>>> 1- I did not use the horsehair brush yet, i applied Prep-7.7. to the paper towel directly and placed it. Will I need to use it at any stage?
You may use it to stretch out any air spaces so that the paper saturated with Prep-7.7 has a direct contact for the stain to reverse transfer (Any air spaces thus becomes non-working surfaces).
>>> 2- I understand that once the dye has been successfully removed after 24-72 hours of constant application of Prep 7.7, I will have to clean the whole area with Clean-3.8 followed by with Rinse-3.0, how long should i wait before I apply Acidifier 2.0, or will I not need to use it if no bleach was applied?
The sequence is correct Prep-7.7 > Clean-3.8 > Rinse-3.0 > Acidifier-2.0.
Cleaning, rinsing and pH balancing is a continuous process.
Clean-3.8 is to remove the remaining sticky residue of Prep-7.7.
Rinse-3.0 is to remove all remaining residue from continuous working in the present of moisture content from the atmosphere to a healthy squeaky feel.
Acidifier-2.0 comes to help to ensure the leather is non sticky or tacky from possible prior unknown alkaline overexposure of any sort to a healthy squeaky clean.
When treating with Acidifier-2.0 still feels tacky, the topcoat have deteriorated and may need 10% Crosslinker-25 into the Topcoat to stop the topcoat tackiness (seldom happens but a holistic solution to any leather problem).
>>> 3- Is the next step then to use Hydrator-3.3 and Fatliquor-5.0? and is there a time needed in between these 2?
Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Hydrator-3.3 system is for below surface leather structure and the Hydrator-3.3 have first to penetrate through the existing finishes coating before it reaches in the cross section of the leather structure. Do a test using a cotton face pad and leave over existing finishes and see if it darkens, a sign of penetration through micro crazing of the finishes. If there is no sign of any penetration this leather rejuvenating process may cease in those areas that are impervious. Work only along the stitching rows where the cross section is exposed and where the fatliquor evaporates from there, replenishing to prevent the loss of tensile strength. A weak needle holes when stress elongated and eventually cracks and when the cracks joins up the leather is easily ripped. See below about fatliquoring.
>>> 4- Finally what does last is it Protector B or MicroTip 54? again is there a time needed in between these 2?
Optional is MicroTop-54, it restoring the original topcoat from wear, we may only see a luster difference if we can catch it from light reflection. Always test if the luster matches at a hidden corner otherwise use matching luster from 4 levels, gloss, satin, matte or dull.
Protctor-B+ or B (without the leather scent) is highly recommended to reduce friction rubs besides squeaky noises and sticky soiling. Protector-B+ should be used on a routine basis to protect the cleanability of the finishes and prolong wear to the leather finishes.
Always remember to use Protctor-B+ last as it impart a non-stick surface, which also means that
MicroTop-54 is applied onto cleaned dried surface with one or two coats between dry with lint-free towel or foam brush, professional results is by varnishing brushes or airbrushing.
Only when dried and satisfied that Protector-B+ is applied to provides a non-stick surface, besides other benefits.
Further readings:
Fatliquoring:
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 fibers. 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.
Leather Approximate Quantity or Percentage of Fatliquor:
The quantities of fatliquor (fat and oil) contents retained in the leather after an universal tannery fatliquoring process may varies up to 14% depending on the leather types and it usage. This percentage drops as the fat and oil content diminishes or leaches through ageing, water, heat or chemical overexposure.
Leather rejuvenating or fatliquor replenishing is base on weight of the leather in relation to the percentage of remaining fatliquor. A simple calculation of percentage of fatliquor topping up requirement would be as follows:
If the weight of the leather in question is 100gm and fatliquor (fat and oil) content meter reading is less than 1%.
By applying 80gm of Fatliquor-5.0 to it will deliver an end result incremental of 13.3% fatliquor when dry as the 66.6% water contents evaporates.
In the leather rejuvenating Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Hydrator-3.3 system, Hydrator-3.3 plays an important role by relaxing, opening up the inter-fibrillary spaces, facilitating and redistributing colloidal water movement, protonating and doing all the pre-conditioning work prior to fatliquoring including cleaning up any excess surface remnants to have a sticky-free surface. In practice the ratio for Hydrator-3.3 is 2 to 1 of Fatliquor-5.0.
It works out to be approximately 160gm of Hydrator-3.3 plus 80gm of Fatliquor-5.0 to replenish a 100gm dry leather from less than 1% back to the original tannery up to 14% fatliquor content.
Instruction:
1 Apply Fatliquor-5.0 and redistribute with foam brush until saturation.
2 Repeat applications each time water contents evaporate until fully saturated.
3 Drive remaining surface remnants free of milky fat and oil until it turns clear with Hydrator-3.3.
4 Allow natural drying for extra softness.
Tips:
1 When crispy dry, prior surface contaminations/damages may darkens as soiling particulates resurface.
2 Removes soiling particulates with Eraser-4 for all leathers including nubuck and Eraser-5 for suede.
3 Stretching the darken areas lightly will also lightens the appearance.
Roger Koh
Leather Care Consultant
[email protected]
www.LeatherDoctor.com