Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[katev]

So I will be working on a Saddle Pouch like the one katev did in this thread http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/bag-cost-5-bucks-lot-work-rehab-reveal-698096.html

I'm sure I have them somewhere, but I can't currently find my before pics. I know they're in the authentication thread, but.. it's early Sunday morning. I'm being lazy It's also a light-ish color, which I thought might be camel (but next to my other light ones, made me think maybe a faded BT). If it's light, I'd like to keep it that way. So on to my question - has anyone tried Bick 4 conditioner? I tried a little Leather CPR, and it darkened the leather a bit - could be darkening it to its hydrated state, or could just be darkening it period. Bick 4 has "does not darken leather" on the bottle, and so I was wondering if anyone has had experience with it actually working as advertised? I think it's cheaper than apple, but not as cheap as CPR...

I've never had LeatherCPR darken stuff but a really dry bag may just be lighter than it's supposed to be til conditioned? I've not tried the Bick4 but that's why we love this thread! If you try it and really like it, tell us how it compares to other conditioners so we have another idea for our conditioner arsenal

I agree, most bags get darker just from washing and conditioning them, because they are so dehydrated and faded, but I don't think that non-wax containing conditioners like apple, leather cpr, and lexol darken the bag, they just restore the color.

 

[iyaken]

I've never had LeatherCPR darken stuff but a really dry bag may just be lighter than it's supposed to be til conditioned? I've not tried the Bick4 but that's why we love this thread! If you try it and really like it, tell us how it compares to other conditioners so we have another idea for our conditioner arsenal

I agree, most bags get darker just from washing and conditioning them, because they are so dehydrated and faded, but I don't think that non-wax containing conditioners like apple, leather cpr, and lexol darken the bag, they just restore the color.

I did think it could have been getting rehydrated to its true color, as I have not had leather CPR actually darken anything beyond what I thought should've been normal. I did end up with a small bottle of Bick 4, and I must say, it's a lot more liquid than CPR! Easier to spread around, and the leather just sucked it up too (just like the leather did CPR). Since the Bicked leather ended up about the same color as the CPRed leather, I feel even more sure that the leather was just so dehydrated that it faded. I think I'll be more confident about using CPR on this particular bag.

Also, I did find where Bick 4 was mentioned before - in the Hermes forum (not that I have one.. I wish! They just have that awesome vintage leather thread that a lot of you must know about). Apparently it's good for leather, in general, including exotics. Even though it's cheaper than CPR per ounce, I can't say yet which will be more economical in the long run.. I guess we'll have to wait and see as I use more of both

And still along the lines of restorers and protectors - my order of Apple Garde arrived yesterday! Apparently, our Burlingtons don't carry them, so I had to order from Amazon. Sprayed the heck out of my natural whipstitch hobo because I've been dying to use it.. but big mistake - I did it indoors. I feel so sorry for my poor abused lungs. I wonder what alternatives to Apple Garde exist? I've heard mention of people using Kiwi spray, but every single can of Kiwi that I found has "silicone" emblazoned on them like it's a great thing.. maybe I just haven't found the right Kiwi? Also heard of Shining Monkey (I think in the LV forums? Again, no LV - I wish ) but haven't found it either.

 

[JOODLZ]

Pretty! I don't think I have seen this style before-I like it! I think I will have to try Leather CPR. I am usually a die hard Blackrocks fan but it would be nice to have something different in my rehab arsenal, too. I will have to see what stores sell it here in NY or I could always order it online.

Thank you, thank you and thank you! I don't think you'll be disappointed with CPR!

 

[JOODLZ]

Your rehabs look great! Red, tan, and white bags - you are brave!

...or just plumb crazy...Thanks! You've taught me soooo much. I think the next few are going to just be easy, no-muss-no-fuss black bags!

 

[katev]

...or just plumb crazy...Thanks! You've taught me soooo much. I think the next few are going to just be easy, no-muss-no-fuss black bags!

Good thinking! I am often happiest with the results of a simple rehab! I have just posted before and after pics of my black ramblers legacy - a super easy rehab - at the link below:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/why-pay-258-when-you-can-spend-17-a-749153.html

And here are the before pics from another easy rehab. A Twill or Mercer Bucket Tote 7446. It was made in China in 2003 and I paid $10 for it at Savers.

