Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#23,386
20190319_111215.jpg 20190323_112626.jpg
VintageInVogue said:
Coach junkie and newbie here. :smile: I recently bought an old Coach purse at a thrift store, and got it home to find out that it is a mid-1970s convertible clutch. I love it so much. It has a flap with a turnlock, and is a medium sized bag. I've restored a few older Coach bags and tried to work on this one too. It looks better, but it's not there yet. My concern is that it is that natural tan leather color, and I worry that anything I do to it is going to ruin the color. Also because of its age, I worry about damaging it. So far I used saddle soap to clean it, and even gentle rubbing with that and a super soft bamboo cloth took off some of the outer leather in one spot. Then I used Lexol leather cleaner to try to get some of the dirty areas clean -- it did help but I was hesitant to scrub too much and so some dirt is left behind. I thought that using Lexol leather conditioner would help hide that and the scratches, but the purse still feels pretty dry, and now it's like even the lightest fingernail scratch shows on the leather. I feel like it's just dry leather, but it also still needs to be cleaned better and needs to somehow be infused with serious MOISTURE before I can use it. I think it's too old and dry to soak without cracking. I don't mind if the whole purse turns darker, I just don't know what to use to clean and condition itView attachment 4579034 View attachment 4579035 . Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I bought an old Courier Pouch that was very dry and dirty and all I had to do was dunk it and then condition it with Leather CPR until it wouldn't take any more conditioner. It took at least 10 applications of CPR, if I remember correctly. Today, it's one of my softest bags. If you're not comfortable soaking your bag, you could just try applying a coat of CPR a day until it feels luxurious again. A well conditioned bag resists scratching much better than a dry bag and CPR will not alter the color of your bag.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vickenator, VintageInVogue, MrsGAM and 6 others
#23,387
Morgan_Bellini said:
I bought an old Courier Pouch that was very dry and dirty and all I had to do was dunk it and then condition it with Leather CPR until it wouldn't take any more conditioner. It took at least 10 applications of CPR, if I remember correctly. Today, it's one of my softest bags. If you're not comfortable soaking your bag, you could just try applying a coat of CPR a day until it feels luxurious again. A well conditioned bag resists scratching much better than a dry bag and CPR will not alter the color of your bag.
Click to expand...
Oh man that looks brand new!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Morgan_Bellini
#23,391
Morgan_Bellini said:
View attachment 4579385 View attachment 4579386
I bought an old Courier Pouch that was very dry and dirty and all I had to do was dunk it and then condition it with Leather CPR until it wouldn't take any more conditioner. It took at least 10 applications of CPR, if I remember correctly. Today, it's one of my softest bags. If you're not comfortable soaking your bag, you could just try applying a coat of CPR a day until it feels luxurious again. A well conditioned bag resists scratching much better than a dry bag and CPR will not alter the color of your bag.
Click to expand...

valv54 said:
Oh man that looks brand new!
Click to expand...

That looks fantastic, are you sure that is the same bag?;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: VintageInVogue and Morgan_Bellini
#23,395
akvt said:
hi everyone. I am looking to get a briefcase like this- but im wondering if anyone has any experience with the "lines" in this photo? best to avoid? maybe if this is dunked it will crack? View attachment 4578186
Click to expand...
From a veterinary nurse, they’re the remnants of blood vessels. Shouldn’t crack but they will always be there as the creed says...just need to decide if you can live with it’s aesthetic. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Minchanka, akvt and houseof999
#23,396
PandasMom said:
Dear Coach Rehabbers,
I have a Coach Fletcher that I am cleaning up so that I can wear it this week (the bag was authenticated in the "authenticate this"). It has some imperfections that I am totally fine with as they give the bag character. But the strap has an area of damage along the edge. I've put Leather CPR and Coach moisturizer on it and it hasn't changed the look. Is there any kind of product that I could use to make these edges brown again? I know not to use shoe polish, of course. I also don't want to damage it or do anything that would no longer make it a Coach bag, if you understand my meaning. If I should just leave it alone, it would be OK and I would still wear the bag with pride. Is this just going to be another one of the details of the bag that gives it character? Or is there a product that I could use that can recolor a small area like this? Thanks for any info that you can provide.View attachment 4577236
Click to expand...
Have you tried buffing it with a horse hair brush? It can even it out a little with some blackrock. It won’t add color, but can soften the edges. I’ve had good luck with that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PandasMom
#23,397
Morgan_Bellini said:
View attachment 4579385 View attachment 4579386
I bought an old Courier Pouch that was very dry and dirty and all I had to do was dunk it and then condition it with Leather CPR until it wouldn't take any more conditioner. It took at least 10 applications of CPR, if I remember correctly. Today, it's one of my softest bags. If you're not comfortable soaking your bag, you could just try applying a coat of CPR a day until it feels luxurious again. A well conditioned bag resists scratching much better than a dry bag and CPR will not alter the color of your bag.
Click to expand...
Looks beautiful...what a great job...but 10 coats..WOW!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: vickenator and VintageInVogue
#23,399
VintageInVogue said:
Coach junkie and newbie here. :smile: I recently bought an old Coach purse at a thrift store, and got it home to find out that it is a mid-1970s convertible clutch. I love it so much. It has a flap with a turnlock, and is a medium sized bag. I've restored a few older Coach bags and tried to work on this one too. It looks better, but it's not there yet. My concern is that it is that natural tan leather color, and I worry that anything I do to it is going to ruin the color. Also because of its age, I worry about damaging it. So far I used saddle soap to clean it, and even gentle rubbing with that and a super soft bamboo cloth took off some of the outer leather in one spot. Then I used Lexol leather cleaner to try to get some of the dirty areas clean -- it did help but I was hesitant to scrub too much and so some dirt is left behind. I thought that using Lexol leather conditioner would help hide that and the scratches, but the purse still feels pretty dry, and now it's like even the lightest fingernail scratch shows on the leather. I feel like it's just dry leather, but it also still needs to be cleaned better and needs to somehow be infused with serious MOISTURE before I can use it. I think it's too old and dry to soak without cracking. I don't mind if the whole purse turns darker, I just don't know what to use to clean and condition itView attachment 4579034 View attachment 4579035 . Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I would definitely dunk it. Make sure you have the correct conditioners handy before you start so you can start conditioning before the bag completely dries out from the bath. IMO, you need something better than Lexol. I recommend Leather CPR and Blackrocks leather n rich.

ETA: while Leather CPR will not alter the color of your bag, the bath might. The bath will restore the bag to its original color.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VintageInVogue, Narnanz and houseof999
#23,400
Busykitty said:
Have you tried buffing it with a horse hair brush? It can even it out a little with some blackrock. It won’t add color, but can soften the edges. I’ve had good luck with that.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your advice. No, I haven't tried the horse hair brush yet. I'll give that a shot and see how that looks. I tried the bag on today and what I find interesting is that it looks like the imperfection might have been from the strap rubbing against a jacket or sweater. Because the area corresponds to the the upper arm, perhaps a coat used to rub against it. Thank you again for your insights!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top