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Roger Koh
04-21-2011, 10:30 AM
These semi-aniline sofas were bought second hand and like to restore especially the rough shape seat cushions and arms, the rest is in okay condition. What would you recommend?

#1
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/Renai6-6.jpg


#2
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/Renai1-6.jpg


#3
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/Renai2-6.jpg


#4
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/Renai3-6.jpg


#5
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/Renai4-6.jpg


#6
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/Renai5-6.jpg

Roger Koh
04-21-2011, 12:16 PM
From pictures it looks like there are three levels of wear conditions; from the severely damaged seat cushion, to the lesser degree of damages to the armrest, to the seemingly OK condition of the back cushion.

A] Seat Cushions
A.1] Preparation Cleaning with Acidification:
It is certain that the seat cushions require special attention besides the restorative cleaning, it may need to be acidified to neutralize possible alkaline exposure that turns the blue yellowish.
This process is done in this sequence – Prep-7.7 > Cleaner-3.8 > Acidifier-2.0 with leather Eraser-4, Razor-60 and wet/dry 1200/1500 sanding paper to smoothen the surface. Note that deteriorated finish is best to be totally removed; otherwise it may forms a weak base that is sandwiched between the new coating and the leather crust and may be more susceptible to delaminating or abrasion.

A.2] Hydrating:
Hydrating is necessary to relax the leather structure; brings out the penetrated foreign contamination through the wicking process; reduce the surface tension if any in the inter-fibrillary leather structure for effective distribution of the fatliquor; to reactivate the dormant dyestuff to resurface to reduce contrast of color between the color coat and the leather crust; helps charging the leather protein fibers below its iso-electric point ionic positive, to hydrogen-bond with the negative ionic charged fatliquor.
This process is done with Hydrator-3.3 with effective overnight evaporation controlled dwelling.

A.3] Fatliquoring:
This is follows with the fatliquor process, to replenish up to the 14% when dry, originally done in the tannery. Fatliquor is applied while the leather structure is still damp and the leather structure is further worked out to reduce the unnatural creases and wrinkles
This process is accomplished with Fatliquor-5.0 at in-between almost drying intervals.

A.4] Structural Repairs:
When the leather is dry after fatliquoring, the exposed crust surface is erased with leather Eraser-4 to removed lodged soiling particulates. Thereafter it is structurally repair with a protein resin blend impregnator; it’s to fill and tighten the weak areas to level up and form a film for improve abrasion resistance; that becomes part of the leather. It also helps to seal, strengthen and leveling out uneven absorption for effective further coating processes.
This process is done with the help of Impregnator-26.

A.5] Bonding Repairs:
It may be necessary for picture #1 for minor surface tear repairs.
This is done with leather Bond-3D.

A.6] Adhesion Coat:
This coating is designed to ensure effective bonding between the base crust and existing finish with the new coating.
Product recommended is Adhesor-73.

A.7] Color Coat:
Pigment Micro-54 is the recommended system for semi-aniline leathers, blue is a standard color but may not match entirely that may require some fine adjustment with tinting with white or shading with black or shifting the hue with other colors.
Color system recommended is the Pigment Micro-54 range of colors, with the help of Thickener-48 for flow control.

A.8] Top Coat:
Micro Topcoat-72S (satin) is the matching topcoat for semi-aniline leathers; besides it comes with gloss or matte of choice.

A.9] Non-Stick Rub-Resistant Protection:
Leather Scent-B is recommended.

B] Arm Rests:
B.1] These are less severe as compared with the seat cushions and are done accordingly to suite the severity of damages.

C] Back Cushions and Remaining Surfaces:
C.1] Restorative Cleaning:
This is to be restorative cleaned to remove all foreign contamination including surface conditioners down to the original finishes.
Decision to color coat these areas will depends on the outcome of how close the color matching is with the new.
The restorative cleaning is done in this sequence of process: Prep-7.7 > Cleaner-3.8 > Rinse-3.0.
Optional color coating will follow this sequence: Adhesor-73 > Pigment Micro-54 > Micro Topcoat-72S > leather Scent-B.

Products Requirements for this project includes:
1] Prep-7.7
2] Cleaner-3.8
3] Rinse-3.0
4] Acidifier-2.0
5] Hydrator-3.3
6] Fatliquor-5.0
7] Impregnator-26
8] Adhesor-73
9] Thickener-48
10] Pigment Micro-54
11] Micro Topcoat-72S
12] Leather Scent-B

Tools:
1] Horsehair Detailing leather Brush-1
2] Leather Eraser-4
3] Leather Razor-60
4] Wet/Dry Sandpaper 1200/1500 grit
5] Towels for extraction
6] Airbrushing set
7] Others

Questions?

Roger Koh
[email protected]