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Thread: Strengthen and prevent further damage to vachetta

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Posts
    2

    Default Strengthen and prevent further damage to vachetta

    Dear Roger,

    I am new to the forum and looking forward to buying some of your products. My main problem is not so much cleaning but strengthening the vachetta on my bags. I have repeatedly cleaned the leather on my bags with saddle soap and Cadillac conditioner in the past (now I have learned both are not optimal for vachetta leather). My questions to you are:

    1. Should I leave the leather as it is and just protect and reinforce the vachetta or is it optimal to strip the leather of the previous products I have repeatedly applied (saddle soap + cadillac) before protecting and reinforcing?

    2. Is there any product I can apply to clean the threading on the straps without causing damage to the handles?

    3. What should I use to strengthen the cracked leather trim on the multicolor bag?

    4. Also, notice that there is staining/yellowing of the canvas on the multicolor bag. It is from the oxidation removed from the vachetta by previous cleaning that got rubbed onto the canvas. I have tried many products to remove it but I notice the multicolor print is easily rubbed and removed. Any suggestions?

    Thanks!
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Greater Vancouver, Canada.
    Posts
    5,102

    Default

    >>> 1. Should I leave the leather as it is and just protect and reinforce the vachetta or is it optimal to strip the leather of the previous products I have repeatedly applied (saddle soap + cadillac) before protecting and reinforcing?

    Any soap will leave a scum, just like we find in our basin and bathtub and any sticky residue need to be removed/strip off with Prep-4.4
    http://www.leatherdoctor.com/prep-4-4/
    > VachettaPro-1.2
    http://www.leatherdoctor.com/vachettapro-1-2/
    > Acidifier-2.0
    http://www.leatherdoctor.com/acidifier-2-0/
    System.
    LeatherEraser-4
    http://www.leatherdoctor.com/leathereraser-4/ helps remove the soap scum or residue with better traction, and LeatherBrush-1
    http://www.leatherdoctor.com/leatherbrush-1/ works on the thread as well.


    >>> 2. Is there any product I can apply to clean the threading on the straps without causing damage to the handles?


    Product system works over the threading as well.


    >>> 3. What should I use to strengthen the cracked leather trim on the multicolor bag?


    The strength of the leather above 2000psi depends on the percentage of fatliquor (fat and oil) content when dry. At average 15% fat and oil the leather would be of good tensile strength. Below 1800psi weakness will appears as cracks. The leather strengthening technique is by hydrating with Hydrator-3.3
    http://www.leatherdoctor.com/hydrator-3-3/
    To open up the stiff stick together leather fiber structure. This process softened the leather ready for fatliquor replenishing in a continuous wet process (while the hydrated leather is still damp of about 25% total moisture level).


    >>> 4. Also, notice that there is staining/yellowing of the canvas on the multicolor bag. It is from the oxidation removed from the vachetta by previous cleaning that got rubbed onto the canvas. I have tried many products to remove it but I notice the multicolor print is easily rubbed and removed. Any suggestions?


    To remove vachetta coloring from canvass use Vachetta-2.8
    http://www.leatherdoctor.com/hydrator-3-3/
    as a redox (reduction-oxidation) reversing oxidation process.

    See more info here:
    http://www.leatherdoctor.com/vachetta-simulated/

    Here are some tips copied from:
    http://www.leatherdoctor.com/kit-v4-...g-removal-kit/

    Tips 1 – Cracks Control
    : Aged, dried or signs of leather cracking should be first leather rejuvenated with Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Hydrator-3.3 system and let dry prior to Vachetta-2.8 treatment. This precaution is to prevent any further cracking accelerated to the leather. In other words, any leather dryness less then 7% of original fatliquor moisture content measured with a leather moisture meter or an equivalent wood moisture meter should first be rejuvenated to top up or replenish to its original fatliquor up to 15% prior to treatment with Vachetta-2.8. Due to “Van der Waal or London Forces” phenomenon in the drying process, the empty or insufficient of fatliquor in the leather fiber structure is likely to result in stiffer leather as the fibers becomes stick together. A slower natural drying will reduce the stiffness ill effect from the lack of fatliquor

    Tips 2 – Appearance Control: Water stain spotting may be done with a cotton swab until it shows clean. It is recommended that the entire panel be treated equally to an even appearance to eliminates any rings when dry thereafter. Treated panel may take up a lightening effect as it also reduces the sun tanning effect if any and recommend that the entire article be treated accordingly. Always pre-clean with VachettaPro-1.2 > Acidifier-2.0 prior to post-treatment with Vachetta-2.8 so as not to over-clean it too early.

    Tips 3 – Suppleness Control: Unlike other leather tanning type, vegetable-tanned leathers are more susceptible to cracks as it is characteristically more fatliquor thirsty. Dry leathers are handle with care for inspection and continue with rejuvenating it with Hydrator-3.3 > Fatliquor-5.0 > Hydrator-3.3 system.

    Tips 4 – Sealing and Concealing Scuffing Control: The final of the holistic Vachetta care system ends with Protector-D or the leather scented version of Protector-D+ to seal and conceal scuffing leaving the leather with its natural transpiration. For a lighter appearance "D" is recommended.

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    Roger Koh
    Leather, Skin & Hair Care System Formulator
    Consultant / Practitioner / Instructor / Coach
    web: www.leatherdoctor.com
    forum: www.leathercleaningrestorationforum.com
    email: [email protected]

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Posts
    2

    Default

    Thank you so much for your answer! I just placed my order for a kit. I will post back with results.

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