Can you tell me, with this puff paint technique, does the color penetrate into the leather? Or does it kind of sit on top? I just picked up a blue acrylic
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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Guys, I’m reading a lot of forum posts and articles online of leatherworkers discussing soaking their unfinished leather in unsweetened KOOL AID! They say that the citric acid is what pulls the food coloring into the protein fibers of the leather. Have any of you rehabbers heard of this technique? My bag isn’t stained, just severely faded. I’m wondering if I should give this a try before resorting to dye, as dye needs to be sealed and kool aid apparently doesn’t come out no matter how hard you try. Worst comes to worst, I could always dye it black. I don’t have much to lose as I really dislike the faded brown bag I have that was supposed to be navy. If it just tints it any shade of blue I will probably be happy at this point
As far as the puff paint, it kind of still sits on top. But the koolaid thing sounds interesting and makes sense.
My first Bleecker Leather Large Flap! 
1. Do you think this is vachetta? The creed doesn't say "vachetta," but it sure looks like it to me.
2. The lining is grubby. Would you dunk the bag?
3. If not, what would you use to clean the lining? Product recommendations welcome!
1. Do you think this is vachetta? The creed doesn't say "vachetta," but it sure looks like it to me.
2. The lining is grubby. Would you dunk the bag?
3. If not, what would you use to clean the lining? Product recommendations welcome!
I’m excited! Finally got something in British Tan! Although when I say finally, it’s been maybe 2 months since I’ve been looking haha The Leather is so buttery smooth and still has a great leather scent. Can’t wait to dunk it but probably won’t be until next week as I have a busy rest of the week. I’m still working on my burgundy basic bag, almost done. I like to take my time and wait between each coat of moisturizer.
My first Bleecker Leather Large Flap!
1. Do you think this is vachetta? The creed doesn't say "vachetta," but it sure looks like it to me.
2. The lining is grubby. Would you dunk the bag?
3. If not, what would you use to clean the lining? Product recommendations welcome!
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I love this lining so much! I wish they would do more fun lining patterns and colors.
Congrats! I don’t believe it is vachetta as the label says it is burnished glove tanned leather.My first Bleecker Leather Large Flap!
1. Do you think this is vachetta? The creed doesn't say "vachetta," but it sure looks like it to me.
2. The lining is grubby. Would you dunk the bag?
3. If not, what would you use to clean the lining? Product recommendations welcome!
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I know people have dunked burnished leather, but I don’t believe it responds as well as non-burnished leather.
ETA, it giving me a feel for the body of my citron Legacy Bag. The flap on mine is crinkly but the rest of it appears to be like yours. I haven’t done anything to mine, yet, other than use it.
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Congrats on your beautiful find! I can almost feel how buttery that leather is-it even shows in pictures!
I'm curious about this too. I've dyed silk with Kool Aid. Food coloring paste was much more intense, but gave me some darker areas, which I liked. The item and liquid have to be moved around constantly to dye evenly.
Thank you! Probably the smoothest leather out of any of my vintage bags I’ve picked up recently. I hope it stays that way after dunking
Food coloring paste, explain this one to me! I plan on a kool aid dunk tomorrow unless someone convinces me not to lol
I think the key to this is that the leather is unfinished. A Coach bag is not made of unfinished leather, so I'm not sure if the Kool Aid would work very well.
Wilton makes beautiful food coloring paste. It's just very concentrated food coloring. A little goes a long way. https://www.wilton.com/icing-color/pg_icingColors.html With white silk, I used vinegar to set the color, but I don't know how this type of color works with leather. I would be concerned that it will absorb irregularly if the leather is able to be dyed with it at all. Even in new, white fabric, it takes effort to get a uniform color. I'm sorry I don't have experience with dying leather.
I found this bag at goodwill! I’ve rehabbed a brown station bag before, but with this white one I’m a little afraid of giving it a bath, plus it’s in pretty decent condition, at least compared to the brown one I have! Do you guys think it’s okay to give this one a bath, or not necessary?
This is what I was wondering about. I imagine it’s harder to dye already treated and finished leather since you’re trying to put more dye and color over other dye. Like when your hair is already color treated you have to pick and choose carefully what you add to it.
Plus since the bag was blue but is now faded to brown in only some areas, if the kool aid does manage to dye the bag wouldn’t it look different colors still in the original brown and blue areas?
Maybe OP can try the strap first?