Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[BrooklynBunny]

I've never tried rehabbing this particular bag but I've tried other Legacy bags from the same collection, and I failed miserably. For some reason, no matter what I did generally made the bags worse. I tried to paint the worn colors but instead of the paint covering up the wear, it made it darker as if I had painted it with water. I tried many different kinds of paint and nothing worked. I did paint an entire Legacy bag with wood n stuff leather refinisher but that was after I had dipped the bag in RIT dye. I think that dipping may have made the leather more receptive to the paint. I made a horrible mistake when I dipped in the RIT in that I used the hot water that is recommended and it melted off all the brown edge coating.

I hope your experience is better than mine.

I plan on using Angelus leather paints, I didn't even know that you could use RIT dyes! I watched a few videos that say how you shouldn't color match 100% since the color does get a little darker. But I'll probably be very careful since I don't want to make any mistakes, but thanks for telling me!

 

[Syren]

This is beautiful! I can see the difference, and I know what you mean about the cleaning and conditioning making the leather even more amazing. I have a little patent leather wristlet that has a turnlock on the top like this. I believe it's called Turnlock Large Wristlet. I wonder if it's from the same line/time. I've seen pebbled leather ones that would go great with your bag! This is the first one I found, and they are calling it a Chelsea! https://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-Chel...k-Clutch-Wristlet-F40797-Toffee-/273480350937 and https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brown-Vint...507734?hash=item23b9780c16:g:2tcAAOSwBAxcoSGL

I have seen a few of those! I like them and want to add one to my collection eventually. I always like having a matching wristlet for my bags [emoji1] I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled!

 

[Syren]

Regina is done! It only took 2 weeks to get her smoke free. I hope! Thank you so much to everyone for all the great advice and for gasping with me over the ink spreading. I did get the ink out of the front! Now that it's done, I'm so glad I kept the bag and did my first dunking. It was so amazing to feel the bag while washing it. It still had so much moisture in it. Now I want to feel the even better vintage leather! I love how rich the leather and color look after conditioning. The British Tan is much darker and there's more of that red undertone.

Before:
View attachment 4392321
After:
View attachment 4392322
I got the ink off the front of the bag and there is just a hint of it on the bottom where the ink came from. It looks better in person but this picture highlights it well:
View attachment 4392324

She looks like a million bucks! Very rich and supple looking now [emoji7]

 

[Jeny09]

Regina is done! It only took 2 weeks to get her smoke free. I hope! Thank you so much to everyone for all the great advice and for gasping with me over the ink spreading. I did get the ink out of the front! Now that it's done, I'm so glad I kept the bag and did my first dunking. It was so amazing to feel the bag while washing it. It still had so much moisture in it. Now I want to feel the even better vintage leather! I love how rich the leather and color look after conditioning. The British Tan is much darker and there's more of that red undertone.

Before:
View attachment 4392321
After:
View attachment 4392322
I got the ink off the front of the bag and there is just a hint of it on the bottom where the ink came from. It looks better in person but this picture highlights it well:
View attachment 4392324

Oh wow... she looks sooo gorgeous!!! Enjoy your beautiful Regina [emoji7]

 

[aerinha]

I plan on using Angelus leather paints, I didn't even know that you could use RIT dyes! I watched a few videos that say how you shouldn't color match 100% since the color does get a little darker. But I'll probably be very careful since I don't want to make any mistakes, but thanks for telling me!

I just used Angelus paints on a Tods bag that I damaged trying to get ink out. I had to mix 3 shades to come close
Before paint


After

 

[katev]

View attachment 4392698
I do apologize for the many images. Most of the "issues" with this bag are very, very minor. But I just want to spruce them up and look brand new.

I've never tried rehabbing this particular bag but I've tried other Legacy bags from the same collection, and I failed miserably. For some reason, no matter what I did generally made the bags worse. I tried to paint the worn colors but instead of the paint covering up the wear, it made it darker as if I had painted it with water. I tried many different kinds of paint and nothing worked. I did paint an entire Legacy bag with wood n stuff leather refinisher but that was after I had dipped the bag in RIT dye. I think that dipping may have made the leather more receptive to the paint. I made a horrible mistake when I dipped in the RIT in that I used the hot water that is recommended and it melted off all the brown edge coating.

I hope your experience is better than mine.

I just used Angelus paints on a Tods bag that I damaged trying to get ink out. I had to mix 3 shades to come close
Before paint
View attachment 4393083

After
View attachment 4393084

It's a lovely bag and I don't mean to be a downer but you have selected a very difficult bag for your first rehab project. Red is one of the hardest colors to rehab (and to paint match) and bags from that lovely legacy line are known to present challenges.

My suggestion is to give the bag a bath in dawn dish suds and water, rinse it and drain it a bit, stuff it with towels or clean rags overnight to shape it while drying. Next day remove the towels but continue rotating the bag while it's drying, perhaps partially pulling out the lining a bit (if possible) to promote drying. Then apply leather moisturizer, rub the hardware with a soft cloth, and see how the bag looks after it is clean, dry, shaped, and moisturized before you decide to start painting.

If eventually you do decide to use paint, test it first by applying it in an area that doesn't show, just in case it doesn't work as well as hoped.

If you proceed with caution you can always do more to the bag later, but it can be very hard - or impossible- to undo something if it goes wrong. That's what I would do if it were my bag.

 

[katev]

View attachment 4392698
I do apologize for the many images. Most of the "issues" with this bag are very, very minor. But I just want to spruce them up and look brand new.

