Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[JOODLZ]

What a beautiful little bag, congrats!

That's an amazing find and a beautiful rehab, congratulations!

Thanks! I'm real happy with my results. Considering the MSRP on the rose bag was $398, I'm really pleased to have it as an amazing summer bag.

 

[coach943]

My jaw nearly dropped to the floor when I found this at Goodwill - outside the glass case - for $6.99! Hyacinth authenticated her as a Legacy Leather Shoulder bag #10328 from 2006. She was pretty limp and had a fair amount of wear outside and several ink spots on the legacy stripe lining. Alas, no hangtag, but so pretty in pink, I figured I could make some improvements. Before pics are here: http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-818914-60.html#post24781869

I brushed out the lining with a dry toothbrush and cleaned the brass rivets and zippers with a mixture of vinegar and salt. I didn’t want to mess with chemical brass cleaner next to pink leather...call me chicken. Then she got a sudsy, warm bath and soak in Dawn. I used Soilove on the ink spots on the lining and on the outside bottom, gently scrubbing with a toothbrush. The lining came clean, with one small spot remaining. I guess that spot may have just been older than the others, or a different kind of ink. The leather on the bottom improved, but still has issues...who sees that, anyway? Stuffed her to dry, then while still a little damp did Leather CPR 2X. Finished her with Blackrocks, which I had hoped would deepen the color. It didn’t, but gave the leather a really nice glow. Buffed with a microfiber cloth and I’m done and couldn’t be any happier!

What a fantastic find! Great job with the rehab. I love it.

 

[whateve]

At $14.99 and in excellent condition, I knew this would be easy, just needed some attention to the bottom piping which had surface issues, and an interior cleaning. Hyacinth authenticated her as a 2002 Legacy West Small Zoe Hobo #9342. Before pics are here: http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-818914-60.html#post24781838

There was lots of “makeup dust” embedded in the lining so I scrubbed it with a dry toothbrush. Then she got the usual sudsy Dawn bath. The leather was in such great condition I only applied Leather CPR one time, as I didn’t want her to get slouchy again. Blackrocks really gave the leather a nice lustre. I gave the piping a second application of Blackrocks, and after buffing looks brand new! Oh yeah...did I mention - again - how much I LOVE nickel hardware?

It came out nice. I feel the same about nickel hardware. It is so pretty. Plus the added benefit of not having to polish it like the brass!

 

[whateve]

My jaw nearly dropped to the floor when I found this at Goodwill - outside the glass case - for $6.99! Hyacinth authenticated her as a Legacy Leather Shoulder bag #10328 from 2006. She was pretty limp and had a fair amount of wear outside and several ink spots on the legacy stripe lining. Alas, no hangtag, but so pretty in pink, I figured I could make some improvements. Before pics are here: http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-818914-60.html#post24781869

I brushed out the lining with a dry toothbrush and cleaned the brass rivets and zippers with a mixture of vinegar and salt. I didn’t want to mess with chemical brass cleaner next to pink leather...call me chicken. Then she got a sudsy, warm bath and soak in Dawn. I used Soilove on the ink spots on the lining and on the outside bottom, gently scrubbing with a toothbrush. The lining came clean, with one small spot remaining. I guess that spot may have just been older than the others, or a different kind of ink. The leather on the bottom improved, but still has issues...who sees that, anyway? Stuffed her to dry, then while still a little damp did Leather CPR 2X. Finished her with Blackrocks, which I had hoped would deepen the color. It didn’t, but gave the leather a really nice glow. Buffed with a microfiber cloth and I’m done and couldn’t be any happier!

Amazing! I wonder how Goodwill missed this one! She looks beautiful!

 

[socmoe]

I finally started working on the red Madison Bristol Dome Satchel 4412 (Italy, 1996) that I got on Craigslist for $30 a few month ago.The bag is much dirtier than it appears in the authentication pics at the link below. There is grime ground into the pebbled leather in many areas and the lining has spots and some dried, gunky stuff like candy on it.

I wanted to give it a bath but I was afraid to dunk a red Italian leather bag - so I decided to do a little experiment! I dunked the hangtag in warm water and Dawn and scrubbed it with a toothbrush and it didn't lose any red color! That made me brave enough to give the bag a sink bath and scrub the worst areas, but it was still too dirty - so I bagged it up and cycled it through the washer!

