Thanks. Give it a go it's great fun. I included the link to a tutorial on a later post.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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Honestly, I think most of them wouldn't mind helping out with brass - all you have to do is askVERY nice job! LOL a convertible clutch like that was my first rehab job too but yours is in so much better shape AND you have a ace in the hole with a husband who polishes brass!
But in some reason we rarely do that, or don't do at all. And I've been admiring his work so loudly, he'll happily do it again LOL!
OK Girls..Here goes AAAARRRRRGGGGHH!!! ..That's me weeping & wailing today.
I just spent days washing, conditioning & pampering a bag that turned out gorgeous..only to decide last minute to 'gild the lily' and put a coat of Leather Honey on it.
It instantly pulled dark spots out of the leather that heretofore was not apparent.
DANG! What made me even madder was the fact this is not the first time this has happened (slow learner) So..In all seriousness..anybody not experienced with Leather Honey..Beware. It states on the label it can make defects look worse, but, since there were none I thought I was in the clear. (sigh)
Leather Honey can be terrifying - but when it dries - in my experience - the darkening DOES go away. She may be OK after all. There are some scare-stories on the Rebecca Minkoff thread (including one of mine) - and all ended well
That cow's been dead a long time, I'm sure it has to do with how it was stored. The leather smell might still come back with some conditioning, it depends.
Leather Honey can be terrifying - but when it dries - in my experience - the darkening DOES go away. She may be OK after all. There are some scare-stories on the Rebecca Minkoff thread (including one of mine) - and all ended well
Sadly the dark spots did not go away. I think it could have been ink (stamp maybe?) on the hide and the Leather Honey pulled it up to the surface. The small spot on the bottom can be seen all the way through..inside & out. Still very unhappy about it
Thanks for the encouragement tho!
I was thrilled to find that Goodwill had marked this black Buckle bag down from $19.99 to $12.99. It was there when I bought the brown one, but I passed...the first time around! I knew there were a couple of small ink spots visible on the inside near the bottom of the front side. No biggie, or so I thought. Before pics are here: http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-855067-41.html#post26287697
I have had a little success with taking out certain kinds of ink (what kind, who knows?) by simply using warmer than normal bath water. Luckily I had success again, after a bath and two, extra-warm soaking rinses. I did a lot of blotting with paper towels. Then, with the bag inside out, I rolled the bottom edge of the bag, pushing down against the bottom of the kitchen sink. Plumes of ink flumed out! (I wish I could have taped my iPhone to my forehead and made a video, but this silly little graphic will have to suffice lol!) I kept going until no more ink came out. I blotted again with paper towels and got nothing...YAY! Stuffed with towels and waited for her to dry. (Probably could have stuffed a little more to smooth out the back where it's a little wavy.) Leather CPR 2X while still damp, a day apart, and 2 rounds of Blackrocks, again a day apart. Buffed with horsehair blend brush.
Ive still been pondering how to re-engineer the liner I made for my brown buckle bag. I tried it in this black one and it fit entirely differently! Here it fits snugly under the magnetic strap and stays put very well. Interesting that theyre the same syle number, but slightly different sizes. Brown one came from Costa Rica, the black one from Dominican Republic. Now Ill make a slightly taller one for the brown one and be done with it.
I have had a little success with taking out certain kinds of ink (what kind, who knows?) by simply using warmer than normal bath water. Luckily I had success again, after a bath and two, extra-warm soaking rinses. I did a lot of blotting with paper towels. Then, with the bag inside out, I rolled the bottom edge of the bag, pushing down against the bottom of the kitchen sink. Plumes of ink flumed out! (I wish I could have taped my iPhone to my forehead and made a video, but this silly little graphic will have to suffice lol!) I kept going until no more ink came out. I blotted again with paper towels and got nothing...YAY! Stuffed with towels and waited for her to dry. (Probably could have stuffed a little more to smooth out the back where it's a little wavy.) Leather CPR 2X while still damp, a day apart, and 2 rounds of Blackrocks, again a day apart. Buffed with horsehair blend brush.
Ive still been pondering how to re-engineer the liner I made for my brown buckle bag. I tried it in this black one and it fit entirely differently! Here it fits snugly under the magnetic strap and stays put very well. Interesting that theyre the same syle number, but slightly different sizes. Brown one came from Costa Rica, the black one from Dominican Republic. Now Ill make a slightly taller one for the brown one and be done with it.
