Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

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#1,336
iyaken said:
The awesome rehab chat is being interrupted by a touch-up message sans pictures. :p

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180844518723 is the silver sophia I got from the bay.. or is it gunmetal? In any case, i haven't done anything. I got my acrylic paints (silver and pewter, so I can blend If I need to), but from what I could see, silver on its own is too light, but without scrutiny, will pass off as a lighting issue. Sorry about the lack of pics.. I'll get around to it, I swear. Still no solution to the silver faded to black on the body - acrylic that I've seen definitely won't work. Silver leaf is too light, though might be better than the spots of black I (barely) see.
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I laughed at your opening sentence because I was just realizing this rehab thread is also a rehab CHAT thread....I am horribly guilty of rambling on.....
I just got a good look at your auction. What a great bag! I know nothing about metallic leather so this is a chance for you to be a pioneer to future rehabbers! There's no acrylic that matches eh? hmmmm....I almost agree with your quip about using nail polish :D We'll have to think on this one.
 
#1,337
4213jen said:
Has anyone ever worked with a snake skin bag? I have one (not Coach), maybe 1960s or 70s that would benefit from a little clean. Just wondered if anyone has any experience with this type of leather
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I have had snakeskin and eelskin, and I just wipe it down with a soft cloth dampened with a little soapy ( dr bronners unscented) water.

Old 100% cottoon teeshirt or flannel jammies turned into rags. Then I wipe with plain water a few times to rinse.

Always wipe in the direction of the scale/skins grain. Then wipe dry, let stand, and polish with another soft dry cloth.

I haven't tried dunking one. I vaccum out the interior and then use baby wipes .

I haven't really tried to condition one either..
 
#1,338
iyaken said:
The awesome rehab chat is being interrupted by a touch-up message sans pictures. :p

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180844518723 is the silver sophia I got from the bay.. or is it gunmetal? In any case, i haven't done anything. I got my acrylic paints (silver and pewter, so I can blend If I need to), but from what I could see, silver on its own is too light, but without scrutiny, will pass off as a lighting issue. Sorry about the lack of pics.. I'll get around to it, I swear. Still no solution to the silver faded to black on the body - acrylic that I've seen definitely won't work. Silver leaf is too light, though might be better than the spots of black I (barely) see.
Click to expand...

Maybe this has already been mentioned, but is that something Coach could possibly repair? I think that is one I would take to the store to ask about at least.
 
#1,339
I was browsing ebay for leigh bags and this great yellow one came up, but it looks like there are water marks on the bottom and the seller says its from a smoking home. Would I be able to clean up these water marks?? I remember when this bag came out when I was in highschool, I REALLY wanted one but didnt have the money!

What do you guys think?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-Yello...505?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item5648007721
 
#1,340
Jessi319 said:
Me too ! LOL...but I'll probably never really stop looking. I agree with you on all you have said. Their value just holds if we care for them. I just started buying Coach bags (mostly vintage) a year ago. Fell in TOTAL LOVE with those old bags!! Now It's vintage, plus the Legacy / Vachetta line from 2006-8. And Bonnie Cashin all the way!!! I rescue any and all that I feel I can improve and pass along so others will use them, instead of them ending up in a landfill.
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It was a year ago that I found this forum, after getting a nice e-mail from Coach about them re-introducing their classic designs. I went to the website, checked out what they had on there, and the prices, and decided that thrift might be the way to go! I searched for some info and found this thread, and it has been bookmarked ever since! I read all of it when I first found it, every page, and fell in love with all of the rehab bags and the way the leather looks after just a bath and some moisture, amazing, my bag and I both feel the same way after a good bath and some good lotion rubbed into our skin! I can't afford to do it all the time, we have other obligations, but when I can, and when it makes sense, I go for it! Right now I am home getting massive amounts of dental work done (5 fillings, 2 extractions, and braces all this week!). My mouth hurts, and I can't really eat, and I loathe tv, so I just keep reading this thread and doing searches for bags and information I was unaware of before. My husband is on a business trip far far away, in a different time zone, and well, I figure having some bags to work on over the next few weeks until he returns will keep me occupied. I bought all those bags for the same price I would have paid for one bag in the store with my trusty $100 off $300 coupon (that I don't have any of now, how I miss those!!), and when I am done I will have a pretty nice collection. I did dark colors first, now I am expanding to lighter colors, then the briefcase that I hope I can figure out a good use for, and next will be brighter colors. Each phase of my plan for my collection is careful, methodical, and financially as savvy as I can make it. But yes, I will probably never stop looking! I even have shelves in our bedroom just for my Coach collection, and a rack behind the door to hang the ones I am not using in their dust bags for protection. I get lots of compliments on my bag collection already, and I have friends that have now started doing the same thing, it makes sense, and it is so much fun!!
 
#1,342
Thanks for your advice

Rambler said:
I have had snakeskin and eelskin, and I just wipe it down with a soft cloth dampened with a little soapy ( dr bronners unscented) water.

Old 100% cottoon teeshirt or flannel jammies turned into rags. Then I wipe with plain water a few times to rinse.

Always wipe in the direction of the scale/skins grain. Then wipe dry, let stand, and polish with another soft dry cloth.

I haven't tried dunking one. I vaccum out the interior and then use baby wipes .

I haven't really tried to condition one either..
Click to expand...
 
