Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[YokelMel]

Thanks so much Jessi and Katev. You are so kind to help.

Today, because I am too inexperienced to tackle it yet and because they were expensive, I rejected an off white bag that was scratched and dirty in the scratches and a lunchbox bag that had significant scuffed edges on the front of the bag.

Some info that would help me know my limits......What types of bag damage do you consider "too far gone" to rehab.? (If I see a good deal I can buy for the future as my skills improve.?

I would agree with the others that this is going to be totally up to you, and what you would feel comfortable carrying. I, personally, am not bothered by some stubborn scuff marks, minor pen marks or stains (especially to inconspicuous parts of the bag), and some color loss to the piping. I have two small children, work full time, and don't baby my bags, and I figure that they are going to get beat up by me anyway If I really like the bag, and I can get it at a good price, I will give it a go and live with how it looks afterward. But that 's just me, and I think everyone has opinons on what they can live with, and what they can't. GL!

 

[x UHOH X]

Note to self: either buy smaller bags as rehab projects, space them out more with the smaller rehab projects, or go work out at the gym more often!!

With the thesis done (minus last minute edits that can wait a minute), I tackled my growing stack of rehab projects. But I guess my eyes were bigger than my arms, because after four hours, I was starting to reach muscle failure washing, scrubbing, lifting, and drying at least three big bags and five or six small ones! I have almost everything drying right now or I'd show pics. But if the color of the water was anything to go by, these things are going to look phenomenal! heheh. I also decided to be brave and work on a very vintage, very needs-lots-of-help Louis Vuitton keepall. I turned it completely inside out and scrubbed it, and as soon as the inside of the canvas dries, I'll work on the leather bits. They REALLY need help.

But seriously, one of the larger Coach business case bags (the putty colored one I showed previously) with a huge ink stain was doing some strange things...When I lightly scratched my nail over the ink stain while it was soaking, beau coup ink starting squeezing out of it and running all over. !? so I starting working that area alternately with water and squeezing for about 15 minutes (AH, so THAT might've been the muscle failure part!) It was just gushing out. Makes me wonder what kind of ink it was. But alas, there is still a large ink stain. Ah well. Since it's such a light colored bag, i might try alcohol on it.

More to follow. I just couldn't resist a note. (BTW, Katev -nice navy purse! I like the closure too!)

 

[katev]

Note to self: either buy smaller bags as rehab projects, space them out more with the smaller rehab projects, or go work out at the gym more often!!

With the thesis done (minus last minute edits that can wait a minute), I tackled my growing stack of rehab projects. But I guess my eyes were bigger than my arms, because after four hours, I was starting to reach muscle failure washing, scrubbing, lifting, and drying at least three big bags and five or six small ones! I have almost everything drying right now or I'd show pics. But if the color of the water was anything to go by, these things are going to look phenomenal! heheh. I also decided to be brave and work on a very vintage, very needs-lots-of-help Louis Vuitton keepall. I turned it completely inside out and scrubbed it, and as soon as the inside of the canvas dries, I'll work on the leather bits. They REALLY need help.

But seriously, one of the larger Coach business case bags (the putty colored one I showed previously) with a huge ink stain was doing some strange things...When I lightly scratched my nail over the ink stain while it was soaking, beau coup ink starting squeezing out of it and running all over. !? so I starting working that area alternately with water and squeezing for about 15 minutes (AH, so THAT might've been the muscle failure part!) It was just gushing out. Makes me wonder what kind of ink it was. But alas, there is still a large ink stain. Ah well. Since it's such a light colored bag, i might try alcohol on it.

More to follow. I just couldn't resist a note. (BTW, Katev -nice navy purse! I like the closure too!)

Wow, you are ambitious! The most I ever did at one time was 5 bags and I decided that was way too many to tackle altogether. But I understand the temptation, I have a big pile of rehab projects and I can't keep up, but I keep buying more! I am going to have to start doing some multiples again. Maybe two at a time won't be too hard.

But I can't wait to see your pictures!

Regarding the big ink stain, one time a bag started pouring out color when I dunked it. I changed the water multiple times and it just kept coming. I finally decided that someone had used shoe polish and magic marker to cover up the stains and scuffs. It was a lot of work to get that bag to stop bleeding color and there was still a tinge of color in the water when I finally gave up!

If that isn't it then I suspect that a pen leaked inside the bag and the ink has saturated the leather and broken through to the outside. One of my first rehabs was that way and and I used lots of alcohol but I was never able to erradicate the spot entirely. The good thing was that it was a dark navy bag and it didn't show up too badly. Good luck!