All I did was put it inside a bag, run it through the washer, let it dry, and then condition the leather. Simple! I will post the after pics with the next message.

 

[angelaira]

Just for fun, the rehabbed bag I am carrying today:
http://coachbagrehab.blogspot.com/2012/05/coach-of-day.html

 

[katev]

Here are the after pics of the twill tote 7446. I don't care much for the break-away zipper but it is a nice-sized, light-weight, and inexpensive tote!

 

[katev]

Just for fun, the rehabbed bag I am carrying today:
http://coachbagrehab.blogspot.com/2012/05/coach-of-day.html

So cute, I love the way you've decorated her!

 

[ledobe]

Since you've said the conditioners were similar and I am almost out of Apple, I went hunting online and Leather CPR for $18 for 32 oz. on Amazon. I get free two day shipping so I don't think I can beat that price anywhere. Amazon also gives free regular shipping if you order $25 or more.

did any of y'all see this? I thought it was a pretty good deal, but I haven't priced it out elsewhere.

 

[ledobe]

Here are the after pics of the twill tote 7446. I don't care much for the break-away zipper but it is a nice-sized, light-weight, and inexpensive tote!

That came out really nice. Looks like a handy size!

 

[iyaken]

did any of y'all see this? I thought it was a pretty good deal, but I haven't priced it out elsewhere.

It's not bad! If you don't have easy access to a TM with Leather CPR ($6+tax/12 oz) or TJMaxx/Marshall's that carries it ($5+tax/12oz), the price comes close, you don't have to pay tax, and it gets shipped straight to your door Definitely better than the marked up prices at certain other stores...

 

[JOODLZ]

Just for fun, the rehabbed bag I am carrying today:
http://coachbagrehab.blogspot.com/2012/05/coach-of-day.html

Very Pretty! I love the old NYC bags...the leather will last a lifetime - or more!

 

[JOODLZ]

Here are the after pics of the twill tote 7446. I don't care much for the break-away zipper but it is a nice-sized, light-weight, and inexpensive tote!

Thanks for the rehab tips on this one...I have a black computer bag and 2 smaller totes (one black, one bone) in twill & leather that will need a bath someday!

 

[ledobe]

OK, I'm not going to call this bag a fail because she looks SO MUCH BETTER-but I'm not sure if I'll end up using it because I have my near perfect red stewardess when I HAVE to wear red, and so many other bags around this size that I can choose. So, I'm undecided. But here are some pix anyway:

Red City Spectator:

This bag really far surpassed my two dirty girls. I got it on eBay for 14ish and I have to say, I bought it mostly for the rehab challenge. (which one of you also bid on this bag?)

Here are some before pix. She seems to have something spilled on her, maybe from the outside, that wraps around the top and back and all the way to the bottom. Other than that she was gross and dirty-withn what looked like dog hair in the back pocket and inside the bag-plus the average dirty grimy stuff all over the bag. There was also a pen mark on the front flap-why did I spend money on this? lol

I didn't realize this was a slice, not a scratch (it's not at all deep) until after I washed it:

And the rest of the before pix I took really didn't come out that great. But you get the picture.

 

[ledobe]

She got several baths. The first bath I concentrated mostly on the big stain, and went lightly over the ink on the front flap. I was actually more worried that with too much scrubbing the red would bleed on to the BT trim, so I took it easy. I knew I would have to give this one more than one bath anyway.

After the first bath, the ink had faded, the big stain was (mostly) gone, and I discovered the slice. The red was slightly more faded where I went over the ink so I tried my idea of going over the entire front flap with hand sanitizer. That worked pretty well to even things out. After that, I gave the bag one more bath and touched up the BT areas with the same dye I used on the basic bag I posted earlier.

What I decided was that the front flap had too much damage to cover up any one thing. You can kind of still see the ink if you know it's there, but it's lighter than the scratches and the slice. So she's ended up one scarred girl from the bad part of the city. These pix are after several coats of moisturizer, and a final coat or two of Black Rocks to even out the ugly.


This is an after picture of the slice on the front flap. Again, it barely breaks the surface but it is a slice, not a scratch. I don't think glueing it would make much difference:

This is the most damaged part of the bag: