Eco-Flo Professional waterstain

[Boothill Bob]

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Howdy Pards..
I looked at TL:s wedsite an saw that they hade Eco-Flo Professional waterstain no bleed or rub off.
Have any tryed it?

[Cliff Fendley]

I got something new the other day in Black, I think that may be it.

I know the salesman put in on a scrap piece and within a couple minutes it was dry and it would not rub off. That sold me enough to try it. I have always had a problem with black rubbing off especially on ivory handled knives. Too the point I don't want to make a black sheath for a knife with an ivory or light colored handle

[will ghormley]

It seems to be pretty amazing stuff.  That is somethin' comin' from an old dog like me.  I HATE new tricks, but this stuff seems to be too easy to use to be true.  Only, it seems to be holdin' up better than Fiebing's Professional Oil Dye.  I've got to do some "soak" tests before I'll know for sure, but it seems to be everything folks say it is.

Will

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

It seems to be pretty amazing stuff.  That is somethin' comin' from an old dog like me.  I HATE new tricks, but this stuff seems to be too easy to use to be true.  Only, it seems to be holdin' up better than Fiebing's Professional Oil Dye.  I've got to do some "soak" tests before I'll know for sure, but it seems to be everything folks say it is.

Will

And it appears we can purchase it, possess it and use it, in the Socialist State of California. 

[Boothill Bob]

I will try it out and see how it works.

[Drayton Calhoun]

And it appears we can purchase it, possess it and use it, in the Socialist State of California. 

Until they find out that it causes Spotted Owls to be hatched bald-headed...

[will ghormley]

OK, I've done a pretty definitive test on a project I did.  It's good stuff.  I made a page about how I used it and the results.  You can see it at:

http://www.willghormley-maker.com/OldDogsAndNewTricks.html

There ya have it!
Will

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Nice run-down, Will. Thanks for the link. I'm going to have to try this stuff.

[outrider]

Yesterday I tried the black Eco-Water Stain for the first time.  As Will pointed out it worked very well...dried in about 20 minutes and I had the completed knife sheath in less than an hour and a half...I used the standard Bag Kote and regular black edge coat for a finish and it worked well.  I will try the Eco edge coat and the matte finish...

[will ghormley]

On another forum, one of the guys brought up the abrasion aspect of the Waterstain finish.  After rubbing the leather on concrete, the Waterstain finish was gone leaving leather.  Another feller chimed in and said he solved the problem by doing an undercoat of Oil Dye.  The penetration of the oil dye, with an overcoat of the water-fast Waterstain, seemed to give the guy the best of both worlds.

Granted, they guy was doin' custom leather for bikes, (where the concrete abrasion test is very practical), but I like the concept.  Deep penetration of the oil dye, with a water-fast finish of the Waterstain.  While it might seem redundant, I don't ever want another customer telling me his shoulder holster ruined his favorite shirt because the oil dye came off on it!

As a possible plus, gettin' that "Hollywood" distressed look:  How'bout an undercoat of saddle tan, with an overcoat of black Waterstain.  Hit the high spots with fine sand paper, and you have the instant "used" look.  I think I'm goin' to have to find me a project to try that on!

Will

[Cliff Fendley]

I like that idea Will, tan or brown under the black. If the black scratches it just gives it a more distressed look. Black is the color I have most trouble with bleeding.

[will ghormley]

Hey Cliff, me too.  That's one of the reasons I like my rust tank so much for dying things black.  But, if I can find a way to get better penetration out of the black Waterstain, that will probably become my new favoritist thing. 

Last night after I went to bed, I got to wunderin' if I could get better penetration by applying the Waterstain to damp leather.  It seems like a sound concept, but I'll have to do some experimentin' to see if it works.

Will

[Eloy Santa Cruz]

Sounds like good stuff, I'll have to try it. Maybe dip dyeing will give more penetration.

[Boothill Bob]

I´m glad I open this tread.... There is lots of nice ideas how to work with this dye.
Think I´m going with Eloy here and trye dip dyeing.
But as you say about the distressed look and tan dye first and maby airbrush the black, think that will be
very nice.
I have tryed to airbrush my modern holsters and it gives a shallow penetration..

[Massive]

Thanks for the write-up Will, I guess we also have an answer to the question of whether we should toss the oil dye.

[will ghormley]

I'm Scotch.  I wouldn't toss ANYTHING! 

Will

[will ghormley]

OK, I did a test to see if the Waterstain achieved deeper color penetration if the leather was damp when the Waterstain was applied.  The answer is yes.  Then, I hit both sides with 60 wet/dry sandpaper to see if the deeper color penetration resisted abrasion better.  The answer was yes.  To see the photos of the test, visit the same site I mentioned earlier.  I just added it to the bottom of that page.

http://www.willghormley-maker.com/OldDogsAndNewTricks.html

I'm still goin' to have to do some more tests to see if I can get even better results.

Will

[will ghormley]

OK, I think I'm done with my testing.  I applied the black Waterstain to leather that was damp all the way through.  Then I put a coat of Finish, and two coats of Conditioning Cream on it.  It stood up much better in the abrasion tests with the finish and conditioning cream applied.  I'm sold.  you can see photos of the test at:

http://www.willghormley-maker.com/OldDogsAndNewTricks.html

Hope this helps,
Will

[Boothill Bob]

Will, thats great info. Thanx for the help pard, good work.

[Bill LOGAN]

Thank you for this very good test will ghormley

[santee]

I've used the eco-flo on some small projects. I like the color, and it goes on smooth. Although, never thought to try the penetration test. Thanks, Will!

[Massive]

I got some from my Tandy store yesterday.  The owner showed me how it lightens if you fold the leather back and forth, which did not seem like a positive to me, but apparently is prized by those that like to antique items of clothing.

[Johnny Morris]

We have been using it on some small projects around the shop for a couple of months.  And it has been the first water based product I have really liked and will continue to use.  For small items it has been quick and easy to get done and added some new colors for us.  Thanks for the info Will, we will try a wet approach with black in the future.

JM