Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[coach943]

I hate to ask about more than one bag, or more than one issue at a time.
This is time-sensitive, so I shall ask and hope you don't hate me.

I've been conditioning a very dry, red Manor lately.
I haven't dunked it.
Parts of the leather were so dry, I wanted to get it into ok shape before dunking and trying to reshape the stiff, brittle, hard leather.
Did three coats of Leather CPR over the last week+, with no major change.

I applied Leather Therapy Restorer & Conditioner about five hours ago.

You know how Leather Therapy says on the bottle that: "RESTORER may bring out old, embedded oils and soaps to the surface as it dries - simply wipe down with a damp sponge."

Well, on parts of the bag, the leather is still oily. (Maybe CPR is coming up to the surface...)

Wondering: how long should Leather Therapy be left on the bag?
What's a normal drying time for dry, vintage, glove tanned leather?

My plan is to go to sleep, and reevaluate in the morning.
If I'm making a big mistake, and someone happens to see this in time, please stop me.
(Or let me know when you do see this, and at least I'll know for next time.)

I agree with Catbird. You really need to dunk the bag before you condition it. I've used Leather Therapy lots of times. I've never had an issue with it not soaking in. I also use Leather Therapy before something like CPR. Dry bags usually soak in Leather Therapy after being dunked.

 

[aerinha]

I hate to ask about more than one bag, or more than one issue at a time.
This is time-sensitive, so I shall ask and hope you don't hate me.

I've been conditioning a very dry, red Manor lately.
I haven't dunked it.
Parts of the leather were so dry, I wanted to get it into ok shape before dunking and trying to reshape the stiff, brittle, hard leather.
Did three coats of Leather CPR over the last week+, with no major change.

I applied Leather Therapy Restorer & Conditioner about five hours ago.

You know how Leather Therapy says on the bottle that: "RESTORER may bring out old, embedded oils and soaps to the surface as it dries - simply wipe down with a damp sponge."

Well, on parts of the bag, the leather is still oily. (Maybe CPR is coming up to the surface...)

Wondering: how long should Leather Therapy be left on the bag?
What's a normal drying time for dry, vintage, glove tanned leather?

My plan is to go to sleep, and reevaluate in the morning.
If I'm making a big mistake, and someone happens to see this in time, please stop me.
(Or let me know when you do see this, and at least I'll know for next time.)

Dawn is a grease cutter so dunking it in soapy watter might get rid of the residue.

 

[valv54]

I made an observation today, yesterday I started on my purple station bag. I used lexol in the water and let her soak for 20 minutes and applied leather therapy, it was dry and uneven so I thought it needed a little more. The flap was very light compared to the rest of the bag so I put some obenaufs oil (I have had luck with evening out color with it), well this morning now the flap is alot darker then the rest, damnit! Decided to just rewash the bag, because it was spoty and of course got stuff all over the suede. Re-washed with dawn this time to get some of the obenaufs out, and holy crap did the color bleed, with the lexol I had barely a purple tinge, today I had grape juice! Gunna see how it looks tomorrow when its dryer and try to not jump the gun.

 

[WishingonaCoach]

I made an observation today, yesterday I started on my purple station bag. I used lexol in the water and let her soak for 20 minutes and applied leather therapy, it was dry and uneven so I thought it needed a little more. The flap was very light compared to the rest of the bag so I put some obenaufs oil (I have had luck with evening out color with it), well this morning now the flap is alot darker then the rest, damnit! Decided to just rewash the bag, because it was spoty and of course got stuff all over the suede. Re-washed with dawn this time to get some of the obenaufs out, and holy crap did the color bleed, with the lexol I had barely a purple tinge, today I had grape juice! Gunna see how it looks tomorrow when its dryer and try to not jump the gun.

I am not one of the experts here, far from it LOL.... but I can tell you from personal experience, that the bags do not dry at an uniformed pace. The flaps, behind pockets, etc... if the leather is "thinner" in the area, it will dry faster and look lighter in color, and the "thicker" will look much darker till totally dry taking days sometimes.

 

[Ava_13579]

I'm new to rehabbing, so I feel kind of silly responding. But with the two bags I've been working on, I've dunked them and after I towel dry them a little bit (so they're not dripping water) and stuff them with washcloths, I apply the first coat of Leather CPR while they're still damp. Did two more coats of CPR in the subsequent 4 days and have had good results so far, but the leather was not terribly dry before I dunked either of them.

I think at this point maybe let the leather 'rest' for a couple days and reevaluate, then consider dunking + applying CPR after the dunk (but before it's dried at all) then see how that looks the next day. Definitely curious to hear the experts chime in on this.

I think this is why it's usually recommended to dunk before applying conditioners. If the bag was not only very dry but also very dirty, the accumulated soils and oils would prevent the conditioners from penetrating properly.

