Thinking of dying/distressing my wested leather jacket

[Manwiththehat]

Hey.I'm thinking about distressing and dying my Wested Leather goatskin raider jacket to remove some of the greyish tint and I'm looking on Fiebings Pro Dye DARK BROWN dye and Now I'M not sure if dark brown is good or maybe Fiebings Pro Dye DARK CHOCOLATE would be better? Any input would be great I don't want it to be too dark so I don't know.Edit: I found a vidoe that shows every colors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_TZ5EEriGo

[Manwiththehat]

Alright. I acquired Fiebings Pro Dye DARK BROWN dye but I haven't found any tutorials how to use it in weathering/distressing of a leather jacket so I wonder if anyone could explain it to me? Also I got some rubbing alcohol but it smells pretty bad so I wonder if there exist rubbing alcohol without smell. Cheers

[Indiana Jeff]

If Indiana Croft doesn’t weigh in, drop him a PM or do a search for his posts on using dye while distressing his jackets.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[Indiana Croft]

Just dropping in.

My battery is about to die, so real quick.
I distress my jackets slowly, once the grey undertone is revealed, I
I put the dye on a cotton cloth, not alot, just s9me and rub it in.

I have m6 DoD being tweaked, I’ll try to take some pictures of it on the mannequin.

Stay tuned, dropping out…………………….

Croft

[Indiana Croft]

Dropping back in.

I've always enjoyed the art of distressing my jackets.
Sorry Michaelson.
And have always said the same thing, less is more, don't try to do to much at once, do a little, wait, do a little more.
I received my S&J DoD jacket couple years now and I'm still tweaking it, see they bottom pic's.
And I'm lucky to have a mannequin to hang it on while I work.

I used a variety of things, but lately 220 grit sand paper (lightly) and scuff pads.
Experiment in place's like I did today, under the pocket where it doesn't show.

Implement's of distressing.

Before (up towards the top)

Scuffed, it's sorta tannish brown.

After applying the dye to a cotton towel, don't forget to use rubber gloves, unless you like brown fingers.


Now here's a shot from a post, left arm with the repaired bullet hole, S& J distressing while great, it's not what I see in the jacket on the movie, to my eye.
Every thing is more blended.

Here's with some tweaking. (last summer)

And here's one from today (nothing done but some tweaking couple weeks ago, not much change.


And here's some random shots.





So go slow and relax while doing it, hit the areas that get wear, like seam (be carful here), elbows, cuffs and bottom of the jacket.

Croft
Research, research, research.

[Holt]

Great work Croft. Please stop showing your destiny jacket as much as I soon cant resist the urge to get one!!!

[Jonesy Jr.]

Yeah Croft, I agree with what Holt said. I want DoD jacket since it was revealed that it have big internal pockets.

[Manwiththehat]

Cheers for the awesome pictures and instructions Croft I'm now even more scared than I was before to try it out my self with my Wested raider goatskin jacket

[Indiana Jeff]

Not trying to add to your anxiety, goatskin is the most difficult leather to distress. All the more important to go slow and gentle like Croft suggested.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[Holt]

Yeah, I'm with Jeff on that. Goat is one tough mother!

[Indiana Croft]

Sorry, the DoD is my go to Indy jacket, must be because he was older in DoD and I’m older too, so it just fits.
And not showing it off, ha, this from the guy who drives me nuts with his MotB gear.

And goat is tough to distress, so hard as you might, you won’t do to much damage, just go slow my friend.
My first or second Wested was goat, and on slow days at work, I’d take sandpaper to seams and cuffs, people thought I was crazy.
But to me it’s relaxing.
Lamb is the one that distresses the easiest.
So if you getting goat, go slow, no big scratches, but you can blend with acetone.
Experiment with hidden area first.

Look ata other posts and ask your self, is that what I want my jacket to look like.

And relax, it’s just a jacket, one of many to come.

And thanks for the compliments, really liking this jacket.
And Jones, the large internal pocket was only recently discovered, and honestly I think it was put on the jacket for the sole reason for Indy pulling the dial out.
Not sure how it would affect the drape.
It wouldn’t have been an option I’d requested, the gun shot repair was a definite.

Croft

[Indiana Croft]

I was looking over your thread on what you'd done so far.
viewtopic.php?t=75329

The one picture of the front right pocket (as you look at it), those scratches should blend in nicely with the dye.
Now this is just me and my opinion, but stay away from these kind of distressing, doesn't look like something that might happen naturally.
When you apply the dye, try under the pocket to see what the leather looks like with the dye rubbed in.
On one of my lamb jacket I used a light rubbing over the entire jacket to blend it in.

Those scratches, let those happen naturally of the course of the life of the jacket.
Seams, shoulder and elbows, cuffs and bottom area.
Once you've done that, live in the jacket, see how it looks and tweak as needed.
Are you going to give the jacket the water treatment? helps raise the grain.

