Ford King Ranch leather seats messed up – need help!

Do you have products to refinish Ford King Ranch seats? Unfortunately I had a Color Glo rep work on and he has messed them up. He streaked them, and then applied some coating that sealed so they won't readily absorb dye, and he stripped some of the finish off. Need help???

I am not really sure which kit I need, but I would have to say that the finish on it currently needs to be removed and some color needs to be added back. Primarily the seat bottoms and backs is where the Color Glo guy worked. The backs and sides are only faded from sun, I think just recolor is all that they may need. I can send some pictures if that would help. Also some gloss needs to be added back where he sanded, Not sure which product would add gloss back. I do have compressor and small spray gun.

Attached are some pictures. I have tried to take representative pictures of overall problems. The pictures are numbered 299-312. I will try to refer to number, for a description of the issue.

Reasons for work in the first place:
-staining caused by body oils and other stains, look to be food based. Pictures 299, 300, and 306 are the most obvious, lots of other stuff that he has masked with his process.
-Seats dried and faded. Pictures 299, 300, 301, 302, 303,

New issues created by Color Glo
- non uniform dying? Streaking. Pictures 304, 305, 306, 308, 310
- non uniform shine/nap/surface texture. Pictures 305-310
-basically, he touched up fronts or contact surface areas, did not do anything to sides or backs of seat. Side and back of seats, pictures 300-303.

What seats should look like, pictures 311 and 312.

I had told him that I did not mind if he went a little darker to help cover, I never expected him to swish a rag with some color in just a few spots.

Anyhow, I just need to fix now.

#141
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather141.jpg

#299
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather299.jpg

#300
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather300.jpg

#301
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather301.jpg

#302
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather302.jpg

#303
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather303.jpg

#304
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather304.jpg

#305
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather305.jpg

#306
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather306.jpg

#307
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather307.jpg

#398
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather308.jpg

#310
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather310.jpg

#311
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather311.jpg

#312
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather312.jpg

Reasons for work in the first place:
- staining caused by body oils and other stains, look to be food based. Pictures 299, 300, and 306 are the most obvious, lots of other stuff that he has masked with his process.

This leather is “Aniline” type, in which “transparent” dyestuff is used to bring out the beauty of the leather grain.
If the stains are not removed, further “transparent” dyeing will make the stains show through and may even be accentuated or make worst in terms of appearance.
Recommended:
1] The entire messed up stuff has to be removed – that is to be stripped off entirely clean.
2] The original body oil and other food based stains have to be removed from the leather structure.
3] Refinishing of the leather will depends on the above 2 results, with choice of finishing either to be in “Transparent”(Aniline Dye-21), “Translucent” (2Tone-37) or “Opaque” (Micro Pigment-54) system.


Reasons for work in the first place:
- Seats dried and faded. Pictures 299, 300, 301, 302, 303,

Dried leather is the result of diminishing original fatliquor (fat, oil and water); this is done by first hydrating (with Hydrator-3.3) to precondition the leather structure prior to fatliquor replenishing it with Fatliquor-5.0.
Fading is natural for aniline leathers, color can be bring back from the thickness of the leather – just need to be activated with Hydrator-3.3 (just like tea leaves need to be activated with hot water to bring out the color).



New issues created by Color Glo
- non uniform dying? Streaking. Pictures 304, 305, 306, 308, 310

Streaking can be avoided by airbrushing instead of padding, furthermore the flow control is adjustable with additional of either Adhesor-73 up to 30% of Thicknener-48 from 3 to 10%.



New issues created by Color Glo
- non uniform shine/nap/surface texture. Pictures 305-310

This mess-up has to be completely stripped with the help of “Stripper-2.3” to an even appearance.


New issues created by Color Glo
-basically, he touched up fronts or contact surface areas, did not do anything to sides or backs of seat. Side and back of seats, pictures 300-303.

The entire seat has to be done to even out the appearance.
Take note that if colors or dyes are used the stitching threads color change is unavoidable.


The above is my assessment, and if you can take instructions; with feedback pictures, it may accomplished towards your desired expected result.

Let me know what you think and if you have the products at hand, I shall lead you step by step.

Roger Koh
[email protected]

"I like your suggestions. I will contact you on your email for product cost/purchase. We are going on a 6 week road trip and leaving in 2 1/2 weeks, not much time. I would like to get center consoles, restored and then do whatever you suggest to the rest of the seats when I get back. Is there some conditioning that I could do to hydrate and get moisture back in seats prior to trip? We are taking truck with camper so will be spending a lot of time in the truck, ~8300 miles in six weeks."

What/ how much products do I need?

What is the cost for products?