Dunking opens up the pores of the leather and detergent (such as Dawn) dissolves the soils and lifts them out. If you don't dunk first, you are rubbing the soils deeper into the bag as you apply conditioners.

At this point, I would follow this instruction from the Leather Therapy Restorer that you quoted:
"RESTORER may bring out old, embedded oils and soaps to the surface as it dries - simply wipe down with a damp sponge."

One of the problems with reconditioning leather is you never know how it going to respond, especially is it is stiff and brittle. I have dunk as few stiffer, dry, water stained and mildew bags, but not one that was brittle. I have not preconditioned a bag before dunking (yet!) so I really can’t offer any experience on how long to leave LT on the bag.
Stay strong! There is still opportunity to be surprised. We learn this by doing!!

I agree with Catbird. You really need to dunk the bag before you condition it. I've used Leather Therapy lots of times. I've never had an issue with it not soaking in. I also use Leather Therapy before something like CPR. Dry bags usually soak in Leather Therapy after being dunked.

Dawn is a grease cutter so dunking it in soapy watter might get rid of the residue.

Thanks so much, guys! You're awesome!

Btw, cleaned this bag with Lexol before conditioning, but it's not the same as a dunk.

So, yesterday I tried wiping off a bit of the bag with water and paper towel. I also tried with Leather Therapy Wash, and paper towel. And I tried a soft cloth, too.
Regardless, I could see a lot of the color was going to come off, so I stopped.

I used a spray bottle with water to spray the bag, and distributed with my fingers. That seemed to improve things; most of the Leather Therapy has absorbed, though not all of it. (And not much dye was on my fingers, compared with using paper towel, or a cloth.)

The main issue now is that there are some darker areas, which look almost like oil stains.
For example, on the bottom right corner.
(Similar thing happened on the strap, which had been dunked.)
Curious: has anyone had this happen with Leather Therapy Restorer & Conditioner? And if so, does it fade with time?




Now, think I'm going to try dunking the bag, and using Dawn.
Which type of Dawn have you used?

 

[mrk2014]

I think this is why it's usually recommended to dunk before applying conditioners. If the bag was not only very dry but also very dirty, the accumulated soils and oils would prevent the conditioners from penetrating properly.

Dunking opens up the pores of the leather and detergent (such as Dawn) dissolves the soils and lifts them out. If you don't dunk first, you are rubbing the soils deeper into the bag as you apply conditioners.

At this point, I would follow this instruction from the Leather Therapy Restorer that you quoted:
"RESTORER may bring out old, embedded oils and soaps to the surface as it dries - simply wipe down with a damp sponge."

One of the problems with reconditioning leather is you never know how it going to respond, especially is it is stiff and brittle. I have dunk as few stiffer, dry, water stained and mildew bags, but not one that was brittle. I have not preconditioned a bag before dunking (yet!) so I really can’t offer any experience on how long to leave LT on the bag.
Stay strong! There is still opportunity to be surprised. We learn this by doing!!

I totally agree, I have never applied any type of leather conditioner to any bag if I was going to dunk it. To me is like to applying more coats to whatever was there before.

I have used LT as well and some bags seemed to "drink it" like a lost traveler in the desert, others took longer but it did absorbed into the leather as well.

In regards to rehabbing, I have "some" knowledge, plenty of supplies and thanks to the ladies that share with this board their fails and successes, a great deal of tips and procedures, no rules or steps or must do... all bags are different and need different approach. What it worked for me, might ruined yours type thing, even if the same bag, color and year made, because we do not know where they have been or treated. Matter of live and learn, LOL

 

[mrk2014]

Thanks so much, guys! You're awesome!

Btw, cleaned this bag with Lexol before conditioning, but it's not the same as a dunk.

So, yesterday I tried wiping off a bit of the bag with water and paper towel. I also tried with Leather Therapy Wash, and paper towel. And I tried a soft cloth, too.
Regardless, I could see a lot of the color was going to come off, so I stopped.

I used a spray bottle with water to spray the bag, and distributed with my fingers. That seemed to improve things; most of the Leather Therapy has absorbed, though not all of it. (And not much dye was on my fingers, compared with using paper towel, or a cloth.)

The main issue now is that there are some darker areas, which look almost like oil stains.
For example, on the bottom right corner.
(Similar thing happened on the strap, which had been dunked.)
Curious: has anyone had this happen with Leather Therapy Restorer & Conditioner? And if so, does it fade with time?

View attachment 4475124


Now, think I'm going to try dunking the bag, and using Dawn.
Which type of Dawn have you used?

View attachment 4475127

I always use the darker one, I do not know if there is a significant difference, but it is the one I use at home for dishes.

 

[valv54]

Thanks so much, guys! You're awesome!

Btw, cleaned this bag with Lexol before conditioning, but it's not the same as a dunk.

