Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[Hegerberg]

Beautiful bag! If the stain does not lighten enough for you, you may want to mix some matching acrylic paint with conditioner and very conservatively 'paint' over the stain. You don't need to cover it perfectly - just blending the discoloration into the surrounding leather will help immensely. You just want to keep the eye from stopping on that mark I have a camel Willis that I touched up with Folk Art paint mixed with Leather Milk. It does change the texture if the leather so use as little as possible. Others here have more experience than I do using acrylic so you may want to search through old threads. Good luck!

I might have to try that, thanks! The bag is now dry and the spot is definitely still visible. It doesn’t bother me enough to not carry it, but would be nice to make it a bit less obvious.

 

[whateve]

Hello all! Thank you for all the great information! I'll be sure to try the cornstarch method. Was looking for information on Skidmore's versus Blackrocks. Are they the same? What would you use them for? I have a very old saddle bag in British tan and the color is faded. I dunked it and it came out fine but I wonder which product would be the best to get back the nice tan color? Thank you!

Skidmores and Blackrocks aren't the same. I've used Skidmores and liked it but I would still use Blackrocks for the final coat. Blackrocks gives it a glow that no other conditioner does. Make sure you use a moisturizing conditioner first. You'll want to get all the moisture back into the leather before you seal it with a waxy product like Skidmores or Blackrocks.

 

[SEWDimples]

Applied Blackrock to the piping on my 1941 crossbody space pouch, and it looks almost as good as new - after a year of being tossed around in every single one of my bags I wanted to spruce it up because I'm retiring it as an SLG and I'm now gonna use it as a crossbody/belt bag!

Slightly off-topic, but I also used Blackrock on the worn corners of a pre-owned Loewe bag and it also was miraculous. Thank you for this wonderful tip, lovely TPFers on this thread!

It looks almost new.

 

[Jacynthe]

Skidmores and Blackrocks aren't the same. I've used Skidmores and liked it but I would still use Blackrocks for the final coat. Blackrocks gives it a glow that no other conditioner does. Make sure you use a moisturizing conditioner first. You'll want to get all the moisture back into the leather before you seal it with a waxy product like Skidmores or Blackrocks.

Thank you Whateve! Are you able to advise on a moisturizing conditioner? I'd like to learn about the proper care of leather on vintage Coach bags. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!

 

[bellebellebelle19]

They look great. Can you post a pic of the blackrock you used. Thanks

It's this one!

 

[karina_g]

It's this one!

Thank you [emoji4]

 

[whateve]

Thank you Whateve! Are you able to advise on a moisturizing conditioner? I'd like to learn about the proper care of leather on vintage Coach bags. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!

My favorite all purpose leather moisturizer is Leather CPR.

 

[bellebellebelle19]

My favorite all purpose leather moisturizer is Leather CPR.

Agreed with this! It softens up any and every of my bags quite nicely My boyfriend stole mine and is using it on his beloved loafers

 

[Cyanide Rose]

I have a few questions, if that’s ok. I have several bags that are vintage but look brand new. Is dunking the only way to get them back their original shape? They are squashed, with the bottom hanging down. I have only actually dunked a couple newer bags because I didn’t have blackrocks yet. The website site was out of the kits with the brush, so I finally just went and ordered it from amazon. Where did you find the brush for after using the blackrocks or do you use something different? Also how do you know when you have used enough leather cpr to then go to the blackrocks? The newer bags I dunked were still pretty shiny and I dunked them mainly to remove the storage locker smell.

Also did you have better luck with putting blackrocks on with a cloth or your fingers. I have no idea why I’m so worried about using the blackrocks, but I want to do it correctly. Also because it is considered a bit of a protectant, I was wondering if anyone has used it on lambskin. I have a few vintage siso weave bags I think would benefit from it if it can be used on them. Thanks so much for your assistance and your information.

 

[whateve]

I have a few questions, if that’s ok. I have several bags that are vintage but look brand new. Is dunking the only way to get them back their original shape? They are squashed, with the bottom hanging down. I have only actually dunked a couple newer bags because I didn’t have blackrocks yet. The website site was out of the kits with the brush, so I finally just went and ordered it from amazon. Where did you find the brush for after using the blackrocks or do you use something different? Also how do you know when you have used enough leather cpr to then go to the blackrocks? The newer bags I dunked were still pretty shiny and I dunked them mainly to remove the storage locker smell.

Also did you have better luck with putting blackrocks on with a cloth or your fingers. I have no idea why I’m so worried about using the blackrocks, but I want to do it correctly. Also because it is considered a bit of a protectant, I was wondering if anyone has used it on lambskin. I have a few vintage siso weave bags I think would benefit from it if it can be used on them. Thanks so much for your assistance and your information.

I have never seen Blackrocks with a brush. I apply it with my fingers. You have to use it sparingly or it will get sticky. After you put it on a section, take a paper towel and buff off as much as you can.

You'll know when you've used enough cpr because the bag will stop soaking it up. A bag that is really dry will look darker when you put on the cpr until it soaks in. When you put it on and it doesn't look darker and doesn't seem to soak in, then it is time to stop.

I don't like to use Blackrocks on lambskin. My experience with lambskin is that it is susceptible to darkening, perhaps unevenly, with most conditioners. So I only use Saphir creme delicate on lambskin.

If you don't want to dunk, you can stuff a bag and hang it in a steamy hot bathroom after a shower, or use warm towels fresh from the dryer. You can also use a hairdryer or iron (with a press cloth). If the bottom of a bag is stretched out, it is nearly impossible to get it back to the way it was.