Could you show us a picture of the creed patch inside the bag or tell us the style number on the patch? You may be missing some parts so it would be good to compare it to other pictures of the same bag on ebay and elsewhere.

I believe that some bags from that line came with decorative tassels, but I am not sure about that specific bag. Does your bag have a Coach hangtag or is it missing? If you call Coach Customer Service they will send a replacement hangtag to you for free. It may not be exactly the same tag as originally came with the bag, sometimes they send a metal tag that matches the hardware, but it will be genuine and free!

 

[tealocean]

Experimentation is the hallmark of the rehabber, so go ahead and try what you have on hand. One word of caution, it's best to try them out in an area that doesn't show much in case they backfire!

Thank you! I don't want to try anything else risky! I was hoping you were going to say, sure all those things will work with some elbow grease. The hardware looks pretty good after a quick clean with baking soda toothpaste, but I'll keep an eye on it and keep the Wenol in mind. I just don't have enough brass to use it on...yet!

 

[tealocean]

A question about dunking vintage Madisons - structured ones, in particular. I tried researching the topic but got very little info. From my understanding, @katev is the most fearless rehabber of those, and very recently you did a beautiful job with that deep-red top-handle Gramercy bag. Mine is structured, too, so the main question is are there any cardboard parts inside that could warp? Also, in my Madison protect the hardware is in really bad condition - how do you deal with brushed brass? I tired polishing a small area with the 2×2 polishing square, but it seems like it removes brushed finish altogether. I'd appreciate all the info I could get!

I'm sorry I am only replying to say I can't wait to see your bags, and I'm going to search for @katev 's red Grammercy! I love the shape of that bag!

 

[tealocean]

She looks like a million bucks! Very rich and supple looking now [emoji7]

Thank you! I saw a blue-ish tealish one of those wristlets once. I hope you find one when you're ready!

 

[catthecurious]

You know, I finished washing and shaping and moisturizing that Gramercy but I haven't finished working on the hardware yet! Polishing hardware is my least favorite part of rehabbing and I switched gears to work on a bag that I wanted to give as a gift, and another bag that I wanted to wear myself. So I'd better get back and finish that Gramercy! I'm almost certain that I've used Wenol and soft cloths on Italian coach bags in the past without problems, but I will check it out and let you know.

I've now dunked several Italian coach bags without problems. I really doubt that the insides are cardboard, I think they have a stiff leather lining but of course I can't be sure unless I take it apart and I sure don't want to that!

I wouldn't be afraid to dunk one, but they take a long, long, long time to dry! I think that the gramercy took almost a week to dry so just keep turning it and moisturizing the thinner areas like straps - and be patient!

(damn autocorrect... I always proofread before posting, but sometimes that sneaky bastard manages to switch similarly looking words... It's Madison *project*, not protect, and *tried* polishing, not tired - although, yes, it sure is often tiresome, LoL!)

Thank you, Kate!

Guess I'm not very hesitant dunking-wise because that Copley is in a very sad condition... Got it locally and couldn't resist the rare Citron color - although even after bargaining I had to pay more than the top $20 I'd normally pay for the VERY seasoned purse.

Don't mind long drying time at all! I actually complain sometimes my bags get dry too fast because I like taking my time reshaping them over and over... guess I'm overly fixated on that.

Just ordered a tube of Wenol which I've been meaning to try for a while... I know it's your go-to polish; I normally use Brasso -> 2×2 polishing squares -> shining cloth; from what I'm reading both Wenol and Brasso work chemically, but Wenol is better for fine metals.

Do you see advantage in polishing the hardware as finishing, not beginning step? I'm always afraid to damage the leather while cleaning non-removable locks and rings, but if something goes south, its easier to wash off immediately.

 

[tealocean]

Oh wow... she looks sooo gorgeous!!! Enjoy your beautiful Regina [emoji7]

Thank you! I'm excited to join you in the Regina/brown bag "club"!

 

[catthecurious]

I'm sorry I am only replying to say I can't wait to see your bags, and I'm going to search for @katev 's red Grammercy! I love the shape of that bag!

LoL, nothing to see yet! It's my first Madison ever, although I've been eyeing them for some time... I don't have any pics on hand, but trust me, it's not for the weak! And I don't have any Gramercy's: either I'm a terrible hunter, or it's my Jewish luck, as they say... Whenever I see one in decent shape, it's way too expensive, and I'm hesitant buying that kind of leather with surface damages because I don't think it's an easy fix.

 

[BrooklynBunny]

Could you show us a picture of the creed patch inside the bag or tell us the style number on the patch? You may be missing some parts so it would be good to compare it to other pictures of the same bag on ebay and elsewhere.

I believe that some bags from that line came with decorative tassels, but I am not sure about that specific bag. Does your bag have a Coach hangtag or is it missing? If you call Coach Customer Service they will send a replacement hangtag to you for free. It may not be exactly the same tag as originally came with the bag, sometimes they send a metal tag that matches the hardware, but it will be genuine and free!

I think I'll end up moisturizing instead if these bags are so difficult. I got this for 30 bucks and I'd hate to ruin it.

 

[tealocean]

LoL, nothing to see yet! It's my first Madison ever, although I've been eyeing them for some time... I don't have any pics on hand, but trust me, it's not for the weak! And I don't have any Gramercy's: either I'm a terrible hunter, or it's my Jewish luck, as they say... Whenever I see one in decent shape, it's way too expensive, and I'm hesitant buying that kind of leather with surface damages because I don't think it's an easy fix.

I look forward to seeing it!