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Thread: Aniline or Bicast - How to tell and how to fix 'stickiness'

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
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    Default Aniline or Bicast - How to tell and how to fix 'stickiness'

    We have a couch and loveseat that we bought about 10 years ago. The seats, rear cushions and arms are all sticky. From some extensive Googling it sounds like our furniture is bicast leather, but since we paid nearly $5000 for the pair it doesn't mesh with the 'cheaper' alternative. We bought both pieces from a high-end retailer and purposely picked furniture that we hoped would age well. Did we get snookered?

    Wondering how I can tell whether the furniture is aniline or bicast so I can figure out what kit to buy to clean and restore the pieces. The colour is listed as Santa Fe on all of the cushions, but I can't find a manufacturers tag.

    Below is the good part of the cushion followed by the (shamefully) bad part of the cushions. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. We had intended to keep this set and send it off with the kids when they went off to university or when they bought their first house.

    Josh

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Greater Vancouver, Canada.
    Posts
    5,097

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    >>>We have a couch and loveseat that we bought about 10 years ago. The seats, rear cushions and arms are all sticky. From some extensive Googling it sounds like our furniture is bicast leather, but since we paid nearly $5000 for the pair it doesn't mesh with the 'cheaper' alternative. We bought both pieces from a high-end retailer and purposely picked furniture that we hoped would age well. Did we get snookered?

    One very common characteristic of Bicast leather is “stickiness”, no difference how much you have paid.


    >>>Wondering how I can tell whether the furniture is aniline or bicast so I can figure out what kit to buy to clean and restore the pieces. The colour is listed as Santa Fe on all of the cushions, but I can't find a manufacturers tag.

    By appearance and a stretching effect, Bicast is a close imitation to an Aniline Wax Pull-up.
    It is just like laminate wood flooring, not easy to tell from the surface, may be photograph laminated similar to that of a bicast. It is from the magnified side view that the evident is clear.
    The hand or structure feel is more plastiky for bicast.
    Sunfading is less a problem from Bicast, as the color is not dependant on the fatliquor and the wax effect.
    From pictures I have positively identified it as a Bicast.
    Recommended Kit for Bicast Sticky restoration problem is by Leather Doctor Kit B7.
    In most cases the color is not affected with the sticky problem.

    >>>Below is the good part of the cushion followed by the (shamefully) bad part of the cushions. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. We had intended to keep this set and send it off with the kids when they went off to university or when they bought their first house.

    All these foreign contaminated being attracted by the bicast stickiness is to be removed with Degreaser-2.2 follows with Acidifier-2.0, using leather Eraser-4 for effective removal – all included in the Leather Doctor Kit B7.

    Leather Type Information:

    Bicast Leathers
    Bicast / Bycast leather is split leather with a layer of polyurethane applied to the surface and then embossed. Bicast was originally made for the shoe industry and recently adopted for use by the furniture industry. The result is a slightly stiffer product that is cheaper than top grain leather but has a much more consistent texture and is easier to clean and maintain. The use of terms like "leather", "genuine leather" or "100% leather" in relation to this bicast treatment is considered a misrepresentation and therefore not permitted in some countries. Furniture made with bicast exhibits none of the characteristics associated with aniline leather. With constant use, the polyurethane layer may crack and split free of its backing. Other common problem is the finish becomes sticky.

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    Leather Doctor® Kit B7, bicast leather sticky refinishing kit is an innovative system developed to restore finishes sticky problem. The sticky problem is often described from owners as follows. The finish gone dull on the seating areas and any material comes in contact sticks to it.* The finishes feels a bit rubbery but after 5mins of sitting clothing were stuck to it. The location that suffers tackiness also reveals roughness to the touch.* When sitting down and getting up, there is the sound of tape pulling and you can actually see a pattern on the couch from the jeans. If these experiences sound familiar then this kit is the answer. Stripping the surface contamination is done with Degreaser-2.2 and the help of Eraser-4 for better traction to removed surface materials. Suspended soiling is towel extracted and rinse with Acidifier-2.0. 2000-grit sandpaper is used to smoothen rough surface. A 10% Crosslinker-25 is added to the BicastTop-76G for extra finish strength from stickiness. Protector-B+ imparts a non-stick buttery-feel against sticky soiling; a rub-resistant against friction wear and diffuses a leather scent that enhances leather sensuous and luxuriously.

    Roger
    www.LeatherDoctor.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
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    Roger:

    Thanks for the response. We've ordered the kit and we'll let you know how it works out! Definitely appreciate the quick help.

    Josh

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