The Worst Leather Mix Up I Have Ever Seen..
So, discussing the pros and cons of water-based dyes reminded me of this story. It emphasizes how the right product can make all the difference—and why one shouldn’t trust everything found on the internet.
I spent years working at a leather supply company, handling customer service, teaching basic leather-craft, and troubleshooting crafting issues for our customers. One recurring challenge I faced was the prevalence of tutorials written by people attempting something for the first time. They often hadn’t tested the finished product to see if the methods and products used would stand the test of time. You’ve probably rolled your eyes at a clickbait DIY video, but surprisingly, many people prefer such advice over that of experts!
This brings me to a scout leader who came in with plans for his kids to make leather masks for Halloween. Despite my offer to demonstrate for the kids and provide suggestions, he opted to follow a list from a crafter’s website (no names mentioned here, just the story). The list seemed peculiar, but there’s more than one correct way to make things, so we gathered the materials according to his list.
I made a mental note of the website he was using, and a day or two later, during some downtime, I looked it up out of curiosity. It turns out that while there are various correct ways to make something, there are also some very wrong ways. The author had suggested combining school glue with water-based dye to create a paint-like substance to coat the inside of the mask for coloring and stiffening. In the pictures, they applied it in multiple thick layers.
The problem is that school glue is designed to liquefy when it gets wet, as it facilitates easy cleanup for kids. And wearing a mask can get sweaty. With water-based dye mixed in with the glue, it meant the color was bound to run everywhere. The recipe for disaster was astonishing, but I had no way to contact the guy to warn him.
Oddly enough, he came in a few days later. His scouts had made their masks, proudly wearing them in a Halloween parade. However, at the end, they found their faces covered in a sticky mess that stained their skin and clothes wherever it touched. A big enough mess, and it happened just before school picture day! He sought recommendations on removing the dye from the kids’ eyebrows—an unexpected problem. I suggested astringent and crossing your fingers.
I contacted the website that provided the bad advice, and it turned out the guy had only worn the mask for one quick picture before putting it on the shelf. He had no idea it wouldn’t stand up to a little sweat. Thankfully, not long afterward, he removed that particular tutorial from the site.
To add to the leather mask-based customer service issues, a year or so later, someone planned to mold a mask by pouring boiling water on it while stretching it over a mold. The twist? The mold, in this case, was their own real face. I had to give them a tutorial where there would be no second-degree burns resulting.