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sj72
02-06-2011, 05:37 PM
Roger,
I currently am looking for both product recommendation and guidance to correct the following issues with my Medium Parchment leather seats in a 2002 F-150. After PM'ing you for product information, I finally have gotten around to posting on the forum! I have used the Leather Master S-Type cleaner on these seats, along with the Leather Vital and Leather Protection Cream. However, I have not found these products to address the cracking I am finding in the seat lower bolsters, and of course the products cannot address the tearing in the seats.

Pictures and descriptions of the issues are below:
1. Small tear in lower side of driver seat, just above power seat controls.
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1880.jpg

2. Small tear where lower side and front of leather seat meet on drivers side.(bad photo I know, but in a difficult spot to gain clear focus) The cut is in the top right near seam of where front of drivers seat connects to side of drivers seat
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1892.jpg


3. Cracking/discoloration in cracking on left side of drivers seat.
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1890.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1889.jpg

4. Minimal cracking in drivers left bolster.
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1887-1.jpg

5.Color/surface worn away in two small areas on steering wheel.
(sheen on steering wheel which should also be removed)
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1882.jpg

6. Some minor cracking on passenger front seat
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1884.jpg

Thanks Roger in advance for product and application advice.

I am particularly interested in which dye(s) and finishes you would recommend to address the discoloration, and recommendations for repairing the cuts.

Thanks
Shane

Roger Koh
02-07-2011, 12:50 PM
Here’s a brief answer to the areas of concern; and we may go into the more details of the “How-To”; if this initial answer satisfy you.

#1. Small tear in lower side of driver seat, just above power seat controls.

May need to know what cause this tear; due to compressing and flexing or due to accident.

Majority of accident repairs need to pass the “eye ball” test more; thus a simple straight forward repair – Leather Bond-3D in conjunction with Bond-7A (eliminate unnecessary sanding) + leather fibers from the reverse side as fillers (the same technique as fiberglass repairs – resin and fiber) to give a more homogenous leather repair with greater strength.

Tear cause by heavy usage of indirect compressing and flexing requires the softening of the leather structure. Fatliquor is used to soften and strengthen leather from the tannery and healthy leathers has an average of 14% moisture content and much of these derives from the fatliquor, the “lifeblood of leather”. Heat is one of the factors that dry up these fatliquor; just like our auto engine oil may require periodic topping up – the reason is to lubricate each fibril in the leather structure that works like millions of connecting hinges to lubricate the leather for strength and suppleness.

When the leather is overworked with reduced lubrication from the fatliquor, it begins to break these connecting fibrils and overstretch it with weakness thus after fatliquoring it; the leather structure may need an impregnator to strengthen and tighten up these fibrils.

This softening up the leather on the entire panel with fatliquor will help to distribute the stress of flex evenly rather than concentrating on this small areas that behaves like a door hinges. In leather suppleness “fine breaks” is good and “coarse breaks” is bad that leads to crack.

The solution to repairs due to stress is – Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Impregnator-26 > Leather Bond-3D + Bond-7A + leather fibers (from the reverse side) > Custom color Pigment Micro-54 + Topcoat Micro-72S (satin)


#2. Small tear where lower side and front of leather seat meet on drivers side.(bad photo I know, but in a difficult spot to gain clear focus) The cut is in the top right near seam of where front of drivers seat connects to side of drivers seat.

As explain above #1


3. Cracking/discoloration in cracking on left side of drivers seat.

“Picturistically speaking”, these are the rivers and canyons of foreign contamination collections from the plateau that may have polluted the clean riverbeds; that may also include the cleaner sticky residue; vital and cream that discolored due to ageing and piling up since 2002. Need to excavate these rivers of contamination to really inspect if the finishes is really crack; When contamination seep through these finish crack, it will lead to leather structure crack as the second stage of leather damage.
The solution to this problem is a restorative or salvage cleaning by – Prep-7.7 > Cleaner-3.8 > Rinse-3.0 > Inspection while damp and dry > Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Impregnator-26 > Adhesor-73 > Thickener-48 >Custom Color Pigment Micro-54 > Topcoat Micro-72S > Leather Scent-B.


