leather dyes: what's the difference?

[tssdetailing]

I'm looking @ LeatherMagic's website and need some dye for an 01 Audi A8, what is the difference between an Aniline Dye and a Color Coat? What application is each suited for and what would I need for this project?

 

[D_Nyholm]

I definitely don't know, but the only thing I can think is that the analine dye soaks into uncoated leather (ford king ranch) and the color coat is like paint and makes a top coat on coated leather.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Maybe Accumulator knows? He's got an A8....

 

[judyb]

An aniline dye is as the name suggests a dye that soaks into the leather. It is used during the tanning process to colour leather all the way through. On King Ranch leather and other aniline style leathers this is the only colour that the leather is given. It may or may not have a finish on top of this.



A pigment is essentially a paint that sits on the surface of the leather and gives it a coating. This is then finished with a clear coat sealant. This is the majority of auto leather.



The best analogy to use is to think of wood. On wood that has been stained (dyed) you can still see all the natural patterns but if it has been painted you can no longer see these. You therefore would not use a stain on a piece of painted wood.



Generally speaking you cannot use dyes on painted leather as they would not soak in

(there are some exceptions to this - before I get corrected!!!!) but of course it is

possible to use pigments on aniline leather as this is how they were created in the first

place. However this will change the nature of the leather.



Hope this helps

Judyb

 

[tssdetailing]

thank you Judy! so it's a rare occasion that I'll need aniline.

 

[Accumulator]

Maybe Accumulator knows? He's got an A8....

Eh, I've never had to do anything other than clean/protect the interiors of the A8 or S8, so I don't have any idea how to redye the leather in question :nixweiss



Not sure I'd DIY it if it *did* need doing either, I'd sure hate to botch it up. I'd rather let somebody who's already done a few dozen of 'em fix it than try to "learn while doing".

 

[judyb]

Aniline leather in cars is rare but does exist so needs to be understood by detailers.

On a personal note I much prefer aniline to any other leather and if taken care of correctly can last a lifetime which is not usually the case with pigment coated leathers. Aniline restoration is much easier than pigment restoration so if you have not had experience with recolouring I would be very careful about the products you choose as most of the DIY products on the market simply do not work and can cause long term problems.

Pigment restoration is very much a process and all the steps are crucial for good results.

Hope this helps

Judyb

 

[tssdetailing]

I've done 2 cars so far, both came out great, both top coated. This audi has seen better days (like while it was on the lot b4 the current owner bought it 10 years ago).

 

[Quality Leather]

The best analogy to use is to think of wood. On wood that has been stained (dyed) you can still see all the natural patterns but if it has been painted you can no longer see these. You therefore would not use a stain on a piece of painted wood.





Hope this helps

Judyb

I use this analogy all the time.

Aniline leather in cars is rare but does exist so needs to be understood by detailers.

On a personal note I much prefer aniline to any other leather and if taken care of correctly can last a lifetime which is not usually the case with pigment coated leathers. Aniline restoration is much easier than pigment restoration so if you have not had experience with recolouring I would be very careful about the products you choose as most of the DIY products on the market simply do not work and can cause long term problems.

Pigment restoration is very much a process and all the steps are crucial for good results.

Hope this helps

Judyb

I don't see how repairing unfinished leather is easier than finished leather.