Leather Treatment - Am I taking color off?

C

cptzippy

New member
Not sure what the original color was supposed to be but started going at the seats in my new old Jag with my Leather Doctor Kit. Got ahead of myself and didn't test for color-fastness and did the whole drivers seat (a little). Here's pictures...



IMG_0139.jpg


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Kept going with the center of the seat/ top panel to see how it would turn out.



Am I takin away color - how do I tell - if I am what to do next?



If (as I hope) I'm just taking off 17 years worth of grime - any tips on how to make it easier?
 
I *think* you're OK. You're not getting "tan pigment"-like "dirt" off are you? Some Jag's, like my '85, are uncoated leather, and you *will* get a bit of pigment transfer that's not a big deal.



I'd want to know what some experts like Roger Koh think...I've never had a Jag with that degree of soiling :think:
 
There's definitely some brown coming off but I'm 'sure' that some of it is soiling. The bottom layer seems to be a closer match to the dash. It's AFW 'Barley' but there seems to be an earlier and later of that both listed for the 90's and one is lighter and one is darker. Hard to match it to what the seats are supposed to look like though.
 
captzippy- Well, I'd want it to look uniform as can be, and in that first pic the "most cleaned" section sure looks better than the rest of the seat IMO.
 
That's what I was thinking but I'm still waiting for more input. Guess worst case is I get a new cover for that seat.
 
cptzippy said:
.. Guess worst case is I get a new cover for that seat.
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With that attitude I bet you'll do fine. If you were bound and determined to avoid damage at any cost it'd make for a lot more worries, but if you're OK with that possible eventuality then I'd just go for it using the same kind of approach you have been.



But I will say that the way Roger Koh fine tunes the whole leather care and cleaning thing is awfully impressive and I keep thinking "when in doubt about leather, ask him".
 
cptzippy said:
Not sure what the original color was supposed to be but started going at the seats in my new old Jag with my Leather Doctor Kit. If (as I hope) I'm just taking off 17 years worth of grime - any tips on how to make it easier?
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Pictures show it's under clean!



Tell us the sequence of products used?



I will share how to achieve a beautiful appearance if the finish is still healthy.



After 17 years of foreign contamination, the original topcoat may have been deteriorated and have to bear in mind to re-coat it prior to the non-stick protection.





Roger Koh

[email protected]
 
I left the 7.7 on for about 1.5 to 2 hours then went after it with the 3.8 cleaner and stopped there because I ran out of energy/time.



ETA, just saw a thread on jag-lovers that most of the front seat is actually Ambla. Guess that changes how I need to clean it?
 
A faster Prep-7.7 application is by foam brushing, follows with horsehair Brush-1 agitation and leave it to dwell till the next day.



Then follow up with Cleaner-3.8 agitation into the creases and in between the grains with towel extraction.



Next is the Rinse-3.0 to a healthy squeaky clean.



You can show us some pictures thereafter...





Roger Koh

[email protected]
 
Roger Koh said:
A faster Prep-7.7 application is by foam brushing, follows with horsehair Brush-1 agitation and leave it to dwell till the next day...
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That kind of extended dwell-time always gets my attention.



BTW, I never got a reply to my last email to you Re what products to get...
 
Accumulator said:
BTW, I never got a reply to my last email to you Re what products to get...
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Check your email, a link to the 3 care kits and 12 problem solving kits specially developed for auto pigmented leathers.



Meanwhile waiting for some redo picture from cptzippy…



Roger Koh

[email protected]
 
IMG_0195.jpg




Here is the section I'm starting with this time. It's the worst but easiest for me to reach with my back out. I've had the Leather Dr 7.7 Prep on it since this afternoon and will let is sit till tomorrow.
 
When it’s dry you may continue to reapply to stay moist and this dwelling can continued up to 72 hours before you clean off the remaining sticky residue using the horsehair Brush-1 with Cleaner-3.8 and Rinse-3.0. No dwelling necessary for the cleaning and rinsing.



Alternative method is to use cling wrapper to cover it to control evaporation, keeping the surface constantly moist and similarly be left to dwell up to 72 hours, before cleaning and rinsing.



Let’s see some pictures when completely dry; we should see all the grooves, creases and wrinkles free of the 17 years of unwanted accumulations.





Roger Koh

[email protected]
 
Just reapplied and covered it with cling wrap. It's out of direct light but pretty warm here so it's drying fairly rapidly.
 
Here's a photo with the cling wrap - it's on as wrinkle-free as I could get it and seems to be keeping the stuff from dissipating as fast. It's been in the 80's (f) here.



IMG_0196.jpg
 
cptzippy said:
Here's a photo with the cling wrap - it's on as wrinkle-free as I could get it and seems to be keeping the stuff from dissipating as fast. It's been in the 80's (f) here.
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How long has the Prep-7.7 being dwelling from this picture?



What kind of time frame you have in mind for removing the sticky residue thereafter?



The finishes must have cracked to cause the darkening effect (we can talk about such repairs with impregnator and leather bonds after fatliquor replenishing to rejuvenate the leather for suppleness with softness and strength).



Any darkening effect should be even out with cleaning and rinsing to achieve an even appearance.



We will see the drying result after rinsing for a close inspection of imbedded soiling removal to decide the next move from there.



It is a good practice to just work on this bolster to see what the end result before even messing up the rest.



I believe if you intend to repair those cracks, you may end up with a color refinishing project in hand.



Roger Koh

[email protected]
 
Roger Koh & captzippy- I'm following this with interest!



Oh, and Roger- I have kinda put my antique leather stuff restoration on the back burner, but I *will* be getting back to you about it.
 
Accumulator said:
Roger Koh & captzippy- I'm following this with interest!



Oh, and Roger- I have kinda put my antique leather stuff restoration on the back burner, but I *will* be getting back to you about it.
Click to expand...





Thank you for your interest.



What you are watching is the latest methodology of removing accumulated soiling including old, discolored and deteriorated conditioners and protectors if any; down to the original topcoat, if it’s still intact.



The continuous sequence of processes to your desired result is optional as follows:



1] Restorative Cleaning – currently showing…



2] Leather Rejuvenating - by hydrating and fatliquor replenishing the leather structure for desired suppleness with softness and strength.



3] Leather Strengthening – by impregnating the broken and overstretched fibrous structure along the cracks and restoring surface texture smoothness to restore even distribution of fine breaks.



4] Color Refinishing – using matching micro-pigment system instead of standard, otherwise too heavy that makes the leather looks plastiky that kills the aesthetic.



5] Topcoat Refinishing – by using fine waterbased soft, non-yellowing urethane to seals the colorcoat for aesthetic and practical usage with a choice of luster- gloss, satin or matte.



6] Non-stick, Rub-Resistant Protection – by enhancing a natural buttery-feel to indulge the sense of touch and imparting a classical leather scent that satisfy the discerning leather lover.





Please, do post your antique leather stuff and let us admire it!







Roger Koh

[email protected]
 
Roger Koh- Heh heh, wouldn't it be something if I finally did start doing the digital-imaging thing only to post that stuff instead of my cars?!?



One of the reasons I'm following this particular thread with great interest is that *my* XJS ('85, ~18K miles) suffered some pretty severe leather damage back around 2001 when it was parked outside for an extended period with zero protection from the sun...not even a recent protectant application or anything. Yeah, you can just imagine, huh? Long story why, it was at a shop and I was occupied with other stuff; damage was/is done, no point :mad: about it. But when I finally get it out of mothballs I really oughta do something about it... gee, like I need another project :rolleyes:
 
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