Anyone used Zaino Z-9 and Z-10 to recondition old cracked leather seats?

[Spike73]

I have a 1999 camry xle and the driver's side seat is pretty hard and cracked. Is there any product I can use to recondition the leather? I was thinking of trying Zaino Z-9 and Z-10.

[bert31]

Zaino Z-9 and Z-10 will help some but if you want to really recondition the leather you should consider trying the Leatherique system where you put the Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil on the car in the morning and let it sit and soak in all day long in the sun to generate some heat in the car and then remove it in the evening with Leatherique Prestine Clean.

[yakky]

Zaino is a maintenance product, not a restorer. Griots, LM and Leatherique make restoration products. If its cracked, you are probably going to want to "re-dye" as none of the above will fix the cracks.

[Alfisti]

Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil is king. It will even close the cracks so they're not visible. It absorbs into the leather swelling it back to normal and making it soft. As it absorbs into the leather it dissolves contaminants and displaces them to the surface which you remove with Prestine Clean.

It's a time consuming process but the only one that really seems to work properly.

You can order it here: Home Page | Leatherique Restoration Products

But better info on results is available here: http://ppcco.com.au/results.htm

[judyb]

No conditoning product can possibly close cracks in pigments.
Once the pigment coating on leather has cracked the pigment needs replacing. Adding oils to cracked pigment will actually make the probelm worse than it is as the oils will further release the pigment bond with the leather. Adding oils to cracked leather may also make the restoraton process more difficult because the adhesion of new pigment/finsih may be compromised by the oil in the leather. If the pgment is cracked then the oils will penetrate into the leather itself but dirt and oils will be taken further in - there is no way these wick to the surface - even less so on undamaged pigment.

Z9 and Z10 will not do any restorative work on cracked pigment and may add to the problem.

The pigments supplied by LM are generally only for touch ups and small repairs as it is a bonded product. They used to make HC and BC which were restoration pigments but I don't think they are available anymore in the USA. Bonded pigments should not be used for larger restoration jobs as the durability will not be good.

[Alfisti]

I'm no leather expert but Leatherique RO closed the cracks in my cars leather as well as other cars I used it on. Its not permanent but lasts some time. RO may be called an 'oil' but it's not oil-based, it's water-based emulsion of collagens and other goodies. To fill cracks permanently you need to use their crack filler as well.

Here's some pics from their site:

Before



After (with colour treatment as well)



I experienced similar results but the colour wasn't as even as I didn't colour treat it.

You go through quite a lot as the leather drinks it in and you keep re-applying until it stops absorbing. It doesn't drive contaminants into leather like other 'restorers'. It dissolves them and drives them to the surface. You then remove the surface 'scum' with Prestine Clean.

Leatherique is unique in leather care. Have you used it before?

[wannafbody]

Duragloss, Zaino and Mothers make good leather products but don't expect them to revive dead leather.

[Roger Koh]

Originally Posted by Spike73

I have a 1999 camry xle and the driver's side seat is pretty hard and cracked. Is there any product I can use to recondition the leather? I was thinking of trying Zaino Z-9 and Z-10.

===


These are the guides to “Recondition Old Cracked Leather Seats”:


A. Prep Cleaning:

1. Prep clean with a pH 7.7 Strong Prep Cleaner.

2. Clean with a pH 3.8 all purpose leather-safe cleaner.

3. Acidifier rinse with a pH 3.0 rinse.


B. Leather Rejuvenation:

4. Hydrate with a pH 3.3 leather hydrator

5. Fatliquor with a pH 5.0 fatliquor – leather rejuvenator.

6. Hydrogen-bond strengthening with above #3 to drive the fatliquor into the leather structure with a squeaky clean surface.


C. Leather Strengthening - Weak, Worn and Cracks:

7. Strengthen by saturating the weak and crack areas with a leather impregnator.


D. Bonding and Filling Gaps of Cracks:

8. A leather stucco or leather bond is used, could by intermixed to give best result of bonding and flexibility to reduce future cracks.


E. Adhesion Promoter:

9. An adhesion promoter ensures that the color coats have sufficient anchorage to prevent delaminating or peeling.


F. High Performance Color Coating:

10. High performance pigments are designed against UV fading for outdoors especially for autos.


G. Auto Topcoats:

11. These are the toughest urethane topcoats used especially for auto leather seats.


H. Non-Stick Protector:

12. To increase leather resistance against wet and dry rubs, thus reduce scuff and abrasion.
And it’s to reduce friction squeaks when leather rubs against leather during movement.
To impart a non-stick breathable barrier essentially to shield the detrimental effects of sticky soiling including the nasty ballpoint ink.
And it does helps to remove those tenacious dye-transfers especially on light colored leathers easily without resorting to unnecessary color refinishing.
And it’s to enhance the leather with a soft natural buttery-feel with a classic leather scent that charms.



There is no short-cut to a successful restoration.

It’s all hard work that will bring you magical results that last for practical enjoyment with pride.


Roger Koh
Leather Doctor®

[Alfisti]

The products you mention sound similar to the Leatherique products. Not quite as extensive. While the 'Leather Doctor' system may produce the *ultimate* results ( ), it's sounds very labour-intensive. Personally, the Leatherique system is about as labour-intensive as I'd want to go. The results are stellar too.

[z06meister]

While Zaino is my favorite leather dressing and I even use it in my house on my couch you want to use Leatherique for reconditioning your seats. Then use the Zaino as maintenance.