Here's a picture of my Cockpit Vintage Roughneck Oil Driller Jacket and this is some tough goat to distress.
My goat leather looks darker than yours or it could be the picture, many types of goat tanning process I guess can make the it look darker, my firts Wested goat was dark like my cockpit.
Hard to see it, but the cuffs and collar area have distressing, but hard to see.



close up of the shoulder and collar, it's there but hard to see.


Croft

[Manwiththehat]

I was looking over your thread on what you'd done so far.
viewtopic.php?t=75329

The one picture of the front right pocket (as you look at it), those scratches should blend in nicely with the dye.
Now this is just me and my opinion, but stay away from these kind of distressing, doesn't look like something that might happen naturally.
When you apply the dye, try under the pocket to see what the leather looks like with the dye rubbed in.
On one of my lamb jacket I used a light rubbing over the entire jacket to blend it in.

Those scratches, let those happen naturally of the course of the life of the jacket.
Seams, shoulder and elbows, cuffs and bottom area.
Once you've done that, live in the jacket, see how it looks and tweak as needed.
Are you going to give the jacket the water treatment? helps raise the grain.

Here's a picture of my Cockpit Vintage Roughneck Oil Driller Jacket and this is some tough goat to distress.
My goat leather looks darker than yours or it could be the picture, many types of goat tanning process I guess can make the it look darker, my firts Wested goat was dark like my cockpit.
Hard to see it, but the cuffs and collar area have distressing, but hard to see.



close up of the shoulder and collar, it's there but hard to see.


Croft

That jacket looks very good And thanks for the pictures I.m not sure If I dare doing the water treatment but I start with the seams and collar and pockets and see how things evolves I bought some 100 sandpaper sponge today,might be a bit to rough but I just gonna try gentle and see

[Indiana Croft]

Be gentle and you’ll be fine.
And thanks, I like this as my winter jacket.

Croft

[Jonesy Jr.]

Croft, what is this bulge on jacket collar ?

[Indiana Croft]

Snaps.
This is the jacket that I saw on NCIS, Gibbs wears it later into his run, I saw it and loved it. Had to have it.
But ya, there snaps and they hold down the collar.

Croft

[Jonesy Jr.]

Nice, thanks for reply.

[Manwiththehat]

Alright so I slowly starting my distressing with dying This is so far.I'm using Q-tips for the seams and edges so I don't spill so much

[Indiana Croft]

Good start.
Is that white something or just from the camera flash.

Croft

[Manwiththehat]

Good start.
Is that white something or just from the camera flash.

Croft

Thanks The white is camera flash yeah

[Manwiththehat]

I tried starting on the back.I'm not sure how good it looks thought

[Manwiththehat]

So I gave the jacket the water treatment and I had it on me for a couple of hours but now it's getting late here so I came pup with his solution Sorry for all the pictures of my journey of weathering

[Indiana Croft]

It is a journey.
If it still kinda blotchy, you may have to commit and rub down the entire jacket with the stain.
Distressing ones jacket is an experiment, if you look around, you see some good and some that went over board.
Don't go over board.

Oh and when you give it the ol water treatment, ya one crinkle up the sleeves, but ya gotta be wearing for awhile while drying.


The grain looks smooth, are you sure its goat. Don't see a lot of grain like my goat.
Here's some that S&J did on my truck chase jacket, I got the sleeves wet, you can see the crinkliness of it. what a word.


I just looked and I don't have one, but if you need it I can take one and post it.


Croft

[Manwiththehat]

It is a journey.
If it still kinda blotchy, you may have to commit and rub down the entire jacket with the stain.
Distressing ones jacket is an experiment, if you look around, you see some good and some that went over board.
Don't go over board.

Oh and when you give it the ol water treatment, ya one crinkle up the sleeves, but ya gotta be wearing for awhile while drying.


The grain looks smooth, are you sure its goat. Don't see a lot of grain like my goat.
Here's some that S&J did on my truck chase jacket, I got the sleeves wet, you can see the crinkliness of it. what a word.


I just looked and I don't have one, but if you need it I can take one and post it.


Croft

According to Bearbeast here which I bought it from it supposed to be goat yes.
It's tarting to dry now but I feel the sleeves are a bit to large now

[Indiana Croft]

How’s the blotchness now.
And water treat makes the jacket a little more aged, lived in.

Now if you have to use the dye (not stain ) all over, use the it in a fashion lie your wiping it on in small amounts, not heavy like.
Rub it in like, it’ll darken up some to, not so brown. As the original Raider was a dark brown like.

Croft

[Manwiththehat]

How’s the blotchness now.
And water treat makes the jacket a little more aged, lived in.

Now if you have to use the dye (not stain ) all over, use the it in a fashion lie your wiping it on in small amounts, not heavy like.
Rub it in like, it’ll darken up some to, not so brown. As the original Raider was a dark brown like.