 

[Catbird9]

I have a few questions, if that’s ok. I have several bags that are vintage but look brand new. Is dunking the only way to get them back their original shape? They are squashed, with the bottom hanging down. I have only actually dunked a couple newer bags because I didn’t have blackrocks yet. The website site was out of the kits with the brush, so I finally just went and ordered it from amazon. Where did you find the brush for after using the blackrocks or do you use something different? Also how do you know when you have used enough leather cpr to then go to the blackrocks? The newer bags I dunked were still pretty shiny and I dunked them mainly to remove the storage locker smell.

Also did you have better luck with putting blackrocks on with a cloth or your fingers. I have no idea why I’m so worried about using the blackrocks, but I want to do it correctly. Also because it is considered a bit of a protectant, I was wondering if anyone has used it on lambskin. I have a few vintage siso weave bags I think would benefit from it if it can be used on them. Thanks so much for your assistance and your information.

I apply Blackrock with my fingers. I usually dip a fingertip and thumb into the jar and then rub them together to distribute it across the tips of all the fingers, then rub on the bag, starting with the piping and working my way around, going back to the jar for more as needed.

The brush I use to buff the bag after the Blackrock dries:



I found mine at a thrift store but you can find them on eBay, etc. too. Search for "horsehair shoe brush."

 

[Cyanide Rose]

I have never seen Blackrocks with a brush. I apply it with my fingers. You have to use it sparingly or it will get sticky. After you put it on a section, take a paper towel and buff off as much as you can.

You'll know when you've used enough cpr because the bag will stop soaking it up. A bag that is really dry will look darker when you put on the cpr until it soaks in. When you put it on and it doesn't look darker and doesn't seem to soak in, then it is time to stop.

I don't like to use Blackrocks on lambskin. My experience with lambskin is that it is susceptible to darkening, perhaps unevenly, with most conditioners. So I only use Saphir creme delicate on lambskin.

If you don't want to dunk, you can stuff a bag and hang it in a steamy hot bathroom after a shower, or use warm towels fresh from the dryer. You can also use a hairdryer or iron (with a press cloth). If the bottom of a bag is stretched out, it is nearly impossible to get it back to the way it was.

I apply Blackrock with my fingers. I usually dip a fingertip and thumb into the jar and then rub them together to distribute it across the tips of all the fingers, then rub on the bag, starting with the piping and working my way around, going back to the jar for more as needed.

The brush I use to buff the bag after the Blackrock dries:

View attachment 4291897

I found mine at a thrift store but you can find them on eBay, etc. too. Search for "horsehair shoe brush."

That’s just the information I needed. I really appreciate all the help I get from here. Thanks so much, this really helped me tremendously [emoji4]

 

[katev]

If anyone needs a black and brass strap for a Bleecker Legacy Flap Bag there is one on sale on Mercari for $9. They must have cut it off the bag because one end of the strap was non-removable.

https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m43825996534/

 

[katev]

Here's a light green, pearlized, nappa leather 6106 bag made in Italy for $32 free shipping. It is very small and appears to be missing the hangtag. The interior may be suede? It looks okay to me but I am not an authenticator.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-Bag-Small-Soft-Very-Light-Green-Crossbody-Made-In-Italy-Stamped/292739188228?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

[Lake Effect]

Style 9058. I've been using Saphir products for my rehabs along with Black Rocks. For this rehab, after dunking, I mixed a couple of drops of Saphir recolorant in with the Saphir conditioner to cover up the scratches and scrape marks. Then finished with Black Rocks and buffing. View attachment 3601242

Hi everyone, I've been loving all the rehabs posted here and the tips being shared.

I wanted to also share my before and after photos for a 1998 Fletcher bag I had authenticated before. So far it's the only vintage I've found at Goodwill but I'll still keep looking!

Before: The bag was not exactly black, but I couldn't tell what colour it was supposed to be. Also it was all squished up and extremely scratched up.

After: First dunked the bag and let it dry. Then I used several coats of Cadillac till I read up here about Leather CPR and Blackrocks, which I used 2 coats and 1 coat of respectively. Any thoughts or comments are welcome!

I had bought a black Plaza bag online when I started rehabbing a few years ago. It looked slightly faded in the seller’s pics, but otherwise in very good condition. I had hopes conditioning would restore the color. I dunked it and conditioned it and also used Obenauf’s Oil, hoping it would bring back or enhance the color. No luck. And it was a universal fading, as it also looked faded under flap and inside the rear pocket. I saw the post above and several posts by that member on Saphir products. I found what info I could from Amazon and the Hanger Project. I used the Juvacuir Recolorant in black and was very pleased with the result. I got a rich pigmented color, no weird texture or tackiness on the leather and no transfer. With shipping, it wasn’t exactly cheap, but there was no guesswork. And I used on a Pocket Bag as well. And I have a Patti with faded edges I will get to some day.

I’m doing my first rehab today, of a pretty red Willis. I got it fairly cheap so I’m feeling brave enough to try to rehab. She’s been dunked and is now drying and awaiting conditioning. My sink looked like something out of a horror film! I’m hoping the black stain on the front will be a bit less noticeable—it looks to be fainter now, but I’ll be curious to see how it looks once the leather is dry again.

I thought , little scarf tied on that side would work nicely. And then I realized, I have stalled out with a lighter neutral Court bag, possibly putty, with small stains in the same area that I just did not know what to do with. Lol, then the light bulb goes on, a little scarf! It took looking at your bag to figure out my solution
ETA, I’ll post the link for above post, for the Saphir, since it is a ways back. You can also search for that member’s posts.