1967 300SEL Mercedes - Cleaning, Softening, Repairing and Refinishig old Mercedes leather seats

[Gary Kuster]

Hi Roger, I'm trying to clean ,soften, repair and re-dye my seats.The back seat has some sun fading at the top and a small tear in the bottom seat along with some discoloration (pics 1,2 and 3)
The front seats have tears at flex points and some bolster wear. I think I need to soften them first before making and repairs as they are stiff and I'm afraid I will do more damage disassembling the seat.(pis 4 5 6 and 7)

Thanks Gary in Port Moody B.C.

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[Roger Koh]

The sequence of process is as follows:

Restorative Cleaning:
Prep-7.7 > Clean-3.8 > Rinse-3.0

1. Wet Preparation:
Physical removal of deteriorating finishes with matching sanding grit > Rinse-3.0.

2. Check the health of Leather:
The leather should have a squeaky feel otherwise use Acidifier-2.0 for pH balancing and rinsing especially body contact areas.

3. Check for penetrated body oil, grease and sweat:
Doubtful areas is recommended to work with Degreaser-2.2 > Acidifier-2.0.

The above processes are to remove both above and below surfaces soiling including deteriorating finishes to a healthy squeaky feel.

4. Leather Rejuvenating:
Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Hydrator-3.3

5. Repairs
Bond-3D + Patch-4S repairs for rip and split
Impregnator-26 to strengthen over-stretched weak creases

6. Refinishing System
Adhesor-73 > Micro-54 (custom match) + 10% Thickener-48 > MicroTop-54M (or other matching luster)

7. Finishes Protection
Protector-B+

Roger Koh
Leather Care Consultant
www.LeatherDoctor.com
[email protected]


Recommend this starter Kit Sa7.cl with necessary individual add-on


Leather Doctor Kit Sa7.cl – Semi-Aniline Leather Color Refinishing Kit
Leather Doctor® Kit Sa7.cl, micro-pigmented leather color refinishing kit is design for a holistic restoration approach to not only the finishes but also rejuvenating the leather for suppleness. Most of these repairs may range from missing finishes to abrading damages into the leather structure. Some expose areas may be contaminated with foreign soiling that includes conditioners, protectors, body oil, grease and sweat or alkaline overexposure from cleaners. A comprehensive repair for a long-term lasting solution will require a holistic approach to deal with both the exposed structure and surface finishes. The practical and functional softness and strength of the leather depends on the health of the structure with average thickness between 0.9 to 1.2mm from stiffness and cracking. The aesthetic aspect of the leather finishes averages 0.02mm (or 20 micron) in thickness for practical compressing and flexing from cracking. A leather-safe restoration system begins by stripping with Stripper-2.3 and rinsing with Rinse-3.0. Degreasing with Degreaser-2.2 follows with Acidifier-2.0. The suffix numbers of these four products denotes it pH value for recharging the protein fiber ionic positive besides the act of decontamination. The leather integrity is revitalizes once the ionic attraction between the positive protein fiber and its negative leather constituents like the tanning agent and fatliquor (fat, oil and water) is initiated. Leather rejuvenating system for softness and strength is accomplishes with Hydrator-3.3 follows with Fatliquor-5.0. Surface uneven absorption is seals with Adhesor-73 to reduce the need for color over-coating thus increase its flexibility and stretchability from premature cracking. Protector-B+ imparts a non-stick rub-resistant surface with a buttery feel, reduces noises that translate into less friction wear. As the leather surface is well lubricated it reduces compression when comes to heavy body contact thus reduces compressed creases and wrinkles. This kit comes with reduced weight option to save on shipping thus the 250ml concentrate ratio such as acidifier-2.0, Rinse-3.0, Hydrator-3.3 and Fatliquor-5.0 has to be cut or filled up with distilled water prior to use.



Leather Doctor Prep-7.7 (Pigmented Leathers)
Leather Doctor® Prep-7.7 is a pH 7.7 waterbased, high viscosity heavy-duty prep cleaner for pigmented leather types. It works by dwell-time allowing its superior penetrating, lubricating and suspending power to do its work prior to towel extraction. Proven technique include “reverse transferring” suspended stain during dwell time through a stretchable absorbent paper towel rather than being reabsorbed by the leather instead.

It is design to remove stain such as:
a) Blue Jean Dye
b) Leather Belt
c) Plastic Ink Print
d) Newsprint,
e) Ballpoint Ink,
f) Stamp Pad Ink
g) Sticky Label Residue,
h) Crayon,
i) Chewing Gum,
j) Silicone Shine
k) Permanent Marker
l) Accumulated Soiling

It is highly recommended that the remaining sticky residue is thereafter remove in conjunction with Clean-3.8 and Rinse-3.0 as a holistic leather-safe system.



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.


Leather Doctor Leather Bond-7A (30ml)

Leather Doctor® Leather Bond-7A is a bond smoothening aid and excess clean up after Bond-3D. This is a soft nitrocellulose lacquer emulsion bonding aid to level and remove excess Bond-3D from leather surface safely without the need for sanding.



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. Caution! Avoid darkening effects on all non-pigmented leathers; apply from the reverse suede side instead!

[Roger Koh]

Leather Doctor® Leather Patch-4S (6” x 4”)

Leather Doctor® leather Patch-4S is use as a sub-patch during surface skin repair in conjunction with leather Bond-3D. This is 0.4mm thick vegetable tanned full-grain leather.

[Gary Kuster]

Thanks for the reply Roger, I read the text and think I understand it. I will contact you Wednesday and order the stuff.

Gary

[Gary Kuster]

Hi Roger, I need more prep 7.7 and something to soften the vinyl at the top of the dash.

Thanks, Gary

[Roger Koh]

How is the progress, do you have pictures?

How long was the "reverse transfer" dwelling time to suspending all these years of accumulating soiling?

I will email you for the order.

[Gary Kuster]

How is the progress, do you have pictures?

How long was the "reverse transfer" dwelling time to suspending all these years of accumulating soiling?

I will email you for the order.

I let it soak all Friday night wrapped in plastic to slow evaporation, I plan to stop by the garage on Sunday to check the progress. The small area I did check looks very clean!

Gary