Leather
Re-coloring
There is no reason to leave that discolored leather jacket at home
if you are willing to spend a modest amount for a simple, leather
repair kit. A variety of quality kits which include easy directions
can keep you from spending more on re-coloring than you did on the
leather item itself. Although it sometimes takes a few attempts, even
the most unusual shades of leather can be matched with the right kit.
Directions in an easy-to-use kit should include a color chart which
will help you mix the shade to match your leather item, and clear
explanations of how much color is included in each bottle.
Coloring Leather
Color is not the only thing to look for in a good repair kit. The
area to be repaired, if not the entire piece, should be properly prepped
with a professional cleaner made for the kind of leather you own.
The kit should note whether it can be used for non-protected or non-treated
leather, like aniline, or if it is strictly for previously protected
leather.
A problem with color often means there is a stain or rip issue as
well. Check to see if the kit includes all of the compound, sub-patch
material, applicators, cleaners and conditioners that you are going
to need to make a complete and professional-looking repair. Special
extras which may be nice to have in a kit are sprays which reduce
the appearance of brush marks after re-coloring, or ones which produce
various, grainy textures.
Finding or mixing the right color can often be the most challenging
aspect of doing leather re-coloring at home. Sometimes it takes a
few tries to get it right, so see if there is a convenient, less visible
part of the item which you can test out first.
Often a kit can be personalized. All of the items that you need are
in the kit, along with an exact, premixed color. Some shades are being
manufactured to match specific clothing, furniture or automobile interiors.
If the color of your leather interior is unmatchable in the default
selections, then try furniture or even clothing colors. Some people
prefer re-coloring kits which include a spectrum of colors, so they
can test the combinations to find the perfect shade.
Liquid Leather Repair Kits
Liquid leather repair kits are another option. They produce the same
result as traditional kits, but typically use a heating tool to bind
the leather-like paper to the damaged area. There are also no-heat
liquid kits.
These kits tend to be a little less expensive than the standard re-coloring
kits. A benefit to using the liquid leather is that it takes less
time to finish the job. You spend less time waiting for coats to dry
than you would with the standard leather repair kits. Again, an area
should be tested first, especially if there is antique or delicate
leather involved.
Whether a liquid leather or traditional leather repair kit is used,
the most important thing is that it includes everything that you will
need, and in the right amounts.
Part of what is needed for successful leather repair, is concise directions.
Directions for each bottle, tool, patch, cloth, color and applicator
should be included. There should be a color chart which describes
how much to mix of each color.
Spending a bit more on a simple-to-use repair kit will ensure that
you can reproduce and match the texture and color of your leather
as much as possible. Having too much product to do your re-coloring
is better than not having enough, so make sure that your $15 to $60
investment supplies you with enough get your re-coloring project done,
and perhaps one in the future as well.
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