Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[FrenchieBull]

I took a chance on this Plaza bag last summer at a local garage sale. It had 2 big, black sharpie marks on the front. I managed to remove the pen with rubbing alcohol, but removed the finish as well. I tried blending the color back in with shoe polish, but it wasn’t pigmented enough. The oil in the polish darkened the leather where I applied it. I have not done any conditioner, so I’m hoping that will help with the darkening.
Can I salvage it? How?

 

[katev]

I took a chance on this Plaza bag last summer at a local garage sale. It had 2 big, black sharpie marks on the front. I managed to remove the pen with rubbing alcohol, but removed the finish as well. I tried blending the color back in with shoe polish, but it wasn’t pigmented enough. The oil in the polish darkened the leather where I applied it. I have not done any conditioner, so I’m hoping that will help with the darkening.
Can I salvage it? How?View attachment 5420355

It might need to be dyed, you could take it to a professional leather worker (shoe repair, luggage repair, cobbler) and ask for an opinion - sorry!

 

[pammbw]

I took a chance on this Plaza bag last summer at a local garage sale. It had 2 big, black sharpie marks on the front. I managed to remove the pen with rubbing alcohol, but removed the finish as well. I tried blending the color back in with shoe polish, but it wasn’t pigmented enough. The oil in the polish darkened the leather where I applied it. I have not done any conditioner, so I’m hoping that will help with the darkening.
Can I salvage it? How?View attachment 5420355

First thing I would try is a conditioning product that darkened the leather and try and blend in the spots. Mink oil maybe? Then I would dye if that didn’t work. Feibings leather dye is very good for Coach bags. Choose a color to blend in the spots and follow the manufacturer directions for application. It’s pretty simple but a bit messy so protect your surfaces. Let us know how it turns out!

 

[DL Harper]

I have a light pebbled bag to finish off after a dunk and CRP conditioning. What should I use? I have Blackrocks on hand, but would need to order if there is a better product for light bags.

 

[katev]

I have a light pebbled bag to finish off after a dunk and CRP conditioning. What should I use? I have Blackrocks on hand, but would need to order if there is a better product for light bags.

CPR is probably fine if you use it lightly and quickly wipe off the excess.

ETA: I often use Lexol for textured or delicate bags; it's seems to be a lighter moisturizer.

 

[DL Harper]

CPR is probably fine if you use it lightly and quickly wipe off the excess.

ETA: I often use Lexol for textured or delicate bags; it's seems to be a lighter moisturizer.

Do you use Lexol instead of CPR and Blackrocks after dunking? Do you use Lexol wipes or a liquid form?

 

[katev]

Do you use Lexol instead of CPR and Blackrocks after dunking? Do you use Lexol wipes or a liquid form?

If the bag is textured I may use Leather Therapy Oil instead of CPR and Lexol instead of Blackrocks.

I usually get the Lexol wipes. I often use the Lexol Cleaner wipes and the Lexol Conditioner wipes to maintain bags that I am putting into storage at the end of the season.

I've got so many products, I'm like a "Mad Chemist!"

 

[DL Harper]

If the bag is textured I may use Leather Therapy Oil instead of CPR and Lexol instead of Blackrocks.

I usually get the Lexol wipes. I often use the Lexol Cleaner wipes and the Lexol Conditioner wipes to maintain bags that I am putting into storage at the end of the season.

I've got so many products, I'm like a "Mad Chemist!"

Funny - the arsenal of rehab products! And no license required for mixing and applying it.

Sounds like I may have used the wrong product because I used CPR after the dunk. When I took "inventory" earlier, it turns out I already have Leather Therapy Oil and Lexol liquid cleaner. Can I apply Leather Therapy Oil now, or should I redunk to remove the CPR?
Amazon loves me - apparently every time someone here recommends a product that works for them, I purchase it. But somehow I missed getting Lexol wipes, so it's on my shopping list.

BTW - have any of you ladies used Leather Honey Conditioner on a bag? I originally bought it for leather car seats, then thought I'd use it on a bag, but it's pretty thick for either application. In the summer heat of the south that might turn out to be an enormous mess. Thoughts or experience?

 

[katev]

Funny - the arsenal of rehab products! And no license required for mixing and applying it.

Sounds like I may have used the wrong product because I used CPR after the dunk. When I took "inventory" earlier, it turns out I already have Leather Therapy Oil and Lexol liquid cleaner. Can I apply Leather Therapy Oil now, or should I redunk to remove the CPR?
Amazon loves me - apparently every time someone here recommends a product that works for them, I purchase it. But somehow I missed getting Lexol wipes, so it's on my shopping list.

