Aniline (Full) – Restaurant Bench Seat – Cracks, Splitting, Worn, Stretched – How to save from the inevitable reupholstering for a good few years?

I am hoping that you can guide me on which product to purchase.
I am trying to strengthen many small cracks and a number of deep cracks that are in danger if splitting on a long restaurant bench seat.
I don't know specifically what kind of leather it is other than it has a smooth wipeable surface.
It is a deep green color that has faded on the seats from years of use.
The leather has also stretched significantly.
I am not trying to make it look new again, just trying to save what is there and put off the inevitable reupholstering for a good few years.
I have looked at your products and am wondering if Impregnator-26 or Stucco-90 would be effective.

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#2
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>>> I don't know specifically what kind of leather it is other than it has a smooth wipeable surface.

This is the best quality among the pigmented leather. The smooth surface indicates full-grain leather that has the strength greater than other corrected grain or embossed leathers. Other lower quality pigmented leather would have lasted until now. If the reverse suede side is also green in color then we have positively identify this leather as semi-aniline.

What is Semi-Aniline Leather?
Semi-aniline also known as micro-pigmented leathers have all the qualities of aniline leather but also have a light micro-pigment finish and topcoat applied. This additional micro-pigment finish and topcoat increase UV light and water resistance. Micro-pigment is applying finely grounded pigment finish to aniline leathers to even out the difference in color absorbency intensity. Full-grain leathers that are colored with transparent aniline dyes and are micro-pigmented are classified as semi-aniline.


>>> It is a deep green color that has faded on the seats from years of use.

Recommended color restoration is with Micro-54 system that comprises of Adhesor-73 > Micro-54 > Micro-Top-54 > Protector-B+

Attachment 2942
Leather Doctor Adhesor-73
Leather Doctor® Adhesor-73 is an auxiliary for refinishing pigmented, aniline, bicast and simulated leathers. This is a water based compact resin adhesion promoter for:
a) Smoothening abraded surfaces,
b) Ensure proper sealing and adhesion prior to color coating and


Attachment 2943
Leather Doctor Micro-54
Leather Doctor® Micro-54 is design for micro pigmented leathers also known as semi-aniline. This is a waterbased compact resin blend high performance UV fade resistant pigment color coat.
MicroTop-54 is the matching sealing topcoat in this pigment series system.


Attachment 2944
Leather Doctor MicroTop-54
Leather Doctor® MicroTop-54 is available in four levels of luster - matte, gloss and satin for pigmented upholstery leathers. A dull or extra matte is created for the auto desired luster level. These lusters are intermixable to produce the in-betweens to match. These are waterbased soft polyurethane topcoats that are lightfast and non-yellowing. They have excellent flow and leveling properties, recoatable and form a flexible tough film.
Luster is available in Matte, Gloss and Satin for home furnishing and Dull for auto seats


Attachment 2945
Leather Doctor Protector-B+
Leather Doctor® Protector-B+, a buttery-feel with a classic leather scent is design for pigmented, aniline and nubuck oil pull-up leather types. This is a non-film forming, non-stick, rub-resistant protector that enhances a soft natural tactile feel for imparting a breathable barrier essentially to shield the detrimental effects of sticky soiling and preventing the too common pesky ballpoint from ever ready rolling out its nasty ink. Moreover, for helping to release those tenacious blue jeans dye-transfer stains obviously on light colored leathers easily. Its natural buttery-feel protection increases the leather resistance to wet and dry rubs, thus reduce stretch; scuff and abrasion with reduce friction squeaks.


>>> The leather has also stretched significantly.

A buttery-feel smooth surface reduce noise, cut surface friction thus translate to less stretch. This is done on a routine basis by application of Protector-B+, without the leather scent is to use Protector-B (scentless is without the plus sign). Stretching out is partly due to diminishes fatliquor in the leather structure where the fibers collapse and begin to stick together. This is rejuvenated with Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 system. Hydrator-3.3 helps to relax the fibers, shrink back and open the inter-fibrillary air spaces preconditioning it for ease of fatliquor replenishing.
Impregnator-26 plays a part in further tightening up the loose structure from over stretching again.

Products recommended for this process:

Attachment 2946
Leather Doctor Hydrator-3.3

Leather Doctor® Hydrator-3.3 is a waterbased pH 3.3 leather-safe hydrator. It is a fatliquor preconditioner with multi functional abilities. Surface application is primary to check for even surface tension free of blotchiness prior to fatliquor replenishing. Structural application will require saturating to an optimum level with moisture oozing out when gently pressed between thumb and fingers.
The multi functional abilities include:
a) to check for surface tension for an even appearance free from blotchiness prior to fatliquor replenishing.
b) To plumps, relaxes and separates crushed, shrunk and stick together fibrils for manipulating away-unwanted creases and wrinkles.
c) To rectify alkaline overexposure areas by facilitating colloidal water movement to redistribute the leather constituents from surrounding areas.
d) To activate the dormant dyestuff within the leather structure for color refreshing.
e) To facilitates colloidal water movement within the inter-fibrillary spaces for wicking foreign soiling particulates to resurface.
f) To stabilize, pH balance and charge the protein fiber below its iso-electric point (pI) ionic positive to hydrogen bond with the ionic negative fatliquor more effectively. This universal Hydrator-3.3 is for all leather types including pigmented, aniline, vachetta, nubuck, suede, hair-on-hide and woolskin.

