Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
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i noticed i could not smell it on the bag after a day, it just bothered me using it
I walked out of the Savers tonight without any purchases but it was tough! I have so many bags in my rehab pile to work on that I really shouldn't even be going into the thrift stores - so I am trying to only buy "decently-priced bags that will make good rehab candidates" but sometimes it is hard to "just say no!"
There was a straw boxy tote 4419 with white leather and white suede trim like the one at the link below. The straw was in good shape but the suede was filthy and the white leather trim was scuffed and dirty and there were ink marks on both the lining and on the white leather.
It was only $14 after my coupon but I knew that this would be a hard rehab and that I would have to clean the white suede, eliminate the ink marks, and paint the white leather trim without getting any paint on the straw or suede! Besides I already have 3 straw coach totes including the ladybug motif boxy straw tote! I wanted to buy it but I left it behind.
The other bag was a navy whitney for $7 after coupon and the bag was in good shape except that it was ripped on one side and the buckle was missing and it was missing the hangtag. I knew that it would need major, expensive repairs so I left it behind. I considered buying it just for the strap but I know myself and I would be tempted to try and save it - and so I left it.
Now I am trying not to think about the bags that I didn't buy!
http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Coa...et-Tote-Satchel-Straw-Boxy-Bag-Purse/81434691
There was a straw boxy tote 4419 with white leather and white suede trim like the one at the link below. The straw was in good shape but the suede was filthy and the white leather trim was scuffed and dirty and there were ink marks on both the lining and on the white leather.
It was only $14 after my coupon but I knew that this would be a hard rehab and that I would have to clean the white suede, eliminate the ink marks, and paint the white leather trim without getting any paint on the straw or suede! Besides I already have 3 straw coach totes including the ladybug motif boxy straw tote! I wanted to buy it but I left it behind.
The other bag was a navy whitney for $7 after coupon and the bag was in good shape except that it was ripped on one side and the buckle was missing and it was missing the hangtag. I knew that it would need major, expensive repairs so I left it behind. I considered buying it just for the strap but I know myself and I would be tempted to try and save it - and so I left it.
Now I am trying not to think about the bags that I didn't buy!
http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Coa...et-Tote-Satchel-Straw-Boxy-Bag-Purse/81434691
Well, maybe this will help, here is my Musette, fresh out of the package:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club-624452-252.html#post22152745
I didn't take a lot of before pix. The spots on her seemed to be some sort of oil, but they were all over the bag, front, back inside. It looked like it had splashed, but there is no natural way I can think of that it would have splashed on the flap, under the flap, inside...so who knows what happened. Other than that, the leather was smooshy soft, not at all dry.
I can't tell you how many times I soaked, washed, ran through the washing machine, conditioned...but the spots actually seemed to get darker. I actually carried it this way, I like the idea of this bag being sort of weathered, but not if it looks dirty...so I've been asking m3rm about the leather refinisher and finally took the plunge last week. I actually ran the bag, without the strap, through the washer one more time, because I know she at least had a coat of Black Rocks on her, though I can't remember exactly what else I used at this point. I didn't notice any darkening of the leather at all with BR, as the leather was in soft condition, not at all dry.
So, anyway, I took some real quick shots before I started again:
This is the bottom back corner, the picture is blurry, there is actually a pretty big spot right here:
and here is a horrible close up shot.
I put the bag in the washing machine with just a little soap, warm water, in a pillow case and with a bunch of towels. With a big bag like this I actrually feel like it's hard on the leather to pull on it a lot when it's heavy and wet.
Then I let it dry for a few hours, and started with the leather refinisher when it was damp. I was actually trying to keep some of the burnished look to the leather. I put two light coats several hours apart. I could have put another coat on to cover everything. I also skipped putting it on the strap. I tested it on the piping and I didn't really cover all of it very well, but there are no visible lines where the coverage ends. I didn't bother with the crease between the pockets and it was such a good match that you really can't tell.
I actually let it dry for a couple of days and then carefully tested out using Black Rocks over it. Some of the color lifted but not much. It was something I just wanted to try to see if I can bring up some of the shine in the leather. Anyway, I think I'm done:
I think the dark on the left of this picture is either my phone's camera, or some sort of shadow. The color is even. Note the spots are not visible
Here's the bottom, which actually had the worst big spot. Again, the darker part is from my phone, I think (I flipped the other picture, so the dark spot is on the same side of the "camera")
Here you can compare the strap, which I didn't treat, with the rest of the bag. You can't tell:
You can't tell from the picture but you can still see the spots if you know they are there, there is a difference in the texture of the leather. I think another coat might have covered it. However, like I've said, I kind of want this bag to look a little burnished, and I didn't want to stiffen it. I'm quite happy as is. I also didn't put the refinisher on the handle on the top, and you can't tell. It was a little burnished anyway so it looks normal, and I didn't want to mess around with the additional stitching and other details.
