Start here
Leather Finishing: Dyes, Sealers and Final Touches
A practical guide to finishing leather: how dyes, antiquing, oils, paints, topcoats and edges fit together, and which finish suits your project.
Techniques
Finishing
Edges, dyes, oils and top coats.
Can You Paint Leather? Paints, Primers and Finishes
Can you paint leather? Yes, with flexible acrylic leather paint over a properly prepped surface. Learn the prep, thin coats, sealing and curing steps.
DIY Leather Shine: How to Make Cheap Leather Look Expensive
Make cheap leather look better: identify the material, clean and condition lightly, then polish and buff, and avoid kitchen oils and petroleum shortcuts.
Does leather improve with age?
Does leather improve with age? Good full-grain and vegetable-tanned leather does, developing patina, but bonded and PU leather cracks. Care tips included.
How to Darken Leather: Dyes, Stains and Oils
How to darken leather with oil, sun, dye or vinegaroon, which methods suit vegetable-tanned leather, and why chrome-tan needs deglazing first.
How to Get Smooth Leather Edges: Beveling, Sanding and Burnishing
Smooth leather edges step by step: bevel the corners, sand through the grits, dampen and burnish, and when to choose edge paint on chrome-tan leather.
How to Make Leather Look Aged: Antiquing and Distressing
Make leather look aged with antique paste, resists and light distressing, plus natural aging with oil and sun, and what to test before you start.
Should you oil the rough side of leather?
Should you oil the rough side of leather? Usually the flesh side of vegetable-tanned leather, in thin coats. Suede and roughout need more caution.
Water-Based vs Alcohol Leather Dye: Which Should You Use?
Water-based vs alcohol leather dye compared: drying time, penetration, odor, flammability and blending, with clear advice on which to pick for your project.
Will Rit fabric dye dye leather?
Rit fabric dye can stain some leather, but results are uneven and unreliable. Here is why finished leather resists it and what to use instead.
Related topics