Various pictures of damaged leather. Is it fixable and how?

[Finaltheorem47]

I`m hoping that I can get some feedback as to if these various types of leather can be fixed, and if so, how. I did a search and it seems like there is some information but I got a little confused at times trying to read the leather doctors posts. I have a couple photographs of different leather seats and items that all have somewhat different damage to them.





#1 Rip in leather seat with 1/2" gap or so of leather missing.





http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2961.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2962.jpg



#2 10 year old leather belt stain.



http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2963.jpg





#3 & #4 Discolored steering wheel (from palm oil + sunlight/heat maybe?) and gash that goes 100% through the leather I believe.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2978.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2972.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2971.jpg





#5 Top of rear seat, leather really dry and cracked, sure i could put moisturizer on it, but is it too far gone?



http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2967.jpg



#6 Angry dog sunk one of her claws into the seat



http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2966.jpg



#7 Leather like cardboard



http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2964.jpg



#8 Edge of seat for Ford Truck... you slide down and off the seat when you get out because it`s so high and the leather has worn through at the seam completely here



http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2979.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2980.jpg



#9 Screw driver in back pocket imapled the seat (similar to dog claw one)



http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2982.jpg



#10 Leather turned to like cardboard, and then the most outer surface of it started to wear away... Hard to describe



http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/FinalTheorem47/Leather/IMG_2970.jpg



Most of these cars are daily driven, replacing the damaged leather with a used part off another car is a possibility, but I know just about any damage can be fixed, but at what cost? The owners of them aren`t motivated enough to fix them if the repairs are going to cost an arm and a leg (because they`re 10+ year old daily driven cars). And yes.. I know the seats look like they havent been cleaned for like a decade and that might be true... lol

[Ron Ketcham]

No, No, No, Possible, No, No, etc, etc.

Someone is going to have to "bite the bullet", anything less is just throwing money down the infamous "rat hole".

Sort term fixes are possible on a couple, like depending on if the vehicle is setting on a car lot for a period of time, will look OK, but put them in daily service, "rat-hole".

Ain`t cheap to actually "fix" them, but in the big picture, that`s about it.

Grumpy

[Roger Koh]

All the above pictures can be fixed.





Example...#7 Leather like cardboard - this cardboard hard leather will be as soft as you wish...after hydrating and fatliquoring!





How do you want to go from here?





Roger Koh

info@leatherdoctor.com

[Ron Ketcham]

Excuse me Roger,

i am aware that you are well versed in the refreshing of leather.

However, what you just posted does not address the photo`s where there was a total failure of the material at the sewn portion of the seat or steering wheel covering.

The other concern I have is when the dye is completely gone and deep cracking is seen, too the point in the photo`s, that it is ready to fail completely.

I agree that in many cases some rehydrating of the skin will prolong the life, however in most of the photos exhibited, the leather is either in the process of total failure or already has failed.

Grumpy

[togwt]

I`m in agreement with Ron Ketcham, unless this is a classic car renovation restoration is not a viable option

[judyb]

Hi



Picture 1

Any leather that has gone through like this particularly on a high wear area will have weakened areas on the edges of the cut and whilst there are repair systems that will fix this it is unlikely to be very strong or long lasting. The panel needs replacing and the cost effectiveness would depend on whether the rest of the seat was in good condition.



Picture 2

Easily fixed - if not removeable with a Jean and Dye Transfer Remover kit the area can always be recoloured to match the rest - very cost effective.



Picture 3

Leather on a steering wheel that has aged like this could possibly be repaired but with the wear and handling it gets would be better to replace.



Picture 5

Pigment needs replacing here as this is what has cracked - very successful - do not add moisturizers as these may affect the adhesion of the new coatings.



Picture 6

As this is a puncture rather than a weakened area the hole could be fixed quite successfully although if it is on a high wear area such as a seat there is more of a chance of failure due to the pressure it is under.



Picture 7

Difficult to tell on this one - may be just a recolouring job but if the leather is hard due to over wetting or the fibres have been permanently damaged then this may not fix easily. If the seating is vintage or cannot be replaced easily then there are things that can be done.



Picture 8

Definitely replacement of the panel here. Tear is on a high stress area near a seam and although repair is possible it is unlikely to be long lasting due to the high wear it is under.



Picture 9

This is fixable but the same applies to the above if it is on an area that is under high pressure or wear.



Picture 10

This can be recoloured and will proabably be quite successful but if they have not cared for their seats up until now it is unlikely that they will when it has been restored and so the same may happen again. It is crucial to look after leather that has been restored in the same way as if it was new so that the surface coatings that are applied are kept clean and protected.



Hope this helps

The fact that the leather has not been looked after in most of the cases is why the leather has deteriorated the way it has.

Cost wise - difficult to say as we are in the Uk and I have no idea what repairs like this cost in the USA but hope the guidelines above are of some use to you.