It is looking a lot better now but it still needs work. Here are few pics of "the test" and of my workbench, including the black Madison Envelope Clutch, style 4478 (Italy 1995) that I am also currently rehabbing.

http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-763164-498.html#post24168516

Gorgeous...as always, thanks for sharing your great ideas and tips, Katev!

 

[katev]

I'm glad you were brave enough to dunk this beauty! I've always stayed away from Madisons if they weren't in perfect condition because I didn't think they could be dunked. I still would hesitate with the stiffer styles, like Gracie and Carlyle. I have Sutton satchel that is clean but could do with a little reshaping. I don't know if I'll be brave enough to dunk though. I'm looking forward to seeing the final results.

Thanks! If this one works out I would feel brave enough to try dunking and reshaping a more structured bag, like a Gracie or Carlyle.

 

[whateve]

Thanks! If this one works out I would feel brave enough to try dunking and reshaping a more structured bag, like a Gracie or Carlyle.

I wonder what they use in these to stiffen them. I figure it is probably leather, but there is a slim chance that it is cardboard or something that will soften if it gets wet. I know some people had trouble with briefcase handles softening from a bath - not me though.

 

[netlawyer]

The deglazer bottle says it is ethyl acetate. Nail polish removers will typically contain acetone, which if I am remembering my organic chemistry, is not quite the same thing. I just looked at my nail polish remover, and it has several other ingredients in it also.

I also read something similar about the resolene. I haven't yet decided how I'm going to apply it. I had also planned to do a dry run on a bag I didn't really care about, but I decided to go for it on the Stewardess on impulse. The bag had several stains that didn't come out during the wash, and the color was much worse in real life than I had expected when I purchased it. I'd definitely recommend a trial run. When you apply the dye, be sure to use gloves. It is very messy. I got a little on my finger just opening the bottle, and it was difficult to get off. I applied with an old rag, which worked pretty well.

I've also had mixed results with ink. I've been using rubbing alcohol. I think it depends on the type of ink and how big the stain is. I've gotten several pen marks off by wiping down with rubbing alcohol before I washed then again during the wash. I had one bag with a huge ink stain on the bottom that I worked on before the wash using cotton balls and rubbing alcohol, then dunked it and kept working on it. I got the stain to lighten up significantly. There was another smaller ink stain on the side of the bag, however, that wouldn't budge. It's my badly cat scratched bag (which is actually looking better and I'm starting to really like it), so I'm not sure what I'm going to ultimately do with it.

I have another bag that I'm almost finished with that had a dark, old ink stain on the bottom. I couldn't get the ink stain to come out at all. I painted over it using EdgeKote mixed with conditioner, then have been applying conditioner over the top of it. It looks great. You can barely tell where the ink stain was. I'll post pictures when I finish it.

On vintage leather bags, I use denatured alcohol (which you get from a hardware store) rather than rubbing alcohol to remove surface ink - denatured alcohol contains ethanol which is a stronger solvent than isopropyl alcohol (which is usually diluted for sale) and it evaporates more cleanly. Before the bag goes in the bath, I saturate the ink mark with alcohol and blot the spot with a towel making sure to always use a clean part of the towel to avoid retransferring the ink. It is important not to rub the spot, you run the risk of color loss if you rub dampened leather regardless of what solvent you are using. Once I have blotted off the ink, I will usually saturate the section of the bag I was working on with alcohol to avoid "edges" around the old ink spot. Then the bag goes in the bath.

If the ink is below the surface - I will actually pour the alcohol into the bag and position the bag so that the alcohol soaks the back side of the ink and drips through the leather. Once the alcohol is dripped through and the spot is completely saturated, I will blot as much of the stain as I can. Then I'll make a paste of alcohol and diatomaceous earth, put it on the spot and leave it to dry. The DE pulls the ink out of the surface of the bag as it dries. In many cases, this technique is the only way I can get ink that has bled through the inside of the bag out of the surface, but I try to only do this on bags I can redye if it ends up taking the dye out of the leather along with the ink.

Spot test any bags before you try this - I've had the denatured alcohol take the dye out of newer bags (post-2000) faster than the ink.