#1,343
I washed my yellow leigh and the pictures are earlier in this thread. If I had my time again I might try a saddle soap/ leather surface clean first, although I'm pretty sure it would darken the colour, while dunking it didn't. I used a coloured (stupid) soap on the leather patches near the turn lock and it did darken, although it is gradually lightening again with use.


Louiebabeee said:
I was browsing ebay for leigh bags and this great yellow one came up, but it looks like there are water marks on the bottom and the seller says its from a smoking home. Would I be able to clean up these water marks?? I remember when this bag came out when I was in highschool, I REALLY wanted one but didnt have the money!

What do you guys think?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-Yello...505?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item5648007721
Click to expand...
 
#1,345
4213jen said:
I washed my yellow leigh and the pictures are earlier in this thread. If I had my time again I might try a saddle soap/ leather surface clean first, although I'm pretty sure it would darken the colour, while dunking it didn't. I used a coloured (stupid) soap on the leather patches near the turn lock and it did darken, although it is gradually lightening again with use.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I think for the price I may just pass on this one, esp because it comes from a smoking home which I have heard horro stories about getting the smell out. Maybe some day I will find one that doesnt need a full bath:p
 
#1,346
Louiebabeee said:
I was browsing ebay for leigh bags and this great yellow one came up, but it looks like there are water marks on the bottom and the seller says its from a smoking home. Would I be able to clean up these water marks?? I remember when this bag came out when I was in highschool, I REALLY wanted one but didnt have the money!

What do you guys think?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-Yello...505?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item5648007721
Click to expand...

I think if it were selling for less than $200 I'd consider it. Are you bothered by smoke smells? They are REALLY hard to get out! The pros to this bag, the color is unique and harder to find so if you LOVE the color, your chances of finding it again for a good price under $250 might be hard. The water/stains are possibly treatable. Another Tpfer washed a yellow Leigh and here's what she wrote:

4213jen posted this in the "Coach rehab and rescue club" thread:
Hi ladies, I have just washed my water stained sunflower legacy leigh satchel. I soaked her in cold water until the colour was even and all the water marks had disappeared. I used a gentle soap on the front turn lock leather patch as it was noticeably dirty, and it came up a bit better. Interestingly, all the patina from the corners etc disappeared in the bath also. Anyway, she is now out of the bath and stuffed with white towels and wrapped in a beach towel. How long should I expect it to take for her to dry out? When should I start applying a leather conditioning treatment to get the leather back to soft and lovely again? I am taking pictures as I go along, but will post them all when she is finished. Thanks for your advice

Reading the Rehab thread is a good start. Good luck..
 
#1,348
chowlover2 said:
Your pic almost gave me cardiac arrest, so glad you know what you're doing! I'm glad your Cashin is one tough bag, I can't wait to see how she turns out!
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Thank you, but I actually don't know what I am doing! This is my first Coach Cashin rehab and I took a big chance by giving her a bath, but I'm glad that so far it seems to be working out fine. :sweatdrop:

I wanted to bathe her because she was dirty, dusty, musty, and slightly lopsided, so I decided to trust my luck and this time it worked out!
 
#1,349
Hi,
I'm hoping you can help me with a rehab.
I have a Pocket Purse from 1995 that reeks of perfume and cigarettes that I'd like to try and rehab.

After taking a look around this forum I've decided that giving her a bath in some dish washing liquid and doing the leather conditioning route is the best bet.

Being a newbie though, I do have some questions.

Does it matter what dish washing liquid I use? How long do you keep the bag in the water? There's a stain inside the front pocket from the brass and I'm concerned that it won't come out.

Also, what conditioner should I use? Do I apply it to the whole bag including piping and the inside?

The brass is fairly banged up. Any suggestions on how to rehab the brass?

I'm a true newbie to this which is why I have so many questions. Thank you for all your help on this!
 
#1,350
Rarity said:
Hi,
I'm hoping you can help me with a rehab.
I have a Pocket Purse from 1995 that reeks of perfume and cigarettes that I'd like to try and rehab.

After taking a look around this forum I've decided that giving her a bath in some dish washing liquid and doing the leather conditioning route is the best bet.

Being a newbie though, I do have some questions.

Does it matter what dish washing liquid I use? How long do you keep the bag in the water? There's a stain inside the front pocket from the brass and I'm concerned that it won't come out.

Also, what conditioner should I use? Do I apply it to the whole bag including piping and the inside?

The brass is fairly banged up. Any suggestions on how to rehab the brass?

I'm a true newbie to this which is why I have so many questions. Thank you for all your help on this!
Click to expand...

There's a lot of basic information about rehabbing unlined glove-tanned bags, like your pocket bag, at the link below. Also check out the thread by Momtok, she shows pics of giving her bags a bath.

I usually use Ivory dish soap or woolite to wash my bags. I have heard of using Dawn to remove grease spots but I haven't tried it myself.

I like Leather CPR conditioner, but there are other good conditioners like Apple and Lexol.

You rub it on all the finished leather surfaces and that includes the piping. You don't rub it on the rougher suede interior surfaces.

I like to use Wenol metal polish on hardware but Brass also works well on brass.

Perhaps if you post photos of your bag we could give you more specific advice. Good luck!

http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club-624452-8.html#post18465269

http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/two-70s-80s-made-nyc-bags-going-through-658823.html
 
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