Cheers

Judyb

[David Fermani]

Unless this was a restoration on a stupid rare car, I wouldn`t want them fixed with anything but a new seat cover.

[Finaltheorem47]

Yeah... These are your average daily drivers, 1995 Camry, 2000 Ford Excrusion and my 2001 Cobra (not a DD now but PO DD`d it). The leather on the Camry and Excursion have never been cared for their entire lives and my steering wheel was kind of a lost hope, it looked terrible when I got it and I just put some 303 on it every once in a while since I know almost nothing about leather care.

[togwt]

... I know almost nothing about leather care.



It won`t help these leathers but for future reference these may help with leather care-





http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/136895-leather-upholstery%3B-surface-identification.html#post1451654



http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/136421-proper-finished-leather-cleaning-care.html



http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/137157-leather-conditioning.html#post1454835



http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/136820-using-oil-based-leather-care-products.html#post1450942



http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/137167-aniline-leather%3B-cleaning-care.html#post1455011



http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/137168-perforated-nappa-leather%3B-cleaning-care.html#post1455017

[Finaltheorem47]

Ohhh many thanks! ^^

[Roger Koh]

Excuse me Roger,

i am aware that you are well versed in the refreshing of leather.

However, what you just posted does not address the photo`s where there was a total failure of the material at the sewn portion of the seat or steering wheel covering.

The other concern I have is when the dye is completely gone and deep cracking is seen, too the point in the photo`s, that it is ready to fail completely.

I agree that in many cases some rehydrating of the skin will prolong the life, however in most of the photos exhibited, the leather is either in the process of total failure or already has failed.

Grumpy











Repairs: Pictures #1, #3, #4, #6, #8 & #9

Repairs to holes, rips, tears including abrasion and structural weakness is recommended first to be hydrated to narrow up the gap, thereafter fatliquor to soften and strengthen it prior to the repair. All structural repairs are done with water-based leather bond that when cured becomes part of leather, for filling of gaps leather fibers are used with the leather bond; colors are added to the leather bond for finishing. Abraded structural weaken leathers are further impregnated to re-strengthen and tightens up the leathers, filling up on high wear areas like picture #8 is similarly done with leather fibers in conjunction with leather bond. Leather stucco when used is recommended to be strengthened with leather bond and fibers to minimize cracks from areas that are of constant stress with flexes. Full grain 0.4mm thickness leather is used for sub-patch. Heat is not recommended for leather repairs as such repairs often turns stiff and easily cracks under stress or flex. All such repairs should carry a 3 years warranty against material and workmanship which we do, to give value to the repair.







When color finishes is abraded off, it’s gone. Leather is made up of interlocking protein fibrils and if it’s broken the leather weakens. The only way to mend them is by leather bond with leather fibrils just like fiberglass repairs to regain its strength. When the leather structure is loose, “impregnating” them with leather impregnator will tighten and strengthen the overstretched leather structure back to strength. Dry rotting maybe beyond repair as you can put your finger through, that’s the end of the leather useful life. Other than dry rotting, leather hydrating in conjunction with leather fatliquoring should be able to rejuvenate these leathers back for another lease of useful life. In most of the pictures it had shown that the cause of leather damages is due to the diminishing of fatliquor.





Stain Removal and Restorative Cleaning: Pictures #2, #1, #8 & #10

These stains are effectively removal with the penetrating power of leather prep, thereafter sticky residues are removed with leather cleaner and leather rinse to a healthy squeaky clean without the side-effects of streaks, brightness or tackiness. Further a non-stick rub resistant protection will reduce accumulated soiling.





Cracking, Gashing, Splitting, Cardboard Stiffness, Drying & Cracking: Picture #1, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7 & #10

These leathers are in different stages of depleting original fatliquor. It is recommended that they are first hydrated to relax the leather structure, separating the becomes stick together fibrils prior to fatliquoring it.

When done accordingly to instructions the leather will be as soft as you wish to be put back for practical use – without further cracking as long as you fatliquor it, keeping it soft, supple and strong.





If the leather can be hydrated! It can be fatliquored – to as soft as you wish!



Roger Koh

info@leatherdoctor.com

[imported_sfds]

Unless you work for used car lot where the appearance of the car is the most important, I wouldn`t repair any of the tears or cracks on the pictures. Yes you can bond the tears and fill the cracks with putty and respray them for cosmetic reasons but for your regular costumers who you hoping to see for many years to come I would advise them to replace the panels. Only repair I touch is cigaret burns or accidental rips.

[Roger Koh]

I`m hoping that I can get some feedback as to if these various types of leather can be fixed, and if so, how. I did a search and it seems like there is some information but I got a little confused at times trying to read the leather doctors posts. I have a couple photographs of different leather seats and items that all have somewhat different damage to them.





Which of the picture leather problem do you like to have it fixed first?





Roger Koh

info@leatherdoctor.com