 

[coach943]

On vintage leather bags, I use denatured alcohol (which you get from a hardware store) rather than rubbing alcohol to remove surface ink - denatured alcohol contains ethanol which is a stronger solvent than isopropyl alcohol (which is usually diluted for sale) and it evaporates more cleanly. Before the bag goes in the bath, I saturate the ink mark with alcohol and blot the spot with a towel making sure to always use a clean part of the towel to avoid retransferring the ink. It is important not to rub the spot, you run the risk of color loss if you rub dampened leather regardless of what solvent you are using. Once I have blotted off the ink, I will usually saturate the section of the bag I was working on with alcohol to avoid "edges" around the old ink spot. Then the bag goes in the bath.

If the ink is below the surface - I will actually pour the alcohol into the bag and position the bag so that the alcohol soaks the back side of the ink and drips through the leather. Once the alcohol is dripped through and the spot is completely saturated, I will blot as much of the stain as I can. Then I'll make a paste of alcohol and diatomaceous earth, put it on the spot and leave it to dry. The DE pulls the ink out of the surface of the bag as it dries. In many cases, this technique is the only way I can get ink that has bled through the inside of the bag out of the surface, but I try to only do this on bags I can redye if it ends up taking the dye out of the leather along with the ink.

Spot test any bags before you try this - I've had the denatured alcohol take the dye out of newer bags (post-2000) faster than the ink.

These are fantastic tips. I'm going to try this next time. Thanks!

 

[thriftaholic]

ohmigosh! katev's red bag is beautifuuuuuullllll! does it have a lining? that's just really pretty!

 

[whateve]

ohmigosh! katev's red bag is beautifuuuuuullllll! does it have a lining? that's just really pretty!

Yes it does have a lining. It is part of the Madison collection from the 90's. The whole collection is gorgeous and really elegant.

 

[netlawyer]

I finally started working on the red Madison Bristol Dome Satchel 4412 (Italy, 1996) that I got on Craigslist for $30 a few month ago.The bag is much dirtier than it appears in the authentication pics at the link below. There is grime ground into the pebbled leather in many areas and the lining has spots and some dried, gunky stuff like candy on it.

I wanted to give it a bath but I was afraid to dunk a red Italian leather bag - so I decided to do a little experiment! I dunked the hangtag in warm water and Dawn and scrubbed it with a toothbrush and it didn't lose any red color! That made me brave enough to give the bag a sink bath and scrub the worst areas, but it was still too dirty - so I bagged it up and cycled it through the washer!

It is looking a lot better now but it still needs work. Here are few pics of "the test" and of my workbench, including the black Madison Envelope Clutch, style 4478 (Italy 1995) that I am also currently rehabbing.

http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-763164-498.html#post24168516

Amazing outcome. I just got a Madison Regis that is so sad, there is nothing to lose by giving it a bath.

 

[katev]

I finally started working on the red Madison Bristol Dome Satchel 4412 (Italy, 1996) that I got on Craigslist ...

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L...and red too. Good luck...can't wait to see your always amazing results!

Gorgeous...as always, thanks for sharing your great ideas and tips, Katev!

I wonder what they use in these to stiffen them. I figure it is probably leather, but there is a slim chance that it is cardboard or something that will soften if it gets wet. I know some people had trouble with briefcase handles softening from a bath - not me though.

ohmigosh! katev's red bag is beautifuuuuuullllll! does it have a lining? that's just really pretty!

Yes it does have a lining. It is part of the Madison collection from the 90's. The whole collection is gorgeous and really elegant.

Thanks! So far so good, I really hope I am successful at rehabbing this pretty red bag!

 

[JOODLZ]

What a fantastic find! Great job with the rehab. I love it.

It came out nice. I feel the same about nickel hardware. It is so pretty. Plus the added benefit of not having to polish it like the brass!

Amazing! I wonder how Goodwill missed this one! She looks beautiful!

Thanks for the kind words! I figure the rose bag slipped through because the hangtags were missing...and hopefully the brass replacements I requested from Jax will arrive soon!

 

[whateve]

I just had to share this. I just started working on this Plaza Court. It wasn't a style that was on my radar but now that she is drying, I think she is adorable. She's smiling! She looks like a pregnant Court! She looks two-tone because she isn't dry yet. She is quite a bit bigger than her sister.