Thanks for the kind words about my new acquistion, a navy Brighton bag from the early 1990s. I think that it will rehab well (whenever I get around to it!)
http://s1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee413/katev2/Coach Navy Zip Bag/

 

[katev]

Definitely NO mildew. And I suggest no suede unless you got it really cheap and you're feelin' froggy! I'm swearing off suede unless I love love love it!

I was at the thrift store today and they had a tan (or light brown) suede coach bag for sale. It was not damaged and the lining was pretty clean but the outside was absolutely filthy!

The only way that I would try rehabbing that bag would be if it was really cheap ($10 or less) so that I wouldn't be concerned about throwing the dirty thing into the washer to see how it looked when it came out!

They had it marked for $40 (I couldn't believe that price for a used bag in such awful condition!) I passed on it and instead I bought a sharp, navy, glove-tanned Brighton leather bag that was "Made in the United States" in the early 1990s for $9. I think that I got the best deal!

 

[x UHOH X]

Wow, you are ambitious! The most I ever did at one time was 5 bags and I decided that was way too many to tackle altogether. But I understand the temptation, I have a big pile of rehab projects and I can't keep up, but I keep buying more! I am going to have to start doing some multiples again. Maybe two at a time won't be too hard.

Oh, which reminds me, I meant to ask you in my last post... I bought a leather Kate Spade iPod holder that's pretty cute (for $3!) But while it's "stitched" I discovered today while washing it, it was only topically stitched for looks and the original glue is starting to give way. I tried Elmer's fabric glue on a test project and ended up with dried white mess everywhere ("dries clear" my patootie !! .) What kind of glue do you use, if you use any at all? And what's the best method you've found to apply it? THanks!

 

[katev]

Oh, which reminds me, I meant to ask you in my last post... I bought a leather Kate Spade iPod holder that's pretty cute (for $3!) But while it's "stitched" I discovered today while washing it, it was only topically stitched for looks and the original glue is starting to give way. I tried Elmer's fabric glue on a test project and ended up with dried white mess everywhere ("dries clear" my patootie !! .) What kind of glue do you use, if you use any at all? And what's the best method you've found to apply it? THanks!

I've most often used glue to reattach the two halves of a hangtag that had separated, but one time I used it to strengthen the corners of a bag. The piping hadn't worn through but the leather looked "a little thin" at the corners - and the glue worked fine and dried clear.

I bought a tube of fabric glue at Joann Fabrics called "Stik n Seal" and it says on the package that it can be used on leather. There is an entire aisle of adhesives at JoAnn's so I just looked for one that mentioned leather on the package.

I usually use a toothpick to spread it out thinly. After I glue the 2 pieces of a hangtag together I stick the hangtag between the pages of my dictionary to press them together, and leave it over night (I would probably wrap a light-colored tag in a thin cloth or something first.) If a little bit of the adhesive leaks out onto the edge of the hangtag, I just rub it off with my finger nail after it dries.

Here is information about a glue that dstalksalot recommends: http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club-624452-post19830004.html?highlight=glue#post19830004

 

[x UHOH X]

I was at the thrift store today and they had a tan (or light brown) suede coach bag for sale. It was not damaged and the lining was pretty clean but the outside was absolutely filthy!

The only way that I would try rehabbing that bag would be if it was really cheap ($10 or less) so that I wouldn't be concerned about throwing the dirty thing into the washer to see how it clean it came out!

They had it marked $40 (I couldn't believe that price in such awful condition!) I passed on it and instead I bought a sharp, navy, glove-tanned Brighton leather bag that was "Made in the United States" in the early 1990s. I think that I got the best deal!

You definitely got the best deal.

I tried using the Ugg boot cleaner you suggested on the two suede items I have - one pink (going to be a gift) and one light tan on a tote (love the tote!) The Ugg stuff worked well on the majority of the pink body of the bag, but I probably ought to do another round of attempts on the rim of the purse near the zipper; that part is still pretty dingy. It's a jacquard and suede bag: tried the Coach cleaner on the jacquard and NADA. Ah well. But the suede tote had blue jean rub-off all over one side. I tried like mad to get that off, but no dice. I got it super cheap, and I love it, so I'm not upset.

For some reason, my stupid phone isn't uploading any photos. Hmm...must fix that for when the projects are dry...

Thanks for the note about the glue! I don't think I've seen a Joann Fabrics around here, and I know Hobby Lobby and Michaels doesn't have leather glue, as crazy as that sounds. I think I might have better luck finding something at a tack shop. (Boy, I really must be out in the boonies!)

