Re-coloring brooks saddle red?
10-18-18, 01:59 PM
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Re-coloring brooks saddle red?
I’d love to have a red Brooks Swallow but alas this isn’t made. There’s one on eBay for $699 which is in the realm of stratosphere that is unfathomable to me. So, I was thinking of trying to dye a honey leather brooks red. Anyone ever tried this?
10-18-18, 02:15 PM
#2
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Not that specifically, but I did recently dye a Concor that I had recovered and decided it was too tan/not dark brown enough. I used Feibing’s Deglazer followed by Feibing’s Pro Dye dark brown. It was easy and worked well, although granted you are going for a bigger color shift than I was. If possible I would try to test it on scrap first.
10-18-18, 02:26 PM
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Not that specifically, but I did recently dye a Concor that I had recovered and decided it was too tan/not dark brown enough. I used Feibing’s Deglazer followed by Feibing’s Pro Dye dark brown. It was easy and worked well, although granted you are going for a bigger color shift than I was. If possible I would try to test it on scrap first.
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10-18-18, 02:55 PM
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You can definitely dye a saddle red. But you should understand that the leather will naturally darken with exposure to sunlight, moisture, etc, and the natural darkness of the leather may overpower the dye. It would probably retain a reddish tint, but it might become a reddish brown.
Alternately there is excellent leather paint. Paint is opaque and it won't change as the leather darkens. Google "Angelus leather paint." A small bottle costs a few dollars. You'd want to start with a deglazer for another couple bucks.
Alternately there is excellent leather paint. Paint is opaque and it won't change as the leather darkens. Google "Angelus leather paint." A small bottle costs a few dollars. You'd want to start with a deglazer for another couple bucks.
10-18-18, 04:41 PM
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I’ll contact rhm. I have an old Agda saddle frame already I could use. Thanks for the advice.
I prefer the leather to patina so I don’t mind the darkening, fading and weathering. I just initially want a vibrant red. In the attached photo you can see my Concor Supercorsa has developed a nice patina through many miles and years. I recovered it and made the bar wraps.
To answer “Why?” Because I like to make things my own. So much in life isn’t that way but a bike can be fairly simple and affordably customized.
10-18-18, 07:40 PM
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@rhm, I take it you've used the Angelus paint before. If you were shooting for a really bright red, would it make sense to (deglaze) then paint the leather white, then topcoat with red?
I was thinking of trying this with various different hues for various imagined projects, but haven't got a leather saddle I'm willing to screw up
I was thinking of trying this with various different hues for various imagined projects, but haven't got a leather saddle I'm willing to screw up
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
10-18-18, 08:31 PM
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@rhm, I take it you've used the Angelus paint before. If you were shooting for a really bright red, would it make sense to (deglaze) then paint the leather white, then topcoat with red?
I was thinking of trying this with various different hues for various imagined projects, but haven't got a leather saddle I'm willing to screw up
I was thinking of trying this with various different hues for various imagined projects, but haven't got a leather saddle I'm willing to screw up
I painted one saddle with this stuff, a bright turquoise color that I thought might look good on my Holdsworth. The color came out a little too light, so I haven't used it
The deglazer is supposed to remove any existing finish so the paint sticks. I don't think it has any effect on the color.
So... I don't know. Go for it, and post back! I'm as curious as you are.
10-19-18, 12:32 AM
#9
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I have some Angelus red left over from when I did these 'pizza' shoes. When I got them they were in poor condition.
Marresi with red laces by philip.knight, on Flickr
I can paint it over some natural leather and I can put up an image as to its coverage
Marresi with red laces by philip.knight, on Flickr
I can paint it over some natural leather and I can put up an image as to its coverage
10-19-18, 02:09 PM
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How 'bout just buying a new maroon-colored Brooks pro? I have one, and it looks great.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
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10-19-18, 02:21 PM
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I bought a colored B17 and cut it to look like a Swallow. It worked reasonably well.
10-19-18, 02:29 PM
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I don't have enough experience with the stuff to really evaluate your suggestion, but my (prejudicial) thought is no, one bottle of the right color should be all you need. Should more coats be necessary, use up the bottle. I think the bottles are sized so you'll have enough to paint a pair of (large) shoes; plenty for one or two saddles.
I painted one saddle with this stuff, a bright turquoise color that I thought might look good on my Holdsworth. The color came out a little too light, so I haven't used it
The deglazer is supposed to remove any existing finish so the paint sticks. I don't think it has any effect on the color.
So... I don't know. Go for it, and post back! I'm as curious as you are.
I painted one saddle with this stuff, a bright turquoise color that I thought might look good on my Holdsworth. The color came out a little too light, so I haven't used it
The deglazer is supposed to remove any existing finish so the paint sticks. I don't think it has any effect on the color.
So... I don't know. Go for it, and post back! I'm as curious as you are.
I'll try to remember to post pictures when Flickr works out the problem they seem to be having.
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10-19-18, 02:36 PM
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Paint seems okay but won’t patina very well. It will flake off instead of age.
10-19-18, 02:38 PM
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10-19-18, 02:44 PM
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Last edited by Cyclist0108; 09-18-19 at 10:40 PM.
10-19-18, 03:01 PM
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Last edited by Cyclist0108; 09-18-19 at 10:40 PM.
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