that? If you don't mind me asking.

Tony Novak CS Jan 2008
RIP Tony

Thanks I wear it a lot.