Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[Crystalcoach]

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.

I go to town on the brass with Bar Keepers friend. I use a q-tip dipped in it and make a real mess of it. Lol. I use a toothbrush dipped in water to clean up the leather or the zipper material afterwards or as I go along. THEN I dunk it immediately AFTER doing the brass. I sometimes have to use a little polishing cloth after the bag is dry to get the brass really shiny, but doing it this way, I don't have to worry about getting it on the leather.

I used to do the brass last, and I hated it because the leather would be pristine. it took a lot longer to polish the brass doing it last since I had to be so careful to avoid getting it on the leather.

 

[whateve]

I go to town on the brass with Bar Keepers friend. I use a q-tip dipped in it and make a real mess of it. Lol. I use a toothbrush dipped in water to clean up the leather or the zipper material afterwards or as I go along. THEN I dunk it immediately AFTER doing the brass. I sometimes have to use a little polishing cloth after the bag is dry to get the brass really shiny, but doing it this way, I don't have to worry about getting it on the leather.

I used to do the brass last, and I hated it because the leather would be pristine. it took a lot longer to polish the brass doing it last since I had to be so careful to avoid getting it on the leather.

I do it before and after too. When I do it before, it always needs it after. Vinegar in the rinse water helps.

 

[twizzleme]

Good morning!

Looking for some advice please.

I dunked this Dinky last night and it cleaned up quite nicely. U fortunately I noticed a few issues now that it’s dried a bit.

First, there are a series of wrinkled stripes or vertical stretch marks on the flap. I looked at my before pictures and I can faintly see them. They seem more pronounced now.

Second, notice the bubbly/wavy leather along the top seam of the back. Again, these were in my before pic but are more pronounced.

Are there any techniques you could recommend to minimize these? My first thought was to dunk again and try to stretch/smooth the bubbly/wavy leather while it was wet but seconds thoughts say stretching would make it worse.

The bag is still damp. I’m hoping these will be minimized when it’s completely dry. Crossing my fingers.

Thanx in advance for your thoughts

 

[whateve]

Good morning!

Looking for some advice please.

I dunked this Dinky last night and it cleaned up quite nicely. U fortunately I noticed a few issues now that it’s dried a bit.

First, there are a series of wrinkled stripes or vertical stretch marks on the flap. I looked at my before pictures and I can faintly see them. They seem more pronounced now.

Second, notice the bubbly/wavy leather along the top seam of the back. Again, these were in my before pic but are more pronounced.

Are there any techniques you could recommend to minimize these? My first thought was to dunk again and try to stretch/smooth the bubbly/wavy leather while it was wet but seconds thoughts say stretching would make it worse.

The bag is still damp. I’m hoping these will be minimized when it’s completely dry. Crossing my fingers.

Thanx in advance for your thoughts

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Those are grain marks, part of the leather. They may become less noticeable with conditioning. I wouldn't redunk. The wrinkling on the back might be improved if you lay the bag on its back on a flat surface and place something flat and heavy on the inside, like a book, while it continues to dry.

 

[twizzleme]

Those are grain marks, part of the leather. They may become less noticeable with conditioning. I wouldn't redunk. The wrinkling on the back might be improved if you lay the bag on its back on a flat surface and place something flat and heavy on the inside, like a book, while it continues to dry.

Thank you

 

[cw99999]

Very basic question: How do you know when it is enough CPR? I have seen people talk about 10+ coats. How do you know when you are done?

 

[twizzleme]

Good morning rehabbers!

Happy Halloween! It seems apt that I’m going start work on my first bone bag today.

The bag as apparently been stowed in the closet for 20+ years. It’s actually fairly clean. However there was some sort of spill on the inside. The inside stain is “salty” in nature. What worries me is that over time whatever was spilled soaked through over time I guess and has caused “bubbling” on the outside. I’ve included