What are your thoughts on a temporary treatment for seats until after we get back? Can we fat liquor them to help re hydrate, moisturize, semi protect seats? Like I said in post, the color glo guy mainly messed with seat faces and left sides and backs pretty much alone.

I would like to finish arm rests?

From Picture #311 and #312, the closest aniline color would be Rubine-113, with add-on Red Brown-159 to shade it to the right match.

Stripping would require Stripper-2.3 as an add-on.

Protein food-based stain would require d’Protein-10 with Acidifier-2.0 to neutralize the high alkaline pH thereafter.

[CENTER]
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...ts/KitA6dr.jpg
Leather Doctor® Aniline Leather – Color Refinisher & Degreaser – Kit A6.dr

Standard Colors:
Rubine,

Custom Color Matching Available on Request


I would like to get center consoles, restored and then do whatever you suggest to the rest of the seats when I get back.

The above recommended products will get you going and have a feel of what these products can correct the mess-up situation.



Is there some conditioning that I could do to hydrate and get moisture back in seats prior to trip?

As mentioned for the non-mess up section or areas – you would require 2 products – Hydrator-3.3 and Fatliquor-5.0



What are your thoughts on a temporary treatment for seats until after we get back? Can we fat liquor them to help re hydrate, moisturize, semi protect seats? Like I said in post, the color glo guy mainly messed with seat faces and left sides and backs pretty much alone.

To save on the Hydrator-3.3 and Fatliquor-5.0 it is recommended to strip off unwanted finishing prior to hydrating and fatliquor replenishing.
Not recommended to do the way it was – “the seat face only” – face, side and back has to be done at any one time during the hydrating and fatliquoring phase.
1] Strip unwanted finishes – Stripper-2.3
2] Remove penetrated protein food stain – d’Protein-10 > Acidifier-2.0
3] Remove body oils – Degreaser-2.2 > Rinse-3.0
4] General restorative cleaning – Prep-4.4 > Cleaner-3.8 > Rinse-3.0
5] Leather rejuvenating – Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0
6] Optional Redyeing – Aniline Dye-21 (Rubine + Black) + Adhesor-73 for assisting in coating over possible existing topcoat > Topcoat-79G
7] Non-stick, rub-resistant protection – Protection-B+

Note that individual product description and instruction can be found in this link:
http://www.leathercleaningrestoratio...nd-Instruction


What/ how much products do I need?

The above products are what are necessary.
The Stripper-2.3 has to be tested out, depending on what the unknown is been used by the Color Glo – maybe it would be better for him to strip it off for you.
How much you need would depends on the severity of the stains and how deep the stain is and also how thick the leather is – pretty uncertain, but I would recommended to have concentrates refills to save on shipping if possible.



What is the cost for products?

I will send prices and recommendation by emails.

I need to get going asap. Is there anything I can start stripping with like alcohol or acetone??? While I am waiting on products.

Acetone is a better choice if you like to go ahead, also need a horsehair detailing brush so that it does not scratches the leather.
A 3M white pad may helps too and terry towel is just what you will need.
This stripping is no difference if you strip vanishes from wood, just careful not to hurt the grain physically.
I will send the pricing for the product, after this.


I stripped one center covers, took a lot of acetone, probably a pint, evaporates fast. I will take pic and post. Not sure how shine will come back, but have faith.

The shine will be gone when you strip, that’s the topcoat you will put it back after the dyeing.
Make sure you strip it off evenly as otherwise the dyeing may be blotchy due to uneven absorbency.
The acetone stripping will also dries up the original fatliquor, that when dry may stiff up the leather – it’s OK as you will need to hydrate it and fatliquor replenish it prior to the dyeing process. Just make sure that you do not flex it unnecessary otherwise it may crack in extreme cases.
Does the rag or towel you used show dye bleeding?


It is showing signs of dye bleeding; I am seeing two distinct colors on the rag. One looks to be Color Glo guys and one looks to be the original color. I will photo graph rag. I am concerned that I may get uneven stripping because some areas have much more stripping than others??? I cleaned the first piece and then went over with whole thing to clean again, looks pretty even, will send pic. It looks like I need degreaser kit, what other products do I need to order, including if you think I need more of a product? I have not found white scotch brite? So quote that for me.
Attached are some pics. I believe that 308 is how the one cover looked prior to stripping, then the other pic is after stripping. The rags show two different colors, one brown (original and one with more red in it.


#308
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...eathers308.jpg

#314
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...eathers314.jpg

#317
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...eathers317.jpg

#318
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...eathers318.jpg

These color guides would give you an idea how best to match closed to #312.

Note that these dyes are staining the white leather textured cards using a cotton swab, with uneven absorbency to it, due to the texture as the cotton swab miss the lower grooves of the grain; and you get the unevenness intensity of the color.