4. Minimal cracking in drivers left bolster.

Follow #3

5.Color/surface worn away in two small areas on steering wheel.
(sheen on steering wheel which should also be removed)

Follow #3

6. Some minor cracking on passenger front seat

Follow#3


I am particularly interested in which dye(s) and finishes you would recommend to address the discoloration, and recommendations for repairing the cuts.

Here's the products recommendation - next to follow of your continuous interest should be the how-to when you have the products at hand.


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/Kit-AP3.jpg

Leather Doctor® Prep-7.7
This is a pH 7.7 aqueous high viscosity leather preparatory cleaner for Pigmented leather types. It’s developed to strip foreign soil accumulation to its original finish. It works by dwell-time allowing its superior penetrating, lubricating and suspending power to do its work. Besides it's also used in the leather-safe dye and ink stains removal for:
Grease based ink stains like ballpoint ink.
Water based ink stains like stamp pad ink.
Dye transfer stains like blue jeans, leather, ink print and newsprint.
It is highly recommended that the remaining sticky residue is thereafter removed in conjunction with Cleaner-3.8 and Rinse-3.0 as a holistic leather-safe.

Leather Doctor® Cleaner-3.8
This is a pH 3.8 all purpose leather-safe anionic cleaner that is particularly effective in emulsifying oily soils and in suspending particulates. It works by penetrating, lubricating and suspending soiling safely and effectively through gentle chemical reaction; working in perfect harmony with all leather constituents that include the tanning agent, preservative, dyestuff and especially the fatliquor.
It's for all leather types including: Pigmented, Aniline, Vachetta, Nubuck and Suede.

Leather Doctor® Rinse-3.0
This is a pH 3.0 aqueous leather-safe rinse to neutralize harmful alkaline and perspiration residues; for stabilizing and strengthening leather constituent pH chemistry integrity.
It's for Pigmented, Aniline, Vachetta, Nubuck and Suede leather types.

Leather Doctor® Hydrator-3.3
This is a pH 3.3 aqueous leather-safe hydrator. It’s for hydrating dried, stiffed or shrunk leathers (to separates the crushed, stick together fibrils and relax them) prior to strengthening and softening with Fatliquor-5.0. And it’s also used for facilitating colloidal water movement within the leather structure capillary motion during the wicking process. That will cause suspended soil particulates to be moved to the leather surface to be extracted with absorbent towel while damp and erase with Leather Eraser-4 when dry.
It’s for all leather types including: Pigmented, Aniline, Vachetta, Nubuck, Suede, Hair-on-Hide and Woolskin.

Leather Doctor® Fatliquor-5.0
This is a pH 5.0 anionic charged micro emulsion fatliquor leather rejuvenator. It’s for replenishing original fatliquor that diminishes thru sun-bleaching, ageing, heat and alkaline exposure or cleaning. It penetrates and lubricates the leather fibers so that after drying they will be capable of sliding over one another smoothly. Besides softening the leather with stretchability, compressibility and flexibility; fatliquor enhances its rip tensile strength greatly. Relaxes coarse breaks, creases and wrinkles to provide drapes, suppleness and prevents cracking. It helps to keep leather at its optimum physical performance and prevent premature ageing.
It’s for all leather types including: Pigmented, Aniline, Vachetta, Nubuck, Suede, Hair-on-Hide and Woolskin.

Leather Doctor® Leather Scent-B
It’s a tactile buttery-feel 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 buttery-feel with a classic leather scent. It’s for imparting a non-stick breathable barrier essentially to shield the detrimental effects of sticky soiling including the nasty ballpoint ink. And for helping to release those tenacious dye-transfers stains especially on light colored leathers easily without resorting to unnecessary color refinishing. Its natural buttery-feel protection increases the leather resistance to wet and dry rubs, thus reduce stretch, scuff and abrasion. And it reduces friction squeaks that wear the finishes when leather is rubbed against during movement. Or friction that wears the leather finishes caused by getting in and out of auto.