 

[Jessi319]

But seriously, one of the larger Coach business case bags (the putty colored one I showed previously) with a huge ink stain was doing some strange things...When I lightly scratched my nail over the ink stain while it was soaking, beau coup ink starting squeezing out of it and running all over. !? so I starting working that area alternately with water and squeezing for about 15 minutes (AH, so THAT might've been the muscle failure part!) It was just gushing out. Makes me wonder what kind of ink it was. But alas, there is still a large ink stain. Ah well. Since it's such a light colored bag, i might try alcohol on it.


This reminds me of the type of ink leakage I got from a gel pen. It's a different consistency than regular ink and it seems to just saturate more like a dye. hmmm

 

[katev]

Note to self: either buy smaller bags as rehab projects, space them out more with the smaller rehab projects, or go work out at the gym more often!!

With the thesis done (minus last minute edits that can wait a minute), I tackled my growing stack of rehab projects. But I guess my eyes were bigger than my arms, because after four hours, I was starting to reach muscle failure washing, scrubbing, lifting, and drying at least three big bags and five or six small ones! I have almost everything drying right now or I'd show pics. But if the color of the water was anything to go by, these things are going to look phenomenal! heheh. I also decided to be brave and work on a very vintage, very needs-lots-of-help Louis Vuitton keepall. I turned it completely inside out and scrubbed it, and as soon as the inside of the canvas dries, I'll work on the leather bits. They REALLY need help.

But seriously, one of the larger Coach business case bags (the putty colored one I showed previously) with a huge ink stain was doing some strange things...When I lightly scratched my nail over the ink stain while it was soaking, beau coup ink starting squeezing out of it and running all over. !? so I starting working that area alternately with water and squeezing for about 15 minutes (AH, so THAT might've been the muscle failure part!) It was just gushing out. Makes me wonder what kind of ink it was. But alas, there is still a large ink stain. Ah well. Since it's such a light colored bag, i might try alcohol on it.

More to follow. I just couldn't resist a note. (BTW, Katev -nice navy purse! I like the closure too!)

I recently rehabbed a vintage leather putty tote and eventually I gave up. I got it clean and looking much better but I still wasn't comfortable with the stains. I just couldn't remove or minimize them enough to make the bag wear-able. Not ink, but quite a few smaller marks and one really nasty big one.

I took it to a cobbler and asked him to dye it black. He is charging me $25. I will get it back next weekend and I hope that I won't regret my decision because I really like this bag. I am sad to lose the beautiful putty color but I couldn't get it looking like I wanted.

 

[katev]

You definitely got the best deal.

I tried using the Ugg boot cleaner you suggested on the two suede items I have - one pink (going to be a gift) and one light tan on a tote (love the tote!) The Ugg stuff worked well on the majority of the pink body of the bag, but I probably ought to do another round of attempts on the rim of the purse near the zipper; that part is still pretty dingy. It's a jacquard and suede bag: tried the Coach cleaner on the jacquard and NADA. Ah well. But the suede tote had blue jean rub-off all over one side. I tried like mad to get that off, but no dice. I got it super cheap, and I love it, so I'm not upset.

For some reason, my stupid phone isn't uploading any photos. Hmm...must fix that for when the projects are dry...

Thanks for the note about the glue! I don't think I've seen a Joann Fabrics around here, and I know Hobby Lobby and Michaels doesn't have leather glue, as crazy as that sounds. I think I might have better luck finding something at a tack shop. (Boy, I really must be out in the boonies!)

It was a Fabric Glue but it listed materials that it could be used with on the label, including leather.

 

[x UHOH X]

It was a Fabric Glue but it listed materials that it could be used with on the label, including leather.

Do you have "before" pictures of the putty bag you're having dyed, Katev?

I was disappointed in the two each Michaels and Hobby Lobby. Only one or two leather-oriented items and no leather working sections at all. The white-mess glue also said it worked on leather among other things; I tried it on a nylon throwaway, and I'm glad I did. I just don't have enough throwaways to test on anymore!

The putty bag is still pretty damp. It may be that it's a thicker leather than the duffle bag (evidently that kind of bag can be spelled two different ways, but neither looks right to me!), but the duffle is drying quicker. The putty is still much darker than when I started, but I hope that's just a factor of the dampness. I think you're right, Jessi, it looks like a liquid type ink. I'm thinking gel pen or, considering the strange odor, even a fountain pen.

The duffle bag is still pretty scratched up and abused, but it looks less "tired" now. You can still see the strange reddish abuse marks on it near my hand, but they look less glaring now. The leather in that area still seems a touch damaged/weak/i don't know what.

Once these dry, I'll do the leather care products. Hopefully that will remove some of the scratches at least. I'm pretty sure I won't ever get all the stains out of the putty bag, but that's ok. It means it has character.

