Louis Vuitton Knapsack Bag

There are two-restoration aspects for Vachetta leathers of this condition, first is the appearance that you are concern about the other often oblivious more urgent attention is the pH chemistry integrity of the leather. Once this leather is wet and dry again without sufficient fatliquor content up to 14% the leather will crack further on existing micro cracking. Take a magnifying glass and see those crack will further worsen when not properly handle.

The science behind this structural restoration is that the leather is an amphoteric material and any alkalinity will shift the protein fiber ionic negative (-ve) while the non-amphoteric leather constituents like the tanning agent and the fatliquor remains ionic negative (-ve) unchanged. Thus like magnet “like poles repels” the tanning agents and the fatliquor leaches away or loose its ionic attraction between them and the leather denatures or returns to rawhide. Tackiness or sliminess is a sign of tanning agents loosing its ionic attraction and is rectified with Acidifier-2.0 during the rinsing and protonating process until the leather returns to its healthy squeaky feel like the feel of a fresh fish versus stale fish. When the pH integrity is restored next is preventing the leather from stiffness when dry and this wet phase is continue with Hydrator-3.3 to relax and open the inter-fibrillary spaces of sticking together fiber. This dwelling process can be up to 72hrs will bring the tanning color back to the faded surface as an added bonus. The lowest overall moisture content is maintain at about 25% or damp to the touch. Fatliquor-5.0 replenishing with its oil lubricates the millions of interlocking fibers working like hinges so that they flex effortlessly with suppleness without breaking and plumps the fiber with its fat with fullness. This fatliquor process is repeated each cycle when the moisture falls to 25% level or still feels damp and additional application until the leather is fully saturated with the fatliquor pooling on the surface. The leather is left to natural drying and gently flex or massage it at between 14% to 25% level until fully dry to impart suppleness to the leather thus prevents the leather from drying too fast and stiffs up.

With appearance restoration the darkening effect are typical body oil, grease and sweat accumulation and most areas are penetrated and will require a deep degreasing system with Degreaser-2.2 > Acidifier-2.0 system. This first phase cleaning restoration is connected with Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 system in a continuous wet process and only allow to completely dry after sufficient fatliquor above its threshold of 7% to be safe from further dry cracking.

Any tarnish stain from the metal buckles and accessories; browning discoloration from displacement of tanning agents or liquid stains are treated with Vachetta-2.8 when the leather is dry. Vachetta-2.8 works by redox or reduction-oxidation reaction and manifest when the leather dries. Removing of any surface residue is performed with Hydrator-3.3.

The general sequence of process is as follows:

1 - Degreasing, pH Balancing, Hydrating & Fatliquoring:
Degreaser-2.2 > Acidifier-2.0 > Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 is a continuous process without allowing the leather to fall below 25% total moisture level to maintain suppleness of the leather when wet. When dry to the touch the fatliquor content may be up to 14% with a minimum recommended level of 7% from dry cracking due to” Van Der Waal” or “London Forces” drying effect.

2 – Dry Discoloration and Browning Treatment:
Vachetta-2.8 > Hydrator-3.3.

3 – Minor Surface Repairs and Protection:
Protector-D

Note that when the monogram simulated leathers is also to be clean – it has to be done first with immediate follow up when the vachetta trim is still damp and not allowing it to dry without fatliquor replenishing.

Kit-V7 recommended for the entire bag composition and Kit-V4 for only the Vachetta trim.

Roger Koh
[email protected]

