Leather restoration

[Blue_Blazes]

My Super Swordsman which I'm restoring has a pale cream leather seating arrangement which is badly marked by mildew and is rather dried out. I'd like to restore it to something like it's former glory and thought about using a kit from "Woolies" who are well know in the classic car world as suppliers of interior trim, etc. Just wondered if any of you guys had ever used their leather refinishing kits, in or out of the marine environment, and whether they are any good, particularly when it comes to covering marks on pale colours?

Bill.

<hr width=100% size=1>One of these days I'll have a boat that WORKS

 

[Vara]

No experience of Woolies stuff,but if you have access to French sources the Liberon range of leather care products is incredibly effective.
We source ours from M.Bricolage.
Light colours are a real problem the only solution I have found is to use a progressively darker tinted polish until the stains are masked,any way polished but distressed leather looks good.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[Blue_Blazes]

What is the Liberon stuff like price-wise? Woolies have quoted £87 ex VAT for their largest domestic kit with stronger sealer than the car version. That's said to be enough for a 3 seater and two armchairs, so should be enough for me. Also, you don't happen to know if there is a M. Bricolage in Cher bourg, do you?

Cheers,

Bill.

<hr width=100% size=1>One of these days I'll have a boat that WORKS

 

[mirabriani]

Colmce, you live in Kent. I am sure Liberon have a unit on a factory estate in New Romney. I used to buy their products direct. Surely cheaper to cut out the middleman?
Regards Briani

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[Gordonmc]

I used a Woolies kit on the leather seats of a couple of open top sports cars which had badly dried out. Consists of a cleaner, stain and hide food if I remember right. I know the sqabs whose stitching had completely deteriorated, to the point of being dry and fibrous, came up well and I was able to re-stitch the panels. I got the colour back to about right, but they were black.
I think you may have problems with the mildew in the cleaning process and re-colouring with a light stain. Any variation in hue will be far more noticeable.
I suspect you may be as well with the cleaning and feeding stages and only try re-colouring in a small test area.
Digressing, have you tried saddle soap? I used it on an Alvis with red leather seats and it was fine in lifting ingrained muck.
Good luck.

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[Blue_Blazes]

Yes, I tried saddle soap and it lifted a lot of muck out, but didn't remove the greyish mildew stains. In fact I tried another non-specific cleaner after that and rubbed so hard I began to remove the coloured surface, so refinishing is now the only option. If the light cream stuff is unsuccessful in hiding the mildew marks I may have to go a few shades darker. I might get a small kit and see how it goes on the worst bits before committing to doing the whole thing.

Bill.

<hr width=100% size=1>One of these days I'll have a boat that WORKS

 

[Vara]

All the products cleaner,polish,sealer etc ,come in 250 ml containers and are about 13 euros each.One container of each easily renovated a large three piece suite.
A word of caution I've only used the products in cars and domestic setting but with very good results.
Mr Bricolage<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mr-bricolage.fr/magasins/magasinresult.asp?dep=50>HERE</A>
But Im sure that most of the DIY outlets in France will do it or something similar.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[Vara]

Thank you I didn't know that and I dont want to know,as I grab every excuse I can to pop over to France.
If SWMBO sees this and sends me to Romney rather than Caen I will hold you personally responsible/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[mirabriani]

Sorry, I should have thought of that.
Errm do you give lessons in deviousness?
Briani

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[Vara]

I used to be an Estate Agent,nuff said?

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[Blue_Blazes]

Many thanks for the link colmce. I'll dust off my schoolboy French after tea and have a look on there. Caen is a bit out of the way for me, but if they have anything in Cherbourg that's no trouble for me from Alderney.

Bill.

<hr width=100% size=1>One of these days I'll have a boat that WORKS