Croft

There is some kind of white on the jacket now when it dries which I don't know what is but here is how it looks now.I think I need to weather it more on the arms and front and maybe on the back aswell.PS! Sorry for the blurry pictures

[Indiana Croft]

Well if things don’t improve with out looks to you.
Pecards does make gel in a brown.
I’ve used to help make thing uniform again.

But stay away from scratch like makes, leave those for natural happenings.

Croft

[Holt]

The white spots are the fats in the leather that blooms. This can happen when the leather is soaked and the fats separates. It will get better with time.

[Manwiththehat]

I went over it with rubbing alcohol and I think it actually looks better than it was now I don't understand this jackets logic

[Indiana Croft]

Does look great.
Now leave it alone for now, and watch how you wear it, you’ll pick up areas that you might want to hit lateral.
Now wear it and enjoy it.

Now for the next piece of gear, the MKVII bag with the leather strap.

Croft

[Manwiththehat]

Does look great.
Now leave it alone for now, and watch how you wear it, you’ll pick up areas that you might want to hit lateral.
Now wear it and enjoy it.

Now for the next piece of gear, the MKVII bag with the leather strap.

Croft

Thanks I have ordered the MKVII bag with leather strap now so almost there

[Indiana Croft]

You’re getting there, can’t wait for the next picture all geared up.

Croft

[Manwiththehat]

You’re getting there, can’t wait for the next picture all geared up.

Croft

Thanks A quick question but should I use some leather conditioner on my jacket or can I just leave it as it is? I'm afraid that conditioner will darken it so I'm not sure my self.

[Indiana Croft]

Pecards would be the only conditioner I’d use, and yes it’ll darken it, but it will lighten back up after awhile.
Just don’t go overboard.Light coating, let dry awhile.
Then with a white cotton cloth give it a good rub down.

Others might chime in with there two cents.
Me I don’t condition all to often.

Croft

[Holt]

I condition every 5 years or so and when I do its only light coat.

When I first got leather jackets way back in 05 or so I was so afraid for it being ruined, scratched or dry out..

Ahh... if I only knew back then what I know now. The energy and worry I could have spared myself for..

[bearbeast]

I condition every 5 years or so and when I do its only light coat.

When I first got leather jackets way back in 05 or so I was so afraid for it being ruined, scratched or dry out..

Ahh... if I only knew back then what I know now. The energy and worry I could have spared myself for..

If it's any comfort I will profit from your experience. I usually condition my jackets at least once a year... if you're saying I can do it less and still get the same use out of them, it's really good. I hate rubbing the Pecard's all over the jackets.

Cheers,
Bear

[Jonesy Jr.]

Leather jackets should be conditioned ?

[Manwiththehat]

Alright. I think I'm done and It didn't look too bad either I think I applied a thin leather conditioner layer to it also

[Western New York Indy]

Nicely done! I think you nailed the look of the jacket appearing lived-in, but not exaggerating so much that it looks unnatural. In my opinion, it looks very natural and subtle in a realistic way. Certainly better than I could have done Good work

-WNY Indy

[Manwiththehat]

Nicely done! I think you nailed the look of the jacket appearing lived-in, but not exaggerating so much that it looks unnatural. In my opinion, it looks very natural and subtle in a realistic way. Certainly better than I could have done Good work

-WNY Indy

Thank you
Tomorrow if the weather holds I'm posting my entire gear.I Got my pants back from adjustment from my sister and they are also great now

[Indiana Croft]

I concur, it looks great.
Can’t wait for the gear pictures.
Gotta pyramid near buy.

I love finding new places for the back ground.

Croft

[Canyon]

Jacket looks beautiful!

Tomorrow if the weather holds I'm posting my entire gear.I Got my pants back from adjustment from my sister and they are also great now

Great! Can't wait to see the whole outfit!

[bearbeast]

Leather jackets should be conditioned ?

Apparently less often than I thought. But in general leather stuff needs occasional conditioning, especially vegetable tanned stuff seems more prone to getting brittle in my experience. And for chrome tanned stuff, like most jackets... it helps a lot with water proofing. (at least when using Pecard's).

Cheers,
Bear

[Indiana Croft]

Been trying to get out and take pictures, but in the bright sun light it sorta washes out the distressing.
Today was over cast and foggy, so I went out DoD and took some pictures.
While still hard to see the over all look is what I've been working on, a very muted look, distressed but not over barring.
This is what is see in the DoD jacket and what I've been playing with This winter and I used the Fryberg dark brown leather stain and scuff pads to achieve.
Hat is my Advintage Raiders Ciro w/no turn.
Jacket is S&J
Shirt is Azuma small run of 3
Pants are Karoline wool blend





This in the basement showing the right shoulder, I always see this area as heavily worn and the muted brown showing through.


Azuma shirt, his last.


So you can get the desired look, just got to keep at it from time to time.

And I'll post these and other in another thread and link it.
viewtopic.php?t=75581

Croft