This leather type is identified as Aniline leather.
And my recommendation for a double restoration that includes the leather “structure” and the “finish” is as follows:
Phase 1 – Prep Cleaning
Use Prep-4.4 > Cleaner-3.8 > Rinse-3.0 with Leather Brush-1, Leather Eraser-4, 1000-1500 wet sandpaper, optional Razor-60 and towel.
This prep process is to remove all foreign contamination including the deteriorated top coat to an even “worn-look” appearance.
Phase 2 – Leather Structure Rejuvenating
Use Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Hydrator-3.3 with a 3” Poly-Brush®.
The hydrating process will reactivate the dyestuff and bring back color to a degree to the surface.
It will also help to wick-up penetrated foreign soiling for a more even appearance.
When completely soak into the leather structure, it helps to relax and plumps up the leather structure thus reducing and eliminating those unnatural creases.
When the leather is relax the thickness increases and the surface dimension decreases to tighten up especially the cushion and over-stretch armrest with smartness.
The fatliquoring process is to lubricate the leather interlocking fibrils form sticking together when the leather dries, so that the fibrils will slide against each other smoothly without breaking.
Besides the tensile strength of leathers depends on this fatliquoring; thus the suppler the leather is, the stronger it is.
Fatliquoring enriches the color tone further and makes the leather structure fuller, thus leather becomes less absorbent to foreign staining.
Phase 3 – Repairs to Scratch and Abrasion
Use Impregnator-26
This scratch and worn areas are the missing “skin” as the damage surface feels like “nubuck” with naps.
Impregnator-26 rebuilds back the skin, either on its own that produce a neutral color or to be added to colors, to build up the color as well.
Impregnator-26 is a protein compact resin blend compound that is design to impregnate worn leathers grains and micro-cracks.
Its purpose is to seal, strengthen and leveling out uneven absorption for further coating process.
And fills and tightens with good leveling properties that is film forming for improve abrasion resistance.
Phase 4 – Base Dye Coating
Use Aniline Dye-63
This transparent coating dyestuff adheres to the existing finish more effectively than Aniline Dye-21 or any other standard dyes.
It easily coats tenaciously over the existing non-wear areas without the need to strip them off.
The technique of working with Aniline Dye-63 is quite similar with working with water colors as the color is build up by layers to achieve the desired result.
Phase 5 – Topcoat Protection
Use either Topcoat Aniline-53WM (Waxy Matte) or Topcoat Aniline-79G (Gloss).
These topcoats help to protect the dyes from dry and wet rubs.
It also determines the end result look either to be glossy or just plain matte and waxy.
Phase 6 – Rub Resistance Conditioning
Use either Leather Scent-B for a buttery feel that follows Topcoat Aniline-79Gloss.
Or use Leather Scent-W for a waxy-matte that follows Topcoat Aniline-53WM.
Email me for the prices and optional shipping of your choice.
When you have the products, tools and material ready we shall discuss the techniques further to help you in every step of your project.
Roger Koh
Leather Doctor®
[email protected]