Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

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Hey guys!

I just wanted to share something with everyone. I’ve just discovered electroplating for these older bags that have brass plated hardware on which the brass has worn off. I got mine on Amazon but they have a website too. It’s Caswells plug n plate. Here’s some pics of the first project I did on hardware from a members bag.
This is the set up which is a non arsenic process

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This is the progression, a before, a polished down to the nickel mid process, and finished
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and here are the finished open rings

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I’ve also started experimenting with metal still attached to the leather, like this kisslock frame on a Watermelon. I only just started to do the left corner there, but you can see the gold starting to show and it didn’t burn the leather.
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It’s kind of like painting in you have to keep moving the liquid so there is an “art” to it. The kit is only around $70 and mine is lasting far past expiration date.
Just something fun for you guys to try and more tools in your box!! :smile:
I think your tenacity and attention to detail is awesome.
 
I don't think that it is sun-bleached fading, my impression is that it is just a natural variation in the leather that becomes more obvious as the bag ages, wrinkles, and the leather dries out - but if someone has more information please educate me!

Dunking probably won't make it disappear but it should improve the overall look of the whole bag and perhaps make the lines less obvious - or at least you may find them less annoying. If they bother you now then I think you should dunk it and see if that helps. Or you could just try moisturizing and see if that is an improvement, you could always give it a bath later.

Below are pics of a Green Murphy Bag 9930 that I dunked and rehabbed. As you can see in the before picture, there are some of those wavy lines on the left side of the bag (there are also a few on the lower front but not as obvious). The rehab didn't make the lines disappear but I think that the bag looks better and the lines appear natural IMO.

Green Murphy Bag 9930 Before
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Green Murphy Bag 9930 After:
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Bottle green correct? Love it! I am such a sucker for that veining! The sides melt my heart.
 
Hi! I have a question. I'm currently rehab-ing 3 Coach vintage New York City "Basic Bags." One is black, one is dark brown, and one is an unknown color. (Dark gray---when I washed it, it looked brown?) The dark gray has a nasty blue ink stain on it, and I'm going to have to dye the bag, probably. Does anyone know what colors the basic bag originally came in?

I got tons of the ink off after soaking and toothbrushing with soap, sopping it up with cotton balls, but more is still there. The ink is now all over my hands, too. :smile:

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Hi! I have a question. I'm currently rehab-ing 3 Coach vintage New York City "Basic Bags." One is black, one is dark brown, and one is an unknown color. (Dark gray---when I washed it, it looked brown?) The dark gray has a nasty blue ink stain on it, and I'm going to have to dye the bag, probably. Does anyone know what colors the basic bag originally came in?

I got tons of the ink off after soaking and toothbrushing with soap, sopping it up with cotton balls, but more is still there. The ink is now all over my hands, too. :smile:

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If you want to cover up the ink stain, the best bet is to dye it black, any lighter color the ink most likely will still visible.
 
I don't know if this is "normal" trying to remove ink, but the bag looks so much worse now. It spread and seems to have appeared on more areas. There was also a big ink spot on the bottom corner that I didn't see while it was wet. Here's a newbie question. When the bag dries inside, does the ink dry, too? Will items in the bag in the future get ink marks on them? This will be my first experiment in dying a purse. I guess we shall see what we shall see... I'm looking at the strap to try to figure out original color. The sides are gray and the surface is light brown.

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*channeling Faye Dunaway in her portrayal of Joan Crawford*

NO COLORED POLISH!!!

Before and afters..

I'm reaaaallllllyy hoping that the seller lurks here because that person put me through the ringer after I asked for a partial refund due not disclosing the nasty pen marks and colored polish. Bet she wishes she removed the polish!! HA!!!!!!!!

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OH.MY.WORD!!!!:loveeyes:
 
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Hey guys!

I just wanted to share something with everyone. I’ve just discovered electroplating for these older bags that have brass plated hardware on which the brass has worn off. I got mine on Amazon but they have a website too. It’s Caswells plug n plate. Here’s some pics of the first project I did on hardware from a members bag.
This is the set up which is a non arsenic process

View attachment 5370626
This is the progression, a before, a polished down to the nickel mid process, and finished
View attachment 5370625
and here are the finished open rings

View attachment 5370624


I’ve also started experimenting with metal still attached to the leather, like this kisslock frame on a Watermelon. I only just started to do the left corner there, but you can see the gold starting to show and it didn’t burn the leather.
View attachment 5370627
It’s kind of like painting in you have to keep moving the liquid so there is an “art” to it. The kit is only around $70 and mine is lasting far past expiration date.
Just something fun for you guys to try and more tools in your box!! :smile:
I was playing around with this idea a while ago when "rub n buff" just wasn't hacking it. I also wanted to re plate a kiss lock, but didn't want to remove it from the bag. I was so happy when I saw you post about it on Instagram. I'm going to make my own set up and have been waiting until it's warm enough to move outside so that I won't blow up the house when I mix my chemicals (which are easily found in the hardware store!) :lol: In the meantime, I'll live vicariously. Looking at this is making me so excited to get started!
 
I don't know if this is "normal" trying to remove ink, but the bag looks so much worse now. It spread and seems to have appeared on more areas. There was also a big ink spot on the bottom corner that I didn't see while it was wet. Here's a newbie question. When the bag dries inside, does the ink dry, too? Will items in the bag in the future get ink marks on them? This will be my first experiment in dying a purse. I guess we shall see what we shall see... I'm looking at the strap to try to figure out original color. The sides are gray and the surface is light brown.

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Yes it’s normal. Ink is insidious. What looks like a small spot that can be removed with some stain remover and persistence becomes this when water hits it
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I am in the same boat you are. Options are to dye or cover the stain with tea rose appliqué.
 
Hit the jackpot of rehab-ables just now at GW for a bargain price. Their usual price person must've been out sick coz these were a bargain. Bottom 2 are Costa Rica made. I'm look forward to see if the corners get some color backing the Companion bag(?) after her dunk. Also the Scooter has a fade line I wonder if I can blend a lot with intense conditioning...16490983234148132041948146017995.jpg16490983860267211969465807313143.jpg

I'm loving all the great rehab before and after pics I just scrolled through from the last few days!16490985256097845863688115378599.jpg
 
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