Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

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#39,541
GoStanford said:
Am enjoying catching up on the latest projects! Today marked a first for me in removing a turnlock. I don’t have the right tools, ended using one of the attachments on my penknife, but I need to get a flat thin smooth blade.

My question is whether there’s a way to remove this type of turnlock. The one I removed is the flat oval plate with the four pointy teeth.

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I did my first turnlock a couple weeks ago. I used a screwdriver for my flat thin blade. Then I used a pliers to pry up the prongs. The back of this piece of the turnlock has two overlapping prongs. Straighten them out as best you can and then work the entire hardware loose and lift off. Getting it off was relatively easy for me. Getting it back on was harder. :) It was a small daypack and there wasn't much access into the body of the bag to work it. I know someone here has shared a tool they like: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D7XNQHG/
 
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#39,542
Roro said:
There was an active, rehabbing member named, I think, @momtok (apparently no longer a member) who recommended folding and 'massaging' the bag when the leather CPR is applied. That would allow the conditioner to get more into the lower layers of the leather. (she had quite a good explanation with better language for why this works). I rehab a lot of bags and I've seen the same stiffness that you mention. The folding and 'massaging' makes a big difference. I will see if I can find the original posts. I saved all of her rehabbing instruction posts but they are on another computer.
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So, the other computer was replaced because of issues--like not starting up and freezing once it does. Minus the posts, literally massaging the bag between your two hands, like you were kneading dough, helps soften the leather and distribute the conditioner. I have used this often, particularly on duffles, and I always get the slouch I love. Soft leather is required.
 
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#39,543
ConnieinSeattle said:
I did my first turnlock a couple weeks ago. I used a screwdriver for my flat thin blade. Then I used a pliers to pry up the prongs. The back of this piece of the turnlock has two overlapping prongs. Straighten them out as best you can and then work the entire hardware loose and lift off. Getting it off was relatively easy for me. Getting it back on was harder. :smile: It was a small daypack and there wasn't much access into the body of the bag to work it. I know someone here has shared a tool they like: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D7XNQHG/
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I need to ask for more info...this type of turnlock from the photo is removable? I didn't know that. I will take a look and see if I can identify the prongs and where to work on lifting it.
 
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#39,545
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#39,546
ConnieinSeattle said:
Here's where I share photos of what it looks like. I didn't know about leather covering. Mine was just open. https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club.833400/post-35278180
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whateve said:
There is a chance it is covered with a piece of leather.
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Ohhh OK I think I get it now. I only removed the oval plate components, but yes, there is this other portion, and I can see from @ConnieinSeattle's photos that that actually has two prongs...thank you for referring me to your photos! I will see if I can gently remove these other two components.

Five minutes later, here we are! These two additional parts came off easily. I have got the four pieces soaking in dilute vinegar and I might try a home sonicator (jewelry cleaner machine) to shake off more debris.
094D9A30-3CC3-4DFE-8DCF-95869D7BA08F.jpeg
 
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#39,547
Roro said:
There was an active, rehabbing member named, I think, @momtok (apparently no longer a member) who recommended folding and 'massaging' the bag when the leather CPR is applied. That would allow the conditioner to get more into the lower layers of the leather. (she had quite a good explanation with better language for why this works). I rehab a lot of bags and I've seen the same stiffness that you mention. The folding and 'massaging' makes a big difference. I will see if I can find the original posts. I saved all of her rehabbing instruction posts but they are on another computer.
Click to expand...
I would love this info as well.
 
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#39,548
vintageleather said:
Sooooo here comes NIGHTMARE AT THE PLAZA! I bought this bag off depop, I’d already started the dunk when I should have been attempting to get my money back, but here I am. I have never rehabbed a bag before. Basically, this poor bag has been painted :sad:. The listing pictures and even closeup of the creed showed no paint, but when it arrived holy smokes! I have one photo of the creed upon arrival that shows the paint and how pretty much the bag looked, now I’m in the middle of a blood bath dunk and scrub fiasco. Appreciate any advice as I don’t know wtf I’m doing. Poor bag!

View attachment 5592365

View attachment 5592366

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Ugh that hurts my BT lovin heart.
 
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#39,550
VintageEnthusiast said:
Hi everyone,
I needed some advice in post dunking. I've dunked a few bags now and am not happy with the way the leather turns out post dunk! It feels stiff and unyielding. I have tried conditioning with leather CPR and BR leather 'n' rich even before the leather is dry but the bag still dries “stiff” and the softness of the leather is lost. I live in Los Angeles - could the water be a contributing problem? How many treatments of conditioner & Black Rocks are needed? Do I need other products as well?
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I’ve had that problem but found if I start CPR treatments right after the dunking, the leather absorbs the conditioner better. I use my fingers and massage it into the leather. I use a ton of CPR and let it be absorbed into the leather without wiping off residue. If the bag started out with dry leather, I do even more treatments but I always do multiple CPR treatments as the bag dries. I usually do 6-10 CPR treatments as the bag dries.
 
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#39,552
Paris Girl said:
I’ve had that problem but found if I start CPR treatments right after the dunking, the leather absorbs the conditioner better. I use my fingers and massage it into the leather. I use a ton of CPR and let it be absorbed into the leather without wiping off residue. If the bag started out with dry leather, I do even more treatments but I always do multiple CPR treatments as the bag dries. I usually do 6-10 CPR treatments as the bag dries.
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Thank you!
 
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#39,553
GoStanford said:
At what point do you call it on salvaging a bag that has verdigris on the leather? Every time I wipe these areas particularly by the turnlock I get a fine blue green powder coming up. I’ll do a search for tips on how to deal with the leather itself View attachment 5595027

View attachment 5595028
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Have you tried a stiff brush to get the verdigris off? I use almost a nail brush during cleaning and have a mix of dawn water with cleaning vinegar that i use to clean crusty areas. I bought one bag that was the worst I've ever seen and used a salt dawn vinegar water solution to clean it
 
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#39,554
VintageEnthusiast said:
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Usually my bags feel nice when they’re dry after these treatments but if they need something else I’ll switch to another product that is a heavier conditioner. Which one depends on each bag and it’s color. I always do lots of buffing with a horsehair brush too on the later treatments. But you probably already know that! It really helps the leather and gives it a nice finish.
 
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#39,555
Hello all,

a recent unplanned trip to the thrift store has sent me down the Coach rehab rabbit hole. I have a Willis bag (mine from the 90s) needing a dunk & LOTS of TLC, but I am going to start on something small and hopefully a little easier. I picked up this little gal yesterday. She's got water stains on the bottom and a LOT of dirt that needs to come off..It's hard to tell from the photos though!

Like all new obsessions, I want to get started PRONTO and have gathered up all the supplies (brushes, Leather CPR, Renapur, Blackrock..) But I'm a little scared to dunk because I think there's some kind of paper stiffener sewn in under a band inside the top edge. Has anyone had experience with dunking this style or another where there is some kind of support sewn in?

Thanks all..
IMG_5470.jpeg
 
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