Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[katev]

It probably is. The front flap was so dry that it looked pink compared to the rest! Should I just go ahead and do it now if it's inevitable?

Debi

Sorry, I didn't see your answer right away. You can dunk it again now or wait. If you wait, you might be able to see if there are any other areas that might need work.

Don't worry. I've seen dark spots like that after a dunking and once it dried everything evened out. I've also done a red Willis and it came out beautifully. Just wait and see how it looks once it's dry.

I agree that I have seen dark spots when washing and conditioning a red bag but they were absorbed and faded with time.

I also agree that you might want to let it dry before deciding what to do next to see how it looks, but if it starts to wrinkle while it is drying then go ahead and put conditioner on it to keep it from cracking.

When I have worked on very, very dry bags I have found that pure, refined, filtered Emu oil has worked best for bringing back the supple feeling to the leather. I buy it on ebay. This is what I buy, but the same vendor offers the product in smaller, cheaper quantities if you want to try it out (NMA):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-oz-EMU-O...501?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec26005f5

 

[Tetondeb]

Don't worry. I've seen dark spots like that after a dunking and once it dried everything evened out. I've also done a red Willis and it came out beautifully. Just wait and see how it looks once it's dry.

Just looked at it this am. ..I think there are parts of the strap and front that will crack if I dunk them again

 

[katev]

Just looked at it this am. ..I think there are parts of the strap and front that will crack if I dunk them again

If it looks like it might crack put some conditioner on it right away and put some more on tomorrow! Here is some information on conditioners:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club-624452-364.html#post22666648

 

[Jessi319]

I read somewhere on this forum that a mixture of baking soda and vinegar would also clean brass; is that correct? If so, does anyone know the proportions?

Just make it a watery paste consistency, a little less thick than toothpaste.

 

[Jessi319]

I've recently learned some valuable lessons about desperately dry bags. My rehab "best friend" has become Leather Therapy restorer conditioner oil. I have a Musette type Carrier bag that was just shy of dry rot! I'll post photos soon. I patiently put a layer of the Leather therapy on every day, just one application, for like two weeks straight...keep in mind this bag was DRY, dryer than most bags you'll ever find. I also put a few days worth of Lexol conditioner on it too, but with Lexol -you have to be careful with, because if it doesn't absorb fully, it will leave a white-ish residue, but I used it because it's thin, more watery, and from what I'm learning, you need to get quick absorption initially when dealing with the first conditioning efforts on a dry bag. So Apple, or Lexol, or a conditioning oil if needed. This needed the oil. The Therapy oil does darken the bag a little, which to me looks wonderful and rich. But usually it is near to what the bag's color was supposed to be. I didn't even consider Leather CPR because it is THICK, and would make the bag SEEM GORGEOUS and conditioned on the outside, but wouldn't have penetrated DEEPLY into the fibers of the leather. It's also ok to gently warm your bag and the freshly applied conditioner with a hair dryer and rub it in for great quick absorption. So, after 2 weeks of leather therapy oil with a little Lexol towards the last few days, I then switched to Obenaufs and some Black Rocks. I am still working on this bag here and there between my other projects. I am taking extra care with it because it is for my sister who instantly coveted my Musette and wanted something like it for herself. Sorry for the LOONG reply here. Here's what the Leather Therapy looks like:http://www.amazon.com/Unicorn-Leather-Therapy-Restorer/dp/B002HNXVIG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_2


OH! and new Product alert: Tandy has a glue called Leather Weld. This Carrier bag had an entire panel inside that had come loose/unglued. It seems to have been a great choice for fixing this problem but time will tell. So far, so good. here's what it looks like: http://www.amazon.com/Tandy-Leather...41&sr=8-1&keywords=tandy+eco+flo+leather+weld

 

[Tetondeb]

If it looks like it might crack put some conditioner on it right away and put some more on tomorrow! Here is some information on conditioners:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club-624452-364.html#post22666648

Thanks! I live in the Rockies and it's DRY! I went ahead and soaked the strap and some of the trim in Lexol. The strap looks like a microscope view of a hair shaft! I think this bag will be completely dry by tonight. I have it down in the basement for the most humidity, but that's still probably only 10%!

 

[katev]

Thanks! I live in the Rockies and it's DRY! I went ahead and soaked the strap and some of the trim in Lexol. The strap looks like a microscope view of a hair shaft! I think this bag will be completely dry by tonight. I have it down in the basement for the most humidity, but that's still probably only 10%!

Lexol is a light conditioner and it is better than nothing but it sounds like your bag needs some heavy-duty treatment like therapy oil and/or emu oil. Keep using lexol if that is what you have on hand but try and get something more intensive soon. Are there any equestrian, horse-riding, tack shops near you? They often have a nice selection of leather care products.

Once it cracks the damage is done and there is no way to uncrack it! All you can do is try leather filler to repair the cracks and that is not ideal. That bag needs intensive care quickly!

 

[Tetondeb]

Are there any equestrian, horse-riding, tack shops near you?

Well. .. To answer that. .. This is a common sight here lol! I'll go to a tack store today!