Leather Doctor® Leather Scent-D
It’s a tactile draggy-feel for Aniline and Nubuck Wax Pull-up leathers, Bicast, Vachetta, leather Flooring and Steering Wheel.
This is a non-film forming, non-stick rub-resistant protector that enhances a draggy-feel with a classic leather scent. It imparts a non-stick breathable barrier essentially to shield the detrimental effects of sticky soiling including the nasty ballpoint ink. And it does help to release those tenacious dye-transfer stains especially on light colored leathers easily without resorting to unnecessary color refinishing. Its natural draggy-feel protection increases the leather resistance to wet and dry rubs, thus reduce stretch, scuff and abrasion. It is also used as a scuff repairer, filling and concealing surface scuffs to improve appearance. The drag produces an unforgettable familiar sound sweet to the ears when leather is rubbed.



http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/Repairer5.jpg
Leather Repairer (5)

Leather Doctor® Impregnator-26
It’s a Leather Surface Repairer for Pigmented and Aniline leather types.
This is a protein compact resin blend compound impregnator.
It’s for impregnating worn leather grains and micro cracks.
It’s 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.

Leather Doctor® Leather Bond-3D
It’s for leather structure bonding repairs.
This is an aqueous medium soft polyurethane leather bond that will not lift the leather finishes unlike other solvent based glue.

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


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/Auxiliary3-1.jpg
Leather Dyeing & Coloring Auxiliary (3)

Leather Doctor® Adhesor-73
It’s an auxiliary for Pigmented and Aniline leathers refinishing.
This is an aqueous compact resin adhesion promoter to ensure proper adhesion prior to color coating.
It’s also used after WaxEffect8.6 prior to top coating.

Leather Doctor® Thickener-48
This is an auxiliary aqueous carboxylated acrylic co-polymer thickening agent to stabilize color during spraying.
It’s to adjust the flow of color to improve hold-up especially on vertical panels and antiquing two-tone fashion leathers.
It is highly effective and maintains the viscosity over the period of use.


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/Rogerkoh/Micro-Pigment12.jpg
Semi-Aniline Leather Coloring System (12)

Leather Doctor® Pigment Micro-54
It’s micro-pigment for semi-aniline leathers.
It's an aqueous soft compact resin blend high performance pigment color; strong against UV light than standard pigment.
Standard colors available in Black-512, White-505, Tan-586, Ochre-584, Maroon-502, Yellow-526, Orange-504, Red-554 and Blue-540.

Leather Doctor® Topcoat Micro-72S
It’s a satin finish for Micro-Pigmented, Semi-Aniline leathers.
Gloss is more durable than satin finish.
This micro-pigment topcoat is an aqueous soft polyurethane leather topcoat.
It is lightfast and non-yellowing.
It has excellent flow and leveling properties.
Recoatable and forms a flexible film coat.
It gives good performing results when used for fine semi-aniline effects.

Roger Koh
[email protected]

sj72
02-07-2011, 05:29 PM
Roger,
Thank you. As always, your post is thorough and informative.
In response to your question regarding the "cut" in seat, it was not an accident. Thus I suspect it is a "stress" related item.

I will PM you for more details on products and ordering.

Thanks
Shane

sj72
02-09-2011, 05:13 PM
Roger,
You had requested to see additional pictures of leather with a white and black color against the surface to help determine best pigment micro options.
I am providing those pictures below and look forward to recommendations on colors to order for best match.
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1897.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1896.jpg[/IMG[IMG]http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1898.jpg


Thanks
Shane

sj72
02-09-2011, 05:15 PM
Some additional pictures.

1. http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1896.jpg

2. http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1897.jpg


3.
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j435/shn_jhnsn/DSC_1898.jpg

Roger Koh
02-10-2011, 03:46 PM
This color range need the color combination of 4 colors to match it right; they are:

White, Ochre, Orange and Black.

If you have the patience you can match it just right - by counting dropping ratio mix - and I can walk you through...

An option is to send me a color sample to match it.