Painting boots?

[Satxer]

Ok, because I am not sure where else to post this, I'll go with here. I am looking to buy a set of boots made of synthetic leather, but I need to paint them a different color. What would be the best method? Could I spray paint them with Krylon fusion? Or should I try a leather dye?

The boots are white btw, and I am looking to paint them green.

 

[Zaxmon]

It's possible to re-dye the boots as long as they are not black. You will first have to use a deglazer, I have used Fiebings dyes and deglazers and they work well. Pick them up at Tandy leather. It's pretty toxic stuff, and you should use it in a well ventilated area. I never play with this stuff without a respirator too.

But once it's deglazed it will take a dye pretty well. Finish up with a sealer like acrylic resolene.

I've found that paints never hold up as well as dyes. They tent to crack and peel over time, but others may have a technique for that.

EDIT: I just noticed you said synthetic leather... it still should work the same.

 

[theyrenotdolls]

interesting...about the deglazer.. how exactly do you apply it? with a swab or do you spray or brush it on? any more info about your method and the results you've achieved? any before and after pics?
Thanks,
den

It's possible to re-dye the boots as long as they are not black. You will first have to use a deglazer, I have used Fiebings dyes and deglazers and they work well. Pick them up at Tandy leather. It's pretty toxic stuff, and you should use it in a well ventilated area. I never play with this stuff without a respirator too.

But once it's deglazed it will take a dye pretty well. Finish up with a sealer like acrylic resolene.

I've found that paints never hold up as well as dyes. They tent to crack and peel over time, but others may have a technique for that.

EDIT: I just noticed you said synthetic leather... it still should work the same.

 

[penwiper]

There's actually a spray paint specially designed for shoes.

Nu Life Color Spray

I've used it, and my only advice is to make sure that you let it dry very thoroughly (a week or so) before wearing the shoes. Otherwise, I had no problems with it. My shoes were leather, but it says it can be used on vinyl.

I'm not sure about deglazing vinyl, but you can deglaze leather with plain old acetone.

 

[doc]

you could Always just to go Joanns and get the fake leather and make boot cover to go over them, really easy. If you paint any thing with a rattle can it dont matter what sealer you put on its going to crack.

 

[cayman shen]

Wow, that Nu-life is awesome.

 

[Darius Alucard]

If the boots have a patent leather type finish, the paint probably won't adhere well.

If you have access to an airbrush, take a look at this thread for advice.
Where can I find Green Lantern Boots? - Hall of Costumes - Discussion Areas - The League of Heroes - The Original Comics/Sci Fi/Pop Culture Fan Costuming Resource! - Message Board

 

[Zaxmon]

interesting...about the deglazer.. how exactly do you apply it? with a swab or do you spray or brush it on? any more info about your method and the results you've achieved? any before and after pics?
Thanks,
den

It's a pretty simple process. Wear gloves, and work in a well ventilated area (i work in an open garage and wear a respirator), then use a clean cloth and start buffing away. It reminds me of a toxic acetone.

 

[darthgordon]

Will those chemicals work with fake leather though? It seems like that stuff would eat up fake leather faster than a stick of butter eaten by Kirstie Alley.

 

[the_batdemon]

I've used deglazer on synthetics, because there is sometimes a coating that inhibits paint. test it in small area, not all synthetics are the same. Nu-life is the best in a spray can. Createx or Jaquard are great to for airbrushing. Krylon Fusion is a mixed bag. I found the one time I used it on vinyl, the coating didn't allow the paint to fuse and dry. It was still tacky after a week.

 

[Satxer]

There's actually a spray paint specially designed for shoes.

Nu Life Color Spray

This one definately makes me curious. Do you know if a place like Joanns or Michaels would stock this?

 

[the_batdemon]

Neither would have it. Check a shoe repair store.

 

[Darth Mule]

It's a pretty simple process. Wear gloves, and work in a well ventilated area (i work in an open garage and wear a respirator), then use a clean cloth and start buffing away. It reminds me of a toxic acetone.

Deglazer is acetone. They just put it in a smaller bottle and sell it for more. Shoe stretch is similar. Its just rubbing alcohol that they put in a smaller bottle and relabel to sell for a higher price.

Careful with deglazer on vinyl. It will eat it if you leave it on too long.

Nu-Life is an easy bet. You can pick it up at shoe repair shops. Angelus shoe paint is another one that is harder to obtain but is better quality. Nu-Life tends to crack and when you paint shoes with them, they tend to look like painted shoes. Angelus goes on with a paintbrush and takes longer to put on, but looks tons better in the end.

 

[penwiper]

Also, in desperate last-minute situations, I have painted deglazed leather shoes with fabric paint. I wouldn't recommend it for anything you're obsessed about because it does show brush strokes, and I'm sure it wouldn't work for synthetic shoes, but it passes okay as long as nobody gets right down next to your shoes.

 

[Zaxmon]

Deglazer is acetone. They just put it in a smaller bottle and sell it for more.

That doesn't surprise me. I use a respirator with everything anyway. I get headaches from all that stuff very easily so I take extra precautions, and encourage others to do that same.

 

[Guri]

Nu-Life is what I've used too. Got it at the shoe-repair store as well. Worked on vinyl for Anakin spats, synthetic leather and even rubber for Obi-wan boots.

Great stuff. A bit expensive, but worth it.

 

[theyrenotdolls]

i used nu-life once, on vinyl boots and had no issues. turned out as expected.
I later upgraded to leather boots though.

Nu-Life is what I've used too. Got it at the shoe-repair store as well. Worked on vinyl for Anakin spats, synthetic leather and even rubber for Obi-wan boots.

Great stuff. A bit expensive, but worth it.

 

[Satxer]

Of course it can't be as easy as just finding a reasonably priced pair of green boots...

 

[doc]

He is right though the fake leather works better for some reason. I made a undersuit with the stuff form joanns ($20yrd grrr) and dyed it.