Attachment 2947
Leather Doctor Fatliquor-5.0

Leather Doctor® Fatliquor-5.0, a micro emulsion of fat, oil and water is an anionic charged pH 5.0 fatliquor for rejuvenating all leather types. It relaxes coarse breaks, creases and wrinkles enhance suppleness and prevent cracking. It softens the leather with stretchability, compressibility and flexibility, while enhancing its rip tensile strength greatly. It is for replenishing the original fat and oil that diminishes thru sun-bleaching, ageing, heat and alkaline overexposure or cleaning. On application, the water-encased molecule breaks free when hydrogen bond attraction takes place between the fat and oil with the protein fiber. The excess free water content wicks out leaving a breathing space behind for leather natural transpiration. The fat plumps the leather with fullness from easily collapsing into creases and wrinkles during stress or flex, while the oil lubricates the fibers so that they slide over one another smoothly like millions of inter-connecting hinges. Thus helps to keep leather at its optimum physical performance and prevent premature ageing. This universal Fatliquor-5.0 is for all leather types including pigmented, aniline, vachetta, nubuck, suede, hair-on-hide and woolskin.


Attachment 2948
Leather Doctor Impregnator-26

Leather Doctor® Impregnator-26 is design for structural weakness on pigmented and aniline smooth leather types. This is a protein compact resin-blend compound for impregnating worn leather grains and micro cracks. It is to seal, strengthen and leveling out uneven absorption for further coating process. It fills and tightens with good leveling properties that is film forming for improve abrasion resistance.



>>> I am trying to strengthen many small cracks and a number of deep cracks that are in danger if splitting on a long restaurant bench seat.

Tears or rip is repair with Bond-3D using Patch-4S as the sub-patch.

Attachment 2949
Leather Doctor Leather Bond-3D (30ml)

Leather Doctor® Leather Bond-3D is for leather structure bonding repairs, such as abrasion, cat-scratch, and filling repairs with Stucco-90, Pigment-64, Micro-54, Anline-76 and Aniline-21. This waterbased medium soft polyurethane leather bond will not lift the leather finishes unlike other dry solvent-based glue. Works in conjunction with leather Patch-4S as sub patch and suede fibers as fillers. Excess clean up when dry will require the help of Bond-7A.


>>> I have looked at your products and am wondering if Impregnator 26 or Stucco 90 would be effective.

Impregnator-26 is for tightening up the lose structure. Stucco-90 is use for filling and in this high stress areas it would be recommended that they are mix with Bond-3D and coloring for the filling to add appearance and strength.

Attachment 2950
Leather Doctor Leather Stucco-90 (Bond-3d and Micro-54 mixed application)

Leather Doctor® Leather Stucco-90 is design for leather filling repairs or working in conjunction with leather Bond-3D, colors and dyes. This is a waterbased high concentrated compact resin blend leather stucco.


>>> I am hoping that you can guide me on which product to purchase.

The above mentioned are products for various problems that you have. However, it would need a prep cleaning before the above following process with Degreaser-2.2 > Acidifier-2.0.

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Leather Doctor Degreaser-2.2
Leather Doctor® Degreaser-2.2 is a pH 2.2 leather-safe waterbased degreaser with dye bleeding control. It is design for degreasing leather of penetrated oil, grease and sweat stains from skin, and hair contact, especially the headrest and armrest of upholstery, collar and cuffs of garment, handles of bag including steering wheel. It works best in conjunction with Rinse-3.0 to rinse emulsified soiling or Acidifier-2.0 for rinsing, bleeding control and pH balancing sweaty contamination from leather denaturing into rawhide. This universal leather degreaser is for all leather types including the common pigmented, aniline, vachetta, nubuck and suede.

Attachment 2952
Leather Doctor Acidifier-2.0

Leather Doctor® Acidifier-2.0 is a waterbased pH 2.0 leather acidifier designs for controlling dye bleeding in conjunction with Degreaser-2.2 in extreme prolong oil, grease and sweat decontamination system. As a standalone, it is for pH balancing alkaline overexposure that manifest as marks, streaks, brightness and tackiness. This universal acidifier is for all leather types including pigmented, aniline, vachetta, nubuck, suede, hair-on-hide and woolskin leather types.


>>> I am not trying to make it look new again, just trying to save what is there and put off the inevitable reupholstering for a good few years.

Go through the product recommendation and let us know which route you wish to take and I will recommend the sequence of process accordingly with further specific help.

Use this Pigmented (P.m) Semi-Aniline Leather Problem Solving Guide as reference for this leather type care.

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Roger Koh
Leather Care Consultant
www.LeatherDoctor.com