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The fabric on this Mini Signature Skinny Wristlet #6319 was just dirty, but the leather trim, strap and hangtag were in good condition. The inside was very clean too. Before pics are here, but shot indoors, so colors are a little warmer than outside afters. http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-855067-56.html#post26321760
Soilove is my go-too fabric cleaner and it worked wonders here too. Repeated applications while gently scrubbing with a toothbrush while in the bath does an amazing job. Remember to rinse well if you use Soilove...its super soapy. BTW works really well taking ink out of fabric linings...not so much removing ink from leather. Ive used it on leather for general cleaning with varying results...lighter colors like it better...use caution and dont scrub too hard.
Last pic is with her big sis Soho MIni Sig Small Hobo #6351 and a non-Coach mirror I bought at Goodwill Backroom for $.25.
Soilove is my go-too fabric cleaner and it worked wonders here too. Repeated applications while gently scrubbing with a toothbrush while in the bath does an amazing job. Remember to rinse well if you use Soilove...its super soapy. BTW works really well taking ink out of fabric linings...not so much removing ink from leather. Ive used it on leather for general cleaning with varying results...lighter colors like it better...use caution and dont scrub too hard.
Last pic is with her big sis Soho MIni Sig Small Hobo #6351 and a non-Coach mirror I bought at Goodwill Backroom for $.25.
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Wow! Great job and that a lot of ink on the towel..geez! Makes me wonder what people are doing with their bags! Maybe the kid colored it markers.
Looks great!
Yes, I've been busy rehabbing...
This 1989-90 Coach Leatherware Spectator Compartment Bag #6850 was in pretty good shape when I bought her...just needed a little plumping up! Before pics are here: http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-855067-61.html#post26336287
Basic rehab...warm bath in Dawn, rinse, stuff, Leather CPR 2X, Blackrocks 2X and buff with horsehair blend brush. I wish you could all feel how smooth and silky this leather is!
This 1989-90 Coach Leatherware Spectator Compartment Bag #6850 was in pretty good shape when I bought her...just needed a little plumping up! Before pics are here: http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-855067-61.html#post26336287
Basic rehab...warm bath in Dawn, rinse, stuff, Leather CPR 2X, Blackrocks 2X and buff with horsehair blend brush. I wish you could all feel how smooth and silky this leather is!
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And last, but not least, for today...
Im really happy with this one...a mid to late 80s Coach Leatherware Handle Portfolio #5050. Before pics are here: http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-855067-62.html#post26336312
Although it had lots of scratches on one side and a stain on the other, the leather itself was in good shape and the handles were amazingly clean for its age. The inside of the bag was spotless!
Hoping the stain was maybe a watermark, I gave this one an extra-warm bath with Dawn and a good toothbrush scrub all over. The rest was normal rehab. Now the scratches are barely visible and the stain on the back is gone. It was a little like wrestling a small cow, but well worth it
Im really happy with this one...a mid to late 80s Coach Leatherware Handle Portfolio #5050. Before pics are here: http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-855067-62.html#post26336312
Although it had lots of scratches on one side and a stain on the other, the leather itself was in good shape and the handles were amazingly clean for its age. The inside of the bag was spotless!
Hoping the stain was maybe a watermark, I gave this one an extra-warm bath with Dawn and a good toothbrush scrub all over. The rest was normal rehab. Now the scratches are barely visible and the stain on the back is gone. It was a little like wrestling a small cow, but well worth it
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Great job on all of them as always, JOODLZ, but this is my favourite. Love the contrasting leathers.
That was before I saw this one. Awesome!And last, but not least, for today...
Im really happy with this one...a mid to late 80s Coach Leatherware Handle Portfolio #5050. Before pics are here: http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-855067-62.html#post26336312
Although it had lots of scratches on one side and a stain on the other, the leather itself was in good shape and the handles were amazingly clean for its age. The inside of the bag was spotless!
Hoping the stain was maybe a watermark, I gave this one an extra-warm bath with Dawn and a good toothbrush scrub all over. The rest was normal rehab. Now the scratches are barely visible and the stain on the back is gone. It was a little like wrestling a small cow, but well worth it
I am behind on thank you's too, so here goes!
Thanks cat! I do have to admit though, that I used to be a professional crafter, so that has helped tremendously!
Thanks soozlz!
Thanks ledobe! They do still show on the inside, but I can live with that.
Thanks so much AggieK! I'm glad I was able to save her too!
Thanks vintage!
Thanks cat! I do have to admit though, that I used to be a professional crafter, so that has helped tremendously!
Thanks soozlz!
Thanks ledobe! They do still show on the inside, but I can live with that.
Thanks so much AggieK! I'm glad I was able to save her too!
Thanks vintage!