I know it will depend based on location and store, but I am wanting to get a general idea how much it will cost to have a saddle professionally dyed. I don’t trust myself to not screw it up!
My trainer had an older Harris dyed a few years ago. The guy who did it did a fabulous job. I think it was about 400. He did work on it for several weeks, working slowly as it was the first one he had done. His business is a local family owned shoe repair store that has been in business for years. My mom who is almost 90 had shoes dyed there when she was in high school.
One of the local guys advertises a base price of $250, though I imagine if you showed up with a heavily tooled show saddle with lots of silver to remove that price would go up quickly.
To really do it well you need to take the saddle apart above and beyond what the average horseowner with no leather tools is up for.
Is the saddle rough out or smooth leather?
What color is it, what color will it become (is it going from light to dark, or the reverse)?
[QUOTE=csaper58;8861510]
Is the saddle rough out or smooth leather?
What color is it, what color will it become (is it going from light to dark, or the reverse)?[/QUOTE]
It is smooth leather, it would be going from light to dark.
Everyone I know who has tried this has experienced dye transferring onto their clothes, so few places will tackle the job.
My first thought would be to contact whoever made the saddle
If you decide to try it, Meltonian New Life color Spray seems to work the best.
It will darken with use. And with cleaning and oiling.
I would worry the dye might come off your clothes and skin and whatever else, but i have no experience with that.
If you give it a nice light coat of an oil that will cause the leather to darken a little you can leave it out in the sun and use it the color will darken. I got the saddle pictured as an un-treated (not dyed) leather and did 2 coats of olive oil and left it in the sun for a few days. Heavy use after that gave it the color it has.
http://i.imgur.com/rGR0yD2.jpg
Sorry for the odd angle, my technology isn’t cooperating :mad:
[QUOTE=cookie-monster;8862019]
It will darken with use. And with cleaning and oiling.
I would worry the dye might come off your clothes and skin and whatever else, but i have no experience with that.[/QUOTE]
The leather has quite a few water marks on it (like maybe it started to rain before they could get it covered up). I have been wanting a dark oil or black western saddle for a while now, and then found this saddle for a really good deal. I was thinking with the money I saved I could get it dyed. It at least needs a new seat anyway.