But here's another weird thing about the putty bag: it smells funny. I know this sounds crazy, but it smells like my dad's old military manuals. Like an unusual musty library smell - not mildew, though. Other than airing it out (which I'll try), anybody have suggestions for smell removal? A poor eBay seller once tried to sell me a smelly smoke bag with a dryer sheet in it - gotta say, dryer sheets do NOT work.

And just because you girls can appreciate a rehab/great deal, photos of an unusual smooth-leather Kate Spade, and my in-progress LV Keepall. Inside out, and then right side-to. By my hand in the right side-to you can see where the leather band is damaged. It is stitched VERY well vertically, but the break in the leather is horizontal. It needs more TLC.

And something I discovered about the drying process: clean and empty jugs of big or small orange juice and/or kitty litter containers (with lids) help shape and dry the larger bags. I wrap the jug in a big towel and put it inside the bags. The squared-off shape of the jugs help keep the shape of the bigger bags pretty well, although you still have to stuff the corners a bit more. Saves my towel stash for the rest of the projects!

 

[katev]

Do you have "before" pictures of the putty bag you're having dyed, Katev?

Here are the before pics, it was necessary to wet down the creed patch to photograph it. There are some ink marks inside but not too bad.

The big spot I am talking about is at the bottom center of the third photo and you can see it from the inside in the last photo. It is clear but it has actually made the leather hard in the stained area, and conditioner did not help. I was wondering if a can of hairspray leaked inside the bag.
http://s1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee413/katev2/Coach Beige Tote/

Here are the after cleaning and conditioning pics (although I didn't bother to polish the hardware before I took it to the cobbler to be dyed black.) It's clean and it looks better but there are still quite a few marks and spots, and the corners show wear.
http://s1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee413/katev2/Coach Beige Tote/Coach Lite Tote - after cleaning/


I hope that I will still like it when it comes back with a new dye job!


It looks like your rehabs are progressing very nicely, I look forward to the final after photos! There are some big bags in there to be working on in multiples!


Have your tried a hardware store to find a leather glue? They didn't have a leather-working section in the store where I bought the glue. It was in a section of general adhesives that can be used for hobbies, embellishing fabrics, etc. But it listed "leather" and other materials on the label and stated that it dries clear. Here is information about the product:
http://www.bing.com/shopping/1-oz-s...tik+n+Seal"&lpf=0&lpq=Stik+n+Seal&FORM=CMSMSP


Thanks for the tip about using empty plastic jugs to shape large bags, good luck with your rehabs!

 

[x UHOH X]

Here are the before pics, it was necessary to wet down the creed patch to photograph it. There are some ink marks inside but not too bad.

The big spot I am talking about is at the bottom center of the third photo and you can see it from the inside in the last photo. It is clear but it has actually made the leather hard in the stained area, and conditioner did not help. I was wondering if a can of hairspray leaked inside the bag.
http://s1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee413/katev2/Coach Beige Tote/

Here are the after cleaning and conditioning pics (although I didn't bother to polish the hardware before I took it to the cobbler to be dyed black.) It's clean and it looks better but there are still quite a few marks and spots, and the corners show wear.
http://s1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee413/katev2/Coach Beige Tote/Coach Lite Tote - after cleaning/


I hope that I will still like it when it comes back with a new dye job!


It looks like your rehabs are progressing very nicely, I look forward to the final after photos! There are some big bags in there to be working on in multiples!


Have your tried a hardware store to find a leather glue? They didn't have a leather-working section in the store where I bought the glue. It was in a section of general adhesives that can be used for hobbies, embellishing fabrics, etc. But it listed "leather" and other materials on the label and stated that it dries clear. Here is information about the product:
http://www.bing.com/shopping/1-oz-s...tik+n+Seal"&lpf=0&lpq=Stik+n+Seal&FORM=CMSMSP


Thanks for the tip about using empty plastic jugs to shape large bags, good luck with your rehabs!

Love that tote! It's a nice size and shape. It looks a lot like the same quality/style/theme as putty one I have, only this putty is more grey-ish. (or was. still waiting for it to dry.) And thanks for the note about the glue. I need SOMEthing I know will dry clear, so I'll look for that today.

 

[x UHOH X]

A thought struck me re: the strange odor. Has anyone tried to use the Arm & Hammer powder you shake onto carpets and then vacuum, but in a bag? Obviously not a good idea while the bag is damp, but dry, it might work. I thought I'd ask veteran rehabbers before I try it.

 

[CoachVB]

A thought struck me re: the strange odor. Has anyone tried to use the Arm & Hammer powder you shake onto carpets and then vacuum, but in a bag? Obviously not a good idea while the bag is damp, but dry, it might work. I thought I'd ask veteran rehabbers before I try it.

Is it scented?