24-07-2022, 04:48 PM
These are some notes made on leather renovation a while back when tackling a car with poor condition seats. Gives some idea of the processes involved? As many will already know, it can take a while, but dry and/or dirty leather can often be reclaimed with TLC.
1. Washing the top colour surface
• Use the leather soap solution diluted 10 times
• Use very hot water – the hotter the better
• Use minimum of water – foam is best
• Rub gently
• Rinse by dabbing with cold water if necessary
• Too much wetting will cause leather to dry hard like chamois
• Need to remove surface dirt or it will be washed in by rejuvenation process
• Keep water clean – mix a bit of soap solution at a time and change water frequently
2. Using rejuvenation fluid
• Dab a bit into the back of the leather with cloth or sponge or spray onto large areas
• Leave for about 1 hour – it will go lighter again as it is absorbed into leather fibres
• Apply repeatedly until leather is soft – may take many applications over a considerable period
• Too much will eventually weaken the leather so it might tear under load
• Try out a bit first to gauge how it will work
3. If colour renovation is required - removing the Connolly paint coating:
• Use 50% rejuvenation fluid and 50% cellulose thinners (this was probably the original solvent)
• Using just thinners would dry out the leather too much
• Try out a bit first to gauge how it will work
4. Colours
• The original leather colour may not be available since Connolly went out of business in 2002
• New leather might therefore differ.
• Original leather could be sprayed the same colour if required to match.
1. Washing the top colour surface
• Use the leather soap solution diluted 10 times
• Use very hot water – the hotter the better
• Use minimum of water – foam is best
• Rub gently
• Rinse by dabbing with cold water if necessary
• Too much wetting will cause leather to dry hard like chamois
• Need to remove surface dirt or it will be washed in by rejuvenation process
• Keep water clean – mix a bit of soap solution at a time and change water frequently
2. Using rejuvenation fluid
• Dab a bit into the back of the leather with cloth or sponge or spray onto large areas
• Leave for about 1 hour – it will go lighter again as it is absorbed into leather fibres
• Apply repeatedly until leather is soft – may take many applications over a considerable period
• Too much will eventually weaken the leather so it might tear under load
• Try out a bit first to gauge how it will work
3. If colour renovation is required - removing the Connolly paint coating:
• Use 50% rejuvenation fluid and 50% cellulose thinners (this was probably the original solvent)
• Using just thinners would dry out the leather too much
• Try out a bit first to gauge how it will work
4. Colours
• The original leather colour may not be available since Connolly went out of business in 2002
• New leather might therefore differ.
• Original leather could be sprayed the same colour if required to match.