So, yesterday I tried wiping off a bit of the bag with water and paper towel. I also tried with Leather Therapy Wash, and paper towel. And I tried a soft cloth, too.
Regardless, I could see a lot of the color was going to come off, so I stopped.

I used a spray bottle with water to spray the bag, and distributed with my fingers. That seemed to improve things; most of the Leather Therapy has absorbed, though not all of it. (And not much dye was on my fingers, compared with using paper towel, or a cloth.)

The main issue now is that there are some darker areas, which look almost like oil stains.
For example, on the bottom right corner.
(Similar thing happened on the strap, which had been dunked.)
Curious: has anyone had this happen with Leather Therapy Restorer & Conditioner? And if so, does it fade with time?

View attachment 4475124


Now, think I'm going to try dunking the bag, and using Dawn.
Which type of Dawn have you used?

View attachment 4475127

I have the blue dawn, that's what I use lol

 

[Ava_13579]

I always use the darker one, I do not know if there is a significant difference, but it is the one I use at home for dishes.

I have the blue dawn, that's what I use lol

Thanks so much!!
And now I shall dunk.

 

[valv54]

I am not one of the experts here, far from it LOL.... but I can tell you from personal experience, that the bags do not dry at an uniformed pace. The flaps, behind pockets, etc... if the leather is "thinner" in the area, it will dry faster and look lighter in color, and the "thicker" will look much darker till totally dry taking days sometimes.

Sometimes I get so excited about a bag, I forget all my training, Haha.

 

[WishingonaCoach]

Sometimes I get so excited about a bag, I forget all my training, Haha.

I bet that if you ruin a bag, you will remain cool and double check your training next time, LOL

 

[Ava_13579]

Lol live update. The one place where my frustrations will be understood. =)

The Manor is in the bath. It's been in there for a long time already, like 45 minutes.

Parts of the leather aren't saturated with water yet; they've stayed light-colored.
(I'm guessing this doesn't have much to do with preconditioning. It seems to be happening on parts that have double leather, instead of a single layer of leather with suede exposed on the back side.)

Also, the handle is stubbornly maintaining its tilted shape.

Think I'd like the whole thing to become saturated with soapy water before moving onto the rinse portion of the dunk.

Suppose I'll just wait until the whole thing becomes saturated with water (or until it's been in the bath for a ridiculously long amount of time)?

 

[whateve]

Lol live update. The one place where my frustrations will be understood. =)

The Manor is in the bath. It's been in there for a long time already, like 45 minutes.

Parts of the leather aren't saturated with water yet; they've stayed light-colored.
(I'm guessing this doesn't have much to do with preconditioning. It seems to be happening on parts that have double leather, instead of a single layer of leather with suede exposed on the back side.)

Also, the handle is stubbornly maintaining its tilted shape.

Think I'd like the whole thing to become saturated with soapy water before moving onto the rinse portion of the dunk.

Suppose I'll just wait until the whole thing becomes saturated with water (or until it's been in the bath for a ridiculously long amount of time)?
View attachment 4475257

The conditioner you put on is probably keeping the water from soaking in.

 

[WishingonaCoach]

Lol live update. The one place where my frustrations will be understood. =)

The Manor is in the bath. It's been in there for a long time already, like 45 minutes.

Parts of the leather aren't saturated with water yet; they've stayed light-colored.
(I'm guessing this doesn't have much to do with preconditioning. It seems to be happening on parts that have double leather, instead of a single layer of leather with suede exposed on the back side.)

Also, the handle is stubbornly maintaining its tilted shape.

Think I'd like the whole thing to become saturated with soapy water before moving onto the rinse portion of the dunk.

Suppose I'll just wait until the whole thing becomes saturated with water (or until it's been in the bath for a ridiculously long amount of time)?
View attachment 4475257

Oh boy! I do not know.... I hope the experts can chime in, but IIRC baths should take only about 20 mins? May be I am mistaking....

After all that time is not totally soaked yet? Do you keep turning it?

 

[Catbird9]

Lol live update. The one place where my frustrations will be understood. =)

The Manor is in the bath. It's been in there for a long time already, like 45 minutes.

Parts of the leather aren't saturated with water yet; they've stayed light-colored.
(I'm guessing this doesn't have much to do with preconditioning. It seems to be happening on parts that have double leather, instead of a single layer of leather with suede exposed on the back side.)

Also, the handle is stubbornly maintaining its tilted shape.

Think I'd like the whole thing to become saturated with soapy water before moving onto the rinse portion of the dunk.

Suppose I'll just wait until the whole thing becomes saturated with water (or until it's been in the bath for a ridiculously long amount of time)?
View attachment 4475257

I think you're on the uncharted frontier of rehab research here. The conditioners are keeping the bag from being saturated with water. I don't know what to suggest. You could probably leave it in the water a few hours, but longer than that, who knows?