1967 300SEL Mercedes – 40+ years old car, leather is dry with minnow scratches.

I cannot capture the dirt but it is years of abuse, mechanics with dirty clothes and so on. In my humble opinion, overall state is quite good considering it is 45 years old and neglected.

Spot dyeing, minor scratches mainly on driver’s seat. Leather is dry (not to the point that it cracks) as one would expect on a 40+ years old car.


#1
Attachment 4158


#2
Attachment 4159


#3
Attachment 4160


Attachment 4161
Leather Doctor® Kit-Ap7.cl

Three add-on colors comes together, thus Ochre, Tan, White and Black.

Leather Doctor® Kit-Ap7.cl, auto pigmented (perforated) leather color refinishing kit is design for abrasion damages especially from friction rubs while getting in and out of seat. 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 with all-purpose 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 preview of 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 revitalized 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 activated. Leather rejuvenating system for softness and strength is accomplished with Hydrator-3.3 follows with Fatliquor-5.0. Structural weakness from overstretching is re-strengthened with Impregnator-26, while surface uneven absorption is sealed with Adhesor-73. These repair and auxiliary products where necessary reduces 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.


Just to let you know I got the products today. They were delivered on time but it takes a while to ship them to Venzuela :)

>>> Hi Roger, haven't done anything yet.
Seems to me that the first step should be a "rehydration"?



The Leather Doctor Kit-ap7.cl comes with a complete system and the sequence should be as follows:

1st - Wet preparation with Degreaer-2.2 > Rinse-3.0 or and Acidifier-2.0
Wet preparation is the removal of foreign contamination and amongst the soiling types the oil and grease based soiling is prioritize to ensure coloring adhesion.

2nd – Leather Rejuvenating System with Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Hydrator.3.3:
Hydration is for relaxing the stiff leather to soften and plumps it preconditioning it prior to fatliquor replenished it.
Hydrating can be up to 72hrs with control evaporation until the leather relaxes and closing or reducing the cracking gaps. In very dry condition (the fatliquor content can be measurable with a leather moisture meter or other equivalent moisture meter to provide us an indication how dry it is, the optimum percentage is up to 14% when leather is dry). When reading of percentage is below 5% it is recommended that the hydrated leather is well supported with 20% of fatliquor during the last application and continue with 100% fatliquor before it gets dry. Softening of the leather is thereafter staked or massaged at 25% moisture level until dry. This precaution will ensure that the leather will not further crack when it becomes too dry. When totally dry the fatliquor content is again read and any topping up to the 14% tannery standard may be repeated. Any fatliquor remaining on the finishes is drive in with Hydrator-3.3 until the surface is crystal clear without any trace of a milky coloration. When leather has a up to 14% fatliquor content it will have another lease of renewed useful life.

3rd – Sealer, Primer and Adhesion Coating with Adhesor-73.
The raw leather crust without finishes is sealed to smoothness to prevent uneven absorption of the color coating. Any weakness in the leather structure itself is strengthened internally with optional Impregnator-26. Impregnator-26 will tight up the loose fibers and becomes part of the leather structure.

4th – Color Coating is refinished or spot repairs with Micro-54 color system.
Color matching is done by dropping counts using a plastic pipette and recording it.
Ochre and Tan ratio will get you to the close color saturation.
Black and White will give you the Grey Scale. Either use ratio White 9: Black 1 or White 2: Black 2 until you get the desired shade into the mix. It may be difficult to match out as old color have some degree of fading to it especially when comes to spot coloring it.

5th – Topcoat with MicroTop-54M.
This is a matte topcoat, to increase luster use 54G (gloss) and to reduce luster use 54D (duller). This topcoat seals the color coat.

6th – Non-Stick, Rub-Resistant Protector with Protector-B+
Without the leather scent use Protector-B. Scent is personal, sniff prior to application.

Roger Koh
Leather Care Consultant
[email protected]