Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[Crystalcoach]

About to start on these 2 beauties. The saddle pouch has a lot of fading on the front flap and particularly on the strap. Would you all recommend recoloring first or dunking first? Also, I think it might be a good idea to condition the saddle before dunking since it's dry and old --NYC bag. Should I use CPR for preconditioning or Obenaufs/Blackrocks?

Thanks in advance for all y'all's expertise!

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Here's the saddle pouch. I normally would have washed these together, but I felt the saddle pouch needed some special tlc. The color is much more even than it was, although still a little faded looking compared to the heavy patina elsewhere, especially the strap. I think it turned out alright though, very shiny and healthy looking now.

I took a picture with my other saddle pouch too, because why not?

 

[SJAllison]

Hi all! I searched through the forum and it seemed like the general consensus is that pen marks don’t come out of leather well if at all. I have a small pen mark on the outside of a red leather bag and I’m afraid to do anything to try to remove it. I haven’t dunked yet. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

Another rehab project. I think it's going to come out great!

 

[Coachaddict4020]

Hi all! I searched through the forum and it seemed like the general consensus is that pen marks don’t come out of leather well if at all. I have a small pen mark on the outside of a red leather bag and I’m afraid to do anything to try to remove it. I haven’t dunked yet. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

The last time I touched a pen mark on the outside of a bag, I accidentally made it look more obvious. You can try to remove it pre-dunk & then dunk it to see if the dye that bleeds might cover up the lightened area. Personally, I would leave it- I always learn the hard way that less is more.

Pen marks can be removed to some extent using alcohol, acetone, a pencil eraser (the white kind) or hairspray. All methods are harsh on the leather IMO.

 

[nauticalstar]

officially addicted now! Two more thrift finds to work on- reading up on all the tips for reds now!

 

[Crystalcoach]

The last time I touched a pen mark on the outside of a bag, I accidentally made it look more obvious. You can try to remove it pre-dunk & then dunk it to see if the dye that bleeds might cover up the lightened area. Personally, I would leave it- I always learn the hard way that less is more.

Pen marks can be removed to some extent using alcohol, acetone, a pencil eraser (the white kind) or hairspray. All methods are harsh on the leather IMO.

I agree. I've had success removing a marker explosion on a blavy bag (I don't remember who coined this term, but it's perfect) and pen on a black bag. BUT I tried to remove pen on an otherwise beautiful British tan bag, and all it did was remove the dye, hardly touched the pen marks! It completely ruined the bag.

I've seen success stories elsewhere, but I have a hard time believing them, like that they didn't then recolor the leather afterwards. Or maybe they got them out right away? Idk, but I don't know if I'd risk it.

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

I dunked an ink mess on a vintage basic bag and it grew and grew and grew. I ended up dying the bag (originally gray) black.

 

[DL Harper]

Hi all! I searched through the forum and it seemed like the general consensus is that pen marks don’t come out of leather well if at all. I have a small pen mark on the outside of a red leather bag and I’m afraid to do anything to try to remove it. I haven’t dunked yet. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

The only luck I've had removing a portion of a pen mark was on pebbled leather bags - Parchment, Sea (greenish-grayish) and a tan-ish, not quite British Tan. I can't speak for how it would work on other pebbled leather colors. With a toothpick dipped in 70% isoproply alcohol, follow the line of the pen mark. Repeat if necessary, but not so much that the alcohol completely takes away the leather color.
This method might not work on smooth leather, as there is nothing to "hide" the very slight discoloration you could have.
Good luck!

 

[Tilis]

Boohoo, I have sadly neglected (along with a lot of other things) to keep up with this thread. I decided to tackle the Collegiate, since I still have to pick up the lappy bag at the saddlery. I have removed the hardware but a bit stymied with the loops (marked). Do you ladies try to open them or clean them in situ ? They look like being openable, but not sure. I'm afraid I will damage the leather if I get Wenol on it and I cannot see how to get deep enough into the leather loop to do a good job. Btw, the recommended plastic tools for hardware removal recommended here, worked a charm !

 

[whateve]

Boohoo, I have sadly neglected (along with a lot of other things) to keep up with this thread. I decided to tackle the Collegiate, since I still have to pick up the lappy bag at the saddlery. I have removed the hardware but a bit stymied with the loops (marked). Do you ladies try to open them or clean them in situ ? They look like being openable, but not sure. I'm afraid I will damage the leather if I get Wenol on it and I cannot see how to get deep enough into the leather loop to do a good job. Btw, the recommended plastic tools for hardware removal recommended here, worked a charm !

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I don't remove them and I don't think most people do. You can sometimes work the loop around so you can reach all parts.

 

[twizzleme]

Hello rehabbers!

Looking for some advice here. I picked up this City bag at the goodwill. The bag is from 1997 and the structural integrity is amazing - very little sign of usage - zero scratches etc.

Here’s the problem with the bag. There are signs of mildew from a long time ago. There is zero moldy smell.

I’m hoping a soapy vinegar soak will take care of any residual infection and a gentle scrub will remove the old mildew stains. Any advice on this process will be gratefully accepted.

There is another issue - the turnlock has vertigre so I think I need to remove it to properly remediate. I’ve never removed hardware before so I’m a bit nervous. Also not sure when to do it. Should I remove the turnlock and soak/clean the bag without it? Or should soak/clean the bag with the turnlock in place? What’s my order of operations here? Am I overthinking this?

Thanx in advance for your thoughts.
Including some relevant pics

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This bag cleaned up. Beautifully! Thank you for the advice.

 

[Tilis]

I don't remove them and I don't think most people do. You can sometimes work the loop around so you can reach all parts.

Thank you @whateve, the loop is really small, but I will wiggle it as much as I can - the leather there is really quite strong still with little give. This is the one bag I would really hate to mess up, she is my oldest .

 

[whateve]

Thank you @whateve, the loop is really small, but I will wiggle it as much as I can - the leather there is really quite strong still with little give. This is the one bag I would really hate to mess up, she is my oldest .

I checked on mine and it is pretty tight too. I wouldn't want to loosen it up by forcing it. You can put vinegar on a q-tip and wiggle it into the parts you can't reach. That won't stain the leather.

 

[SJAllison]

The last time I touched a pen mark on the outside of a bag, I accidentally made it look more obvious. You can try to remove it pre-dunk & then dunk it to see if the dye that bleeds might cover up the lightened area. Personally, I would leave it- I always learn the hard way that less is more.

Pen marks can be removed to some extent using alcohol, acetone, a pencil eraser (the white kind) or hairspray. All methods are harsh on the leather IMO.

Thank you! I’m going to proceed with caution. Easier said than done

 

[SJAllison]

The only luck I've had removing a portion of a pen mark was on pebbled leather bags - Parchment, Sea (greenish-grayish) and a tan-ish, not quite British Tan. I can't speak for how it would work on other pebbled leather colors. With a toothpick dipped in 70% isoproply alcohol, follow the line of the pen mark. Repeat if necessary, but not so much that the alcohol completely takes away the leather color.
This method might not work on smooth leather, as there is nothing to "hide" the very slight discoloration you could have.
Good luck!

Thank you!