Attachment 4727
http://www.leatherdoctor.com/leather...ther-care-kit/
Leather Doctor® Kit V7 design for the care of Louis Vuitton (LV) bags is a combination problem solving kit that is an upgrade from Kit V6 with an addition of Protector-B+ for the simulated leather to impart a non-stick rub-resistant buttery-feel with a classic leather scent. Common stains encounter in the course of vachetta leathers lifetime includes the darkening effect from neglected body oil, grease and sweat contact, the occasion ink and dye transfer, and the browning from liquid and sun tanning seasoning effect just like our skin. The protein leather fiber is an ionic positive (+ve) “amphoteric” material thus pH sensitive to influence by alkaline solution shifting ionic negative (-ve), even water with a pH of 7 often discolors or browns it. Its other non-amphoteric leather constituents like the tanning agent and the fatliquor remains ionic negative (-ve), hence just like a magnet – “like poles repel”, breaking of the hydrogen bond between them, the leather denatures and in extreme cases revert to rawhide. This adverse contamination is rectify by Degreaser-2.2 > Acidifier-2.0 system, both to simultaneously degrease and protonate the protein fiber ionic positive (+ve) to its pH chemistry integrity. Ballpoint, printing ink, dye transfer, gum, sticky substance and accumulated soiling will require the penetrating, lubricating and suspending power of Prep-4.4 follows with Clean-3.8 to remove the sticky residue and Rinse-3.0 to a healthy squeaky feel. Browning from liquid stain or sun tanning is eliminated or reduced by chemical reaction from Vachetta-2.8 when dry. The above describe the three common class of stain removal. Leather rejuvenating mandatory sequence follows to soften and strength the leather from stiffness that may leads to cracking when flexed. Among leather finishes type, vachetta leathers is the most fatliquor (emulsified fat, oil and water) thirsty and will require more fatliquor to soften it then chrome-tanned leathers. In order to lubricate each fibril within the leather structure behaving like millions of interconnecting hinges the fat and oil has to be hydrogen bonded to the fibrils. This is accomplished by preconditioning the leather structure with Hydrator-3.3 effectively prior to faliquor replenishing it with Fatliquor-5.0 in between drying cycle until fully saturated. Natural slow drying in between application produces softer leather. Protecting the leather with Protector-D reduces wear to the grain of the leather, conceal scuff with its healing properties that also allows transpiration to take place or breaths naturally. Note that the mentioned products suffix numbers denotes its pH value in this holistic approach to removing the common problems associated with vachetta leathers.

Attachment 4726
http://www.leatherdoctor.com/leather...g-removal-kit/
Leather Doctor® Kit V4 specialty problem solving kit include Vachetta-2.8 for browning removal and Degreaser-2.2 for body contact decontamination systems in a holistic approach. Kit V4 is a combination kit from Kit V3 and Kit V5.dr without duplicating of products for these common related problems.
Darkening appearance from body contact and browning from liquid stain are two main inevitable common problems associated with naked unfinished vachetta leathers. Leather being absorbent absorb and accumulates body moisture from contact and when neglected resulted in a darkening appearance. Besides appearance the sweat with traces of urea may cause the protein fiber from shifting ionic negative (-ve) manifesting as tackiness and reverting to rawhide.
Degreaser-2.2 solves the darkening effect by penetrating, lubricating and suspending the soiling particulates and simultaneously protonate the protein fiber ionic positive (+ve). The amphoteric protein fiber is further rinse and ionic positive (+ve) charge with Acidifier-2.0 to strengthen the ionic attraction between its other non-amphoteric ionic negative (-ve) leather constituents like the tanning agent and the fatliquor. This dual duty removes the unwanted soiling particulates and pH balance the pH chemistry integrity of the leather at the same time.
Browning of vachetta leathers is associated with alkaline over-exposure, vachetta being a lower pH value than most other tanned leathers averages pH 4 is more sensitive to alkaline cleaning or stains and even water at pH 7 will cause discoloration and browning.
Vachetta-2.8 with its low pH works by oxidation-reduction reaction to reduce the discoloration or browning effect to a more even appearance when the leather is left to dry naturally.
Leather rejuvenating is mandatory and comes next when appearance become satisfactorily. This is accomplished with Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 system. Hydrator-3.3 plays a significant role in absorbent leathers like vachetta where stains are usually penetrated. The hydrator’s surfactancy helps internal leather structure colloidal movement by moving suspended soiling particulates to the surface at each wicking process until exhausted and is often used as part of the rinsing process. Besides hydrator is used to check for surface tension and relax the leather fiber prior to ionic negative (-ve) charged Fatliquor-5.0 replenishing. Natural slow drying in between application until saturation produces a softer leather.
Protecting the leather with Protector-D impart a natural draggy-feel and reduces wear to the grain of the leather, conceal scuff with its healing properties that also allows transpiration to take place or breaths naturally. Note that the mentioned products suffix numbers denotes its pH value in this holistic approach to removing the common problems associated with vachetta, saddlery and veg-tan leathers.