Leatherique Leather Dye

[BoneSS]

Anyone heard of the stuff?

[lkirchner]

I have used Leaterique products for about 6 years, primarily their leather conditioner and cleaner. However, I did use the crack filler on a leather sofa that the dog decided to claw. It was a fairly easy process to follow and it has held up very well. I applied it 2 years ago and it still looks great.



I have never been disappointed with any of the products and their support and service is great.



Lou K

[alineal]

IMHO, Leatherique leather products are the best out there. The formulas for leather cleaning & conditioning and dying were developed by a chemist who shows vintage cars. The conditioner can turn cardboard leather soft - absolutely amazing. The dyes are a color-matched aniline dye that penetrates the leather and doesn`t leave a "painted" look. I think you`ll be really pleased. I`ve used it for years, dyed customers cars, and now sell it in my shop.

[BoneSS]

How hard is prep? My seats are in great condition, there are only a few places on the bolsters where the dye has lightened, and that is what I am wanting to take care of.

[alineal]

Prep is not hard, but a little time consuming. Like a good wax job, the success lies in a good prep. The key is to remove any layer of dressings and protectants so the leather/vinyl can accept the dye evenly. A simple cleaning with prepsol or a good citrus degreaser (full strength) is usually sufficient. On one customer`s car that I was changing to a different color, I did the wet sanding with fine sandpaper that Leatherique recommends. Once you have cleaned & washed the surface, it has to dry 24 hrs. You also need to let the rejuvenator oil soak in at least 24 hours, so this isn`t a one-day project. The dying part is eas - just rub it on with a lint-free cloth like staining wood. It`s really fool-proof.



Just be sure and do the whole seat though for continuity of color. (Send me a PM if you need complete directions)

[BoneSS]

Thanks for the great info! One thing that concerns me is that part of the seats, the parts your body actually touch, is leather, while the rest is vinyl--does that create a problem? Thanks!

[alineal]

Chris,



Nice car!!



Looking at the interior pics, I can see it has the typical wear from the drivers getting in and out and abrading it with jeans, belts, etc. Leatherique will color match your leather color (best if you can send them a small piece), but there is always a SLIGHT difference (even manufacturer`s dye lots vary). That`s why I recommend you do the whole seat, including the vinyl. If there is a difference, it won`t be noticeable. The vinyl is easy to dye also. I`ve done the complete interior of cars before!



I noticed a few "character" lines on the bolster also. The crack filler that Lou mentioned is great if those have spread any. It is very flexible and durable. It isn`t a bonding agent, though, so if there are any tears, they must be repaired first. You must dye after using filler to hide it, so if you plan to dye, I`d go ahead and fill the cracks even if they aren`t bad. You simply apply it to your finger and spread, buffing off residue. The filler will be left in any depressions, giving a smooth surface.

[BoneSS]

Thanks for all the great info. Here are some more pics of the problem areas:



http://users.zoominternet.net/~zgoat3/SS/i01.JPG

http://users.zoominternet.net/~zgoat3/SS/i02.JPG

http://users.zoominternet.net/~zgoat3/SS/i03.JPG

http://users.zoominternet.net/~zgoat3/SS/i05.JPG

http://users.zoominternet.net/~zgoat3/SS/i07.JPG

http://users.zoominternet.net/~zgoat3/SS/i08.JPG

http://users.zoominternet.net/~zgoat3/SS/i09.JPG

http://users.zoominternet.net/~zgoat3/SS/i011.JPG

[BoneSS]

Anyone else?

[BoneSS]

Do you all think I should give it a try?

[RobertM]

For those who have used the Leatherique cleaner and conditioners, how are they compared to Lexol cleaners and conditioners? I use Lexol exclusively in my mobile business and was wondering if Leatherique is better?



Robert

[lkirchner]

I have used both and find leatherique to be far superior. However, it is not as quick and easy as Lexol. There is a certain amount of penetration time for the Rejuvenator oil to penetrate and work its magic that might not work when you are on a limited time schedule as you probably are with a mobile business.



To give you an example of why I feel it is superior: I purchased a new car 5 1/2 months ago and started to use Lexol every other week from the day I purchased it. I used the ph cleaner and follwed it with the conditioner. Last weekend I used the Leatherique; started with the conditioner , let it do its job for about 4 hours in the hot sun of Sacramento, CA and then followed with the Pristine Clean. I was amazed as to how much dirt was extracted when doing this. My bi-weekly cleanings/conditionings with the Lexol did not even come close to removing the same or half the amount of grime.

[6']['9]

keep s updated on how the dye works. good luck

[alineal]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by lkirchner

[B]I have used both and find leatherique to be far superior. However, it is not as quick and easy as Lexol. There is a certain amount of penetration time for the Rejuvenator oil to penetrate and work its magic that might not work when you are on a limited time schedule as you probably are with a mobile business.



I agree, it`s a fantastic product but may not be the ideal choice for the basic detail. The oil needs to penetrate 24 hours for maximum benefit. I mainly sold the procedure to customers who had neglected or hard leather as a special service - leather restoration, and believe me, it worked wonders. Also, if I was doing a redye, nothing is better than the Leatherique system, IMHO.



My take on Lexol is that I found it was hard on the stitching-it seemed to make it fray. I later found that is because it contains alcohol, which is absorbed through the stitching and causes it to deteriorate. Lexol also contains petroleum distillates and is 80% water!. BTW, Meguiar`s contains silicone oil and a co-polymer which is equivalent to wrapping your skin in plastic. The hide can`t breathe. Leatherique contains collagen, proteins and natural animal oils that penetrate the hide and bring dirt, salt, etc. to the surface to be cleaned away. I`ve found this to be a unique approach that works.

[BoneSS]

As can be seen in the pics, my leather isn`t in that bad of shape, nor is it hard. I was wanting to just order the dye, maybe the prepping agent. I still have a few concerns.



1) Can I get by w/o the prepping agent and get something off the shelf?



2) Will there be divets where the dye has came off after the redye?



3) Will the redye have the same textured look to it the original leather has?



4) How hard is the sanding step? How thorough of a job needs to be done?



5) What is the best way to apply the dye? I was wanting to use the terry cloth method.