 

[ladyraven65]

I've recently learned some valuable lessons about desperately dry bags. My rehab "best friend" has become Leather Therapy restorer conditioner oil. I have a Musette type Carrier bag that was just shy of dry rot! I'll post photos soon. I patiently put a layer of the Leather therapy on every day, just one application, for like two weeks straight...keep in mind this bag was DRY, dryer than most bags you'll ever find. I also put a few days worth of Lexol conditioner on it too, but with Lexol -you have to be careful with, because if it doesn't absorb fully, it will leave a white-ish residue, but I used it because it's thin, more watery, and from what I'm learning, you need to get quick absorption initially when dealing with the first conditioning efforts on a dry bag. So Apple, or Lexol, or a conditioning oil if needed. This needed the oil. The Therapy oil does darken the bag a little, which to me looks wonderful and rich. But usually it is near to what the bag's color was supposed to be. I didn't even consider Leather CPR because it is THICK, and would make the bag SEEM GORGEOUS and conditioned on the outside, but wouldn't have penetrated DEEPLY into the fibers of the leather. It's also ok to gently warm your bag and the freshly applied conditioner with a hair dryer and rub it in for great quick absorption. So, after 2 weeks of leather therapy oil with a little Lexol towards the last few days, I then switched to Obenaufs and some Black Rocks. I am still working on this bag here and there between my other projects. I am taking extra care with it because it is for my sister who instantly coveted my Musette and wanted something like it for herself. Sorry for the LOONG reply here. Here's what the Leather Therapy looks like:http://www.amazon.com/Unicorn-Leather-Therapy-Restorer/dp/B002HNXVIG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_2


OH! and new Product alert: Tandy has a glue called Leather Weld. This Carrier bag had an entire panel inside that had come loose/unglued. It seems to have been a great choice for fixing this problem but time will tell. So far, so good. here's what it looks like: http://www.amazon.com/Tandy-Leather...41&sr=8-1&keywords=tandy+eco+flo+leather+weld

Sounds like you're doing an excellent job! Do you have any pics so far?

 

[Tetondeb]

I've recently learned some valuable lessons about desperately dry bags. My rehab "best friend" has become Leather Therapy restorer conditioner oil. I have a Musette type Carrier bag that was just shy of dry rot! I'll post photos soon. I patiently put a layer of the Leather therapy on every day, just one application, for like two weeks straight...keep in mind this bag was DRY, dryer than most bags you'll ever find. I also put a few days worth of Lexol conditioner on it too, but with Lexol -you have to be careful with, because if it doesn't absorb fully, it will leave a white-ish residue, but I used it because it's thin, more watery, and from what I'm learning, you need to get quick absorption initially when dealing with the first conditioning efforts on a dry bag. So Apple, or Lexol, or a conditioning oil if needed. This needed the oil. The Therapy oil does darken the bag a little, which to me looks wonderful and rich. But usually it is near to what the bag's color was supposed to be. I didn't even consider Leather CPR because it is THICK, and would make the bag SEEM GORGEOUS and conditioned on the outside, but wouldn't have penetrated DEEPLY into the fibers of the leather. It's also ok to gently warm your bag and the freshly applied conditioner with a hair dryer and rub it in for great quick absorption. So, after 2 weeks of leather therapy oil with a little Lexol towards the last few days, I then switched to Obenaufs and some Black Rocks. I am still working on this bag here and there between my other projects. I am taking extra care with it because it is for my sister who instantly coveted my Musette and wanted something like it for herself. Sorry for the LOONG reply here. Here's what the Leather Therapy looks like:http://www.amazon.com/Unicorn-Leather-Therapy-Restorer/dp/B002HNXVIG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_2


OH! and new Product alert: Tandy has a glue called Leather Weld. This Carrier bag had an entire panel inside that had come loose/unglued. It seems to have been a great choice for fixing this problem but time will tell. So far, so good. here's what it looks like: http://www.amazon.com/Tandy-Leather...41&sr=8-1&keywords=tandy+eco+flo+leather+weld

So would you say the leather therapy then something like black rocks as a finisher? This thread has a lot of info but I haven't been able to tell who uses what at what point!

 

[Tetondeb]

Here is the front flap and strap after one coat of Lexol. The dark spots are disappearing even as I type! I've also included the worst spots. Poor little dinky! Headed to the tack shop!

 

[Jessi319]

Sounds like you're doing an excellent job! Do you have any pics so far?

I have my before shots, and will soon get some "afters" going. This bag went from seeming to be a lighter tan color like my Musette, to being actually an espresso brown. I couldn't believe dryness could lead to such color loss!!

 

[ladyraven65]

I have my before shots, and will soon get some "afters" going. This bag went from seeming to be a lighter tan color like my Musette, to being actually an espresso brown. I couldn't believe dryness could lead to such color loss!!

Can't wait to see! It is incredible how much the color can change when the leather is conditioned. I had that happen with a Stewardess that looked almost pale gray and ended up rich chocolate brown when I was dome rehabbing her.

 

[katev]

Are there any equestrian, horse-riding, tack shops near you?

Well. .. To answer that. .. This is a common sight here lol! I'll go to a tack store today!

I figured that when you said "Rockies" that a tack shop was a good bet! Try and avoid products that contain silicone. We usually avoid products that contain wax unless it is a needy rehab. Black rocks has wax and it works wonders on bags with uneven coloration. Hold off using it on a red bag until you see how it responds to other products. Red is tricky! Leather Therapy Restorer is a good product, see link below. It has a persistent odor but it is not unpleasant and fades somewhat over time. http://www.leathertherapy.com/equestrian-restorer-conditioner/

 

[AggieK]

Thanks! I live in the Rockies and it's DRY! I went ahead and soaked the strap and some of the trim in Lexol. The strap looks like a microscope view of a hair shaft! I think this bag will be completely dry by tonight. I have it down in the basement for the most humidity, but that's still probably only 10%!

I live in a desert and I've been using the instructions here and I put Lexol on when the bag is still damp, maybe several coats,then later Blackrocks. Sometimes more than one coat of Blackrocks. It's kind of like petroleum jelly.

To slow down the drying I also lay a towel across it, making its own microclimate under the towel. This might be helping only in my mind, though.