WaddWatsonEllis,
There's all kinda ways to do it ........then there's the right way........I'll tell ya my way, then maybe someone will chime in and tell ya the right way....
My first step on any project is to case (or wet the leather). I do this by a quick pass under a running tap. some will use a spunge and some will spray with a spray bottle. I just give it a quick pass under water at the kitchen sink......then take it to the bench and start carving......I usually draw up the pattern, then transfer it to the leather, wet, start carving the pattern that I transfered to the piece. carve slow as it dries.....if it gets too dry I will usually give it a spray with water as I go......once dry I then dye with a brush or depending on finish I will use my airbrush with my own mixture of dye and other ingredients (my secret), or on two tones I will use small art brushes and sometimes even Q tips depending on how small the space is I'm working with.
Depending on your dip type dying, you might want to dye, then tool as prolonged exposure to the dunk tank might cause some of the tooling to swell......This is a very important point!!!! As a dip in your type of dye will probably add moisture......The standard leather dyes along with my added ingredients have a way of drying the leather so I dye after tooling and before seal and polish.....the sealer and polish adds lost moisture back to the leather during the process.
Two different dying processes and two different desirable ways of approching them.........I hope this helps.
Others that have more experience in the Vinageroon type dying will hopefully chime in.....but I believe that the second option is your best path......
......I learned a long time ago.....and applied this to every aspect of life.....There's the right way, the best way, other people's way, then there is the way that works best for you.........I learn some from others and apply it to my way of doing things.
Good luck!