So if the magnet sticks, then I’m good to remove the varnish, but if it sticks, don’t do it? (Sorry to ask) x
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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I’m sorry if my alcohol was bad advice and it seems I was lucky! It was on the inside so I was willing to gamble and lucked out.
maybe next time I try acetone? I’ve heard mixed reviews on that but dang if pen marks are so frustrating!
Yes, if it doesnt stick, it's most likely solid brass and there's not much you can do wrong. This is most vintage Coach bags you will encounter in the wild. If it does stick, it's likely brass plated onto a ferrous base metal, so proceed with caution.
My experience with acetone is that it removes the finish on the leather and dulls it even after I put Renapur on the bag
@Dragonflyzoe I’m working on a stewardess right now. Here are some pictures of the hardware in its original condition (a lot of verdigris), after brasso, mid-process in taking the top coat off, and after the top coat is off:
If the magnet sticks it's plated, you can still polish it but be gentle and don't go to deep. If the magnet doesn't stick, it's probably brass and you can get more aggressive.
One comment, some bags (like the vintage Italian Coach Madison and Gramercy bags) have a brushed metallic surface and vigorous polishing may remove that brushed surface. I try to be gentle with brushed hardware.
I was hoping my burgundy Saddlery would get here today, but alas, they forgot to put her on the truck this morning. Instead, I will show you my flannel gray saddlery and a study in conditioners. I put many coats of renapur on her after I dunked, but the scratches and stiffness just wouldn't let up. Got some blackrocks and, well, it’s alot better, becoming softer with every application. Scratches won't budge though but its ok.
Alcohol and acetone generally remove color. In my experience, the ink is usually still there with a lightened spot all around, so it looks worse than before I tried. On light colored bags, you might try zit cream, taking care to only put it on the ink. You might end up with a white line where the ink was but that should be easier to cover up.
As you know, I dabble in Hermes bags from time to time. They don’t encourage home rehabs, however, they have a poster called Docride who gives leather care and repair advice. I just found she sells “spa kits” on ebay and one is for ink and color transfer removal. I don’t know if it is for fresh ink (which wouldn’t be fresh by the time the kit was mailed to you) or if it would work on old ink, but I am very curious as my Pony has a line of ink I would like gone, but don’t want to make worse.
you can always just ask her....she has to be careful answering as she sells the kits but she might give you advice on it
Ink is a particular issue with me, so I had to look for the ink kit. Here's some info from the listing:
NOTE> These kits are specifically for color transfer and ball point ink strikes on finished leathers and must be used within the first 24hrs of the emergency.
If your bag has had the stain on it for more than 24hrs it may have migrated into the leather and it will become a permanent stain... which would need to be handed by a professional shop as color work would "most likely" need to be performed after the removal of the stain and the bags finish in that area.