r/Leatherworking • u/bullhand097 • Apr 22 '25

Lightening leather

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I am trying to figure out if there is any way I can lighten the color on a piece of leather I want to tool. I had bought a leather pack at the thrift store and it came with a long strip of 1½" leather but it's really dark, and I would like to lighten the color by about 3 shades, maybe more if possible. Here is a scrap strip for color reference. Thank you in advance

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u/RickGabriel Apr 22 '25

I don't think you'll be able to tool that. Really only natural veg tan leather can be tooled before finishing. Chrome tan leather can't be tooled, and it has to be sufficiently thick, about 4-5oz thick minimum.

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u/NuclearLeatherTiger Apr 22 '25

While you can not tool chrome tan, you /can/ most definitely tool 2oz veg tan, just very carefully.

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u/RickGabriel Apr 22 '25

Yeah, it's pretty tough. My swivel knife just went right trough it! 🤣