1st… I cleaned it with mild soap…
2nd… rinsed very well…
3rd… let it drain out while I heated the water…
4… useing rits dye (black)… I boiled the water and stirred in the mix (powder) as directed on the package…
5… I let it set in the dye for 30 minutes…
6… took it out and rinsed it out under warm water… and then slowly turning it to cold…
I got a nice deep black color (just the way I wanted)… but… here the problem…
the hair is coming off the hide…
was the water to hot??
Leonard,
You probably cooked the skin by putting it in water that was too hot.
I suggest you go to a beauty supply shop. Buy the least expensive hair dye in black. You can get the kit that has everything or get the dye and buy separate developer. Mix a small amount of each solution,roughly 1/2 and 1/2. Work into the deer (or other) hair and let sit. Check every so often and when completely the color you want rinse with lukewarm water. Then shampoo. Do not use hot water.
Allan
If the hide is dry and the hair is coming out, you probably did over cook it. If the hide isn’t dry yet, let it dry and it might not shed. Better to use a longer dye bath at a cooler temp than a very hot bath and short time.
Happy Trails!
Ronn
One other point is to just rinse the hair in cold water. You need not have it hot and then go to cold. Cold water will help set the dye better. I to would guess you over cookded the hair. Remember that Black is one of the hardest colors to dye. I would use the hair dye that tyeflies talked about. It is easier and works better. But cost more. Ron
JC,
It’s DYEING.
Dying you can do only one time and that’s that. (-:
Allan
JC,
Just don’t want you, or any FAOLer, to do one when meaning to do da udder.
I can’t believe I spelt it wright. 
Ron
Hi Lenard,
I think the key word in your post was "boiled at least I think I saw it there. My general rule of thumb is never dye any material in a dye bath hotter than 140 degrees. If I need boiling water to dissolve the powder then I use a small amount to make a “slurry” then add the slurry to the water for the dye bath. I have a short “how to” on my web site about bleaching and dying if you are interested. Take care & …
Tight Lines - Al Beatty [url=http://www.btsflyfishing.com:dcd31]www.btsflyfishing.com[/url:dcd31]
well guys… I think I finally got the black color I was looking for…
what I did was heat up the water to a steam… shut it off and stirred for about 10 minutes… then I set it over the pilot light (gas stove)… put the hair and stirred about ever 15 minutes for 3 1/2 hour…
I now have a deep rich black 6x6 piece of deer hair…
thank you all for the help…
BTW… I saved the dye in a gallon milk carton… for later use…
any of you save it… if so what in… and how long??
Leonard,
No, I don’t save it. With my luck I know that container is going to do one of 2 things. A)Get lost or in the way and eventually get thrown out anyway, OR B)Get tipped over, spill out and cause more ‘Pain & Suffering’ than it’s worth.
Allan
A.K.Best has a marvelous book “Dyeing and Bleaching natural Fly-Tying Materials”
Gives extensive info on everything from heat settings to dye bath recipes…A wonderful source of Info even fur blending is covered!
“Wish ya great fishing”