Oh, that is TDF awesome!!!
Thanks! The refinisher is not something I'd recommend for bags that are going to be resold, it seems misleading, but to make this carryable it worked out great.
It's the stuff that Katev mentioned below, m3rm has used it also...and who told us about it originally?:
She looks great!
Well, maybe this will help, here is my Musette, fresh out of the package:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club-624452-252.html#post22152745
I didn't take a lot of before pix. The spots on her seemed to be some sort of oil, but they were all over the bag, front, back inside. It looked like it had splashed, but there is no natural way I can think of that it would have splashed on the flap, under the flap, inside...so who knows what happened. Other than that, the leather was smooshy soft, not at all dry.
I can't tell you how many times I soaked, washed, ran through the washing machine, conditioned...but the spots actually seemed to get darker. I actually carried it this way, I like the idea of this bag being sort of weathered, but not if it looks dirty...so I've been asking m3rm about the leather refinisher and finally took the plunge last week. I actually ran the bag, without the strap, through the washer one more time, because I know she at least had a coat of Black Rocks on her, though I can't remember exactly what else I used at this point. I didn't notice any darkening of the leather at all with BR, as the leather was in soft condition, not at all dry.
So, anyway, I took some real quick shots before I started again:
This is the bottom back corner, the picture is blurry, there is actually a pretty big spot right here:
and here is a horrible close up shot.
I put the bag in the washing machine with just a little soap, warm water, in a pillow case and with a bunch of towels. With a big bag like this I actrually feel like it's hard on the leather to pull on it a lot when it's heavy and wet.
Then I let it dry for a few hours, and started with the leather refinisher when it was damp. I was actually trying to keep some of the burnished look to the leather. I put two light coats several hours apart. I could have put another coat on to cover everything. I also skipped putting it on the strap. I tested it on the piping and I didn't really cover all of it very well, but there are no visible lines where the coverage ends. I didn't bother with the crease between the pockets and it was such a good match that you really can't tell.
I actually let it dry for a couple of days and then carefully tested out using Black Rocks over it. Some of the color lifted but not much. It was something I just wanted to try to see if I can bring up some of the shine in the leather. Anyway, I think I'm done:
I think the dark on the left of this picture is either my phone's camera, or some sort of shadow. The color is even. Note the spots are not visible
Here's the bottom, which actually had the worst big spot. Again, the darker part is from my phone, I think (I flipped the other picture, so the dark spot is on the same side of the "camera")
Here you can compare the strap, which I didn't treat, with the rest of the bag. You can't tell:
You can't tell from the picture but you can still see the spots if you know they are there, there is a difference in the texture of the leather. I think another coat might have covered it. However, like I've said, I kind of want this bag to look a little burnished, and I didn't want to stiffen it. I'm quite happy as is. I also didn't put the refinisher on the handle on the top, and you can't tell. It was a little burnished anyway so it looks normal, and I didn't want to mess around with the additional stitching and other details.
Waah, I want to go to your Savers, Katev! The nearest one to me rarely has anything good. I've pulled a few Coach belts out of there, and some Brooks Brothers ties that sold nicely on ebay, but that's about it. Oh, and 1 pair of Cole Haan moccasins. :/
So here's a silly question: how do the finished bags feel, after you condition them? I am working on a little Casey bag that already looks a billion times better, but even after buffing, she feels a little waxy. I overdid it with the blackrocks the first time, and so I let her sit for almost 2 weeks before I tried anything else with her. She no longer has that tacky/gummy feeling from overconditioning, but just feels slightly waxy. Is that how she is supposed to feel after conditioning? Or do I need to keep buffing?
So here's a silly question: how do the finished bags feel, after you condition them? I am working on a little Casey bag that already looks a billion times better, but even after buffing, she feels a little waxy. I overdid it with the blackrocks the first time, and so I let her sit for almost 2 weeks before I tried anything else with her. She no longer has that tacky/gummy feeling from overconditioning, but just feels slightly waxy. Is that how she is supposed to feel after conditioning? Or do I need to keep buffing?
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