How to darken leather?

[Patattack]

I was wondering if there was some easy way to darken some scrap brown leather that I'm using for my Sparrow glove. Ideally, it would be something I rub onto the leather instead of something like a dye, so that I can darken some areas more than others to make it look well-used. I'm not positive, but I believe it's full grain or possibly top grain (I've only read definitions, and haven't had the experience to tell for sure). Any ideas?

 

[Dark Shadow]

Dark brown shoe polish. The kind that comes in the round can.

 

[Patattack]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dark Shadow @ Feb 13 2007, 08:59 AM) [snapback]1417901[/snapback]</div>

Dark brown shoe polish. The kind that comes in the round can.
[/b]

Of course...it's so simple. Thanks.

 

[Hitogiri]

Just use it little by little though to get the effect you want, you can overdo it pretty easily if your not careful.

 

[Dark Shadow]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hitogiri @ Feb 13 2007, 06:11 PM) [snapback]1418083[/snapback]</div>

Just use it little by little though to get the effect you want, you can overdo it pretty easily if your not careful.
[/b]

Very true, Ive done just that. :confused

 

[Patattack]

Is it possible to...dilute it? I don't exactly know what the polish is made of, but I feel like water wouldn't work.

 

[penwiper]

You can get some tonal gradation by simply using oil or colorless paste wax on the leather. The 'wet' leather appears darker than leather that hasn't been oiled.

 

[Patattack]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(penwiper @ Feb 13 2007, 07:20 PM) [snapback]1418333[/snapback]</div>

You can get some tonal gradation by simply using oil or colorless paste wax on the leather. The 'wet' leather appears darker than leather that hasn't been oiled.
[/b]

What sort of oil? I read that vegetable oil (the only kind I have immediately handy) can go rancid in leather...

 

[penwiper]

Definitely avoid most cooking oils. You can use something like mink oil that is designed for leather, or I've even used hand lotion or chapstick.

 

[greatwazoo42]

Weak tea, dry, mink oil.

 

[Lukes Roommate]

There's a product called Atom Wax that will weather suede-type rough leathers incredibly well.

 

[Darth Lars]

Related info: If you want to go the other way and bleach leather, then avoid using chlorine or sodium hydroxide - these destroy leather permanently.
After some bit of experimentation, I found that some "white" washing detergents with enzymes work to a degree.
Benzoylperoxide (and probably also hydrogenperoxide) is more potent. It is the prime ingredient in hardeners for polyester resin and derivatives, such as Bondo, at 50%+, but I use an acne cream that contains only 5% and I find that to be strong enough.

 

[Hitogiri]

What'd you overdo it on Dark Shadow? lol