This unevenness will be corrected with adding up to 30% of Adhesor-73 so as to coat the entire surface with an airbrush.

Note that when using “transparent” dyestuff – what you see may not get what you want – white background and a brown back ground will show through differently – will need a final testing on the actual leather to confirm the color combination on your end.

Rubine 3 + Red Brown 1 would be the first test, and adjust from there.

What do you think?



http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...nchLeather.jpg

#312
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather312.jpg

Attached are 3 more pics with leather stripped, there is some variation in color. The piece on right first pics, looks to have absorbed some dye and is a little darker. Does not look bad because natural variations in leather, just look dull and dry!.

I do not believe I will have time to do all now. We leave in 9 days. If I can get the covers finished that would be good. I checked pay pal and did not see invoice. I think I will just get degreaser kit and any other product you think I need to finish these two covers for now.

#320
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather320.jpg

#321
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather321.jpg

#322
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Leather322.jpg

Am I right to say that the right first picture which is darker has less sun light exposure as compare to the lighter ones.

The natural tannin color from vegetable-tanned leather tends to darker under sunlight, behaving just like our skin.

While the aniline dyes that takes on the “maroon” color fades under sunlight.

If this is the situation after stain removing and degreasing – the leather is “bleach” with d’Tannin-3.5 to even out the sunlight tanning effect prior to hydrating in the following sequences:


1] Protein Food Stain Removal – d’Protein-10 > Acidifier-2.0

2] Degreasing penetrated oil, grease and sweat – Degreaser-2.2 > Rinse-3.0

3] Bleaching the tannin darkening effect from sunlight – d’Tannin-3.5

4] Leather structure rejuvenating – Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0

5] Redyeing – staining with Aniline Dye-21 or coating with additional of Adhesor-73.

6] Topcoating – Aniline Topcoat-72G

7] Finish Protection – Protection-B+

We will go into details for each of the process, what to look for and how best to accomplished it in preparation for the following next step.

Roger Koh
[email protected]

Hello. My name is Mandi Brandon and I am the Director of Operations at Color Glo International corporate office. I have just noticed this thread of comments and posts and first would like to apologize for the poor experience you have had with one of our franchisees. It is our commitment at Color Glo to stand behind our work. We take great pride and due diligence in our training, techniques and products. While circumstances like this are quite rare, it is our goal to make it right.

Can you tell me - what was our technician's response when (if) you contacted them to advise of these results? Have you contacted our corporate offices to report this situation so that we might rectify it for you?

We'd like the opportunity to send out another professional, fully-trained, Color Glo technician, using our Color Glo products and correct this situation for you. Could you tell me what city and state you are located in? If you prefer to email me your contact information rather than post it on this forum, feel free to email me directly at [email protected]

I hope to hear from you soon!! :)

I also note that you do not have a user name and when I click on your profile you have started over 34 posts with various problems from a purse to a leather rug and more....interesting. Your profile shows no information apart from your many posts in this forum which senior user, Roger Koh has replied.

"Questions" I sincerely hope that you will contact us Color Glo corporate if your complaint about Color Glo is legitimate so that we might have the opportunity to correct it or remove any false accusations immediately.

"Mandi,
This is my first post on the forum. I was communicating with Roger Koh, who seems to be the most knowledgeable person in the field for these repair projects and he has transferred my emails to the forum arena.

I had contacted the guy who did the work and he suggested that that I sand the seats and bring back to him.

I had originally hired him to refinish my seats, I had seen some done by color glo on one of the king ranch forums and they looked great! That was what I wanted. This guy showed up, worked all day, all he did was seat faces, and then it looked like he swished a rag with color on it leaving my seat faces streaked and uneven. All the pictures taken are of his work or lack of work and the counsels I took his advice and sanded and really freaked out.

Anyhow, I live in Smithville Flats NY. And I can be reached on 607-761-3903."

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Questions!

"Mandi,
This is my first post on the forum. I was communicating with Roger Koh, who seems to be the most knowledgeable person in the field for these repair projects and he has transferred my emails to the forum arena.

I had contacted the guy who did the work and he suggested that that I sand the seats and bring back to him.

I had originally hired him to refinish my seats, I had seen some done by color glo on one of the king ranch forums and they looked great! That was what I wanted. This guy showed up, worked all day, all he did was seat faces, and then it looked like he swished a rag with color on it leaving my seat faces streaked and uneven. All the pictures taken are of his work or lack of work and the counsels I took his advice and sanded and really freaked out.

Anyhow, I live in Smithville Flats NY. And I can be reached on 607-761-3903."

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Thanks, Roger, I have received your emails and been in contact with our franchisee in your area. We will get this resolved and appreciate your communication. Will be in touch later today to follow-up. :)