BTW - have any of you ladies used Leather Honey Conditioner on a bag? I originally bought it for leather car seats, then thought I'd use it on a bag, but it's pretty thick for either application. In the summer heat of the south that might turn out to be an enormous mess. Thoughts or experience?

I am sure that the CPR will be fine as long as you didn’t apply so heavily that it leaves visible residue. You can apply a little lexol last to finish it. There’s no perfect procedure, and everyone has different preferences so feel free to experiment.

 

[LadaZuri]

wrong thread

 

[Coachaddict4020]

Hello everyone,
I'm trying to bring a vintage Scout bag back to life but am new to the rehab game and would greatly appreciate any advice you all might have to offer!
1. Previous owner replaced the original springlock with a turnlock. I'm hoping I can switch back to a springlock but have no idea how they work/ how they're attached to the leather. I'd love to see a close-up pic if anyone has a bag with a springlock closure.
2. There are a few gouges on the edge where my chinchilla nibbled the leather (shown in pics). Are there any products that can be used as filler? I plan to use black edgepaint on top, after filling the gaps. Or is there a better option?
Thank you in advance!

View attachment 5420279View attachment 5420280

You might not be able to swap back to a spring lock because the cuts the previous owner made to add the turn lock will be visible if you try to go back to a spring lock. Also, spring locks are incredibly hard to find. If you don’t already have the part, you’ll have to buy another bag with the same size spring lock as yours to use it for parts. I think the turn lock looks fine so I would leave it as is. Spring locks also go bad & become loose overtime.

I can definitely show you a close up pic of the spring lock & what the leather looks like with it removed. Just give me until the afternoon, I’ll have to do it on my break.

As for the piping damage, search “coach puff paint” on the forum & read the posts from the TPF member “Whateve”.

 

[Jacynthe]

May I never take for granted I can 2 miles to Dollar General and buy it for less than retail, plus NJ sales tax. You are so welcome. I enjoy the contribution you bring to the forum.

@Lake Effect ...wow! am I understanding correctly? You purchase CPR at the dollar store??

 

[Coachaddict4020]

You might not be able to swap back to a spring lock because the cuts the previous owner made to add the turn lock will be visible if you try to go back to a spring lock. Also, spring locks are incredibly hard to find. If you don’t already have the part, you’ll have to buy another bag with the same size spring lock as yours to use it for parts. I think the turn lock looks fine so I would leave it as is. Spring locks also go bad & become loose overtime.

I can definitely show you a close up pic of the spring lock & what the leather looks like with it removed. Just give me until the afternoon, I’ll have to do it on my break.

As for the piping damage, search “coach puff paint” on the forum & read the posts from the TPF member “Whateve”.

@MoreCoachPleez

Here are the spring lock pieces as well as what the leather looks like when you remove them. Each piece has 2 parts that twist on & off. You can remove the pieces by using cuticle scissors in the 2 holes (as I’ve shown) & twisting to loosen/tighten:


^on this bag in particular, the spring lock is broken so I plan to swap for a turn lock (like your bag) after I rehab it.

 

[Lake Effect]

@Lake Effect ...wow! am I understanding correctly? You purchase CPR at the dollar store??

Dollar General is a discount chain, but they are not a “dollar store” like the chain, Dollar Tree, used to be. They sell it for $10. Girl if I could buy that for a buck, I’d get a side hustle going that would be funding an early retirement!!!

 

[Hoku44]

Funny - the arsenal of rehab products! And no license required for mixing and applying it.

Sounds like I may have used the wrong product because I used CPR after the dunk. When I took "inventory" earlier, it turns out I already have Leather Therapy Oil and Lexol liquid cleaner. Can I apply Leather Therapy Oil now, or should I redunk to remove the CPR?
Amazon loves me - apparently every time someone here recommends a product that works for them, I purchase it. But somehow I missed getting Lexol wipes, so it's on my shopping list.

BTW - have any of you ladies used Leather Honey Conditioner on a bag? I originally bought it for leather car seats, then thought I'd use it on a bag, but it's pretty thick for either application. In the summer heat of the south that might turn out to be an enormous mess. Thoughts or experience?

I have used it and was not fond of the results. I found it be too thick and heavy. I did use it sparingly too.

If I have a bag that is that dry, I use Leather Therapy instead. I am baffled by the high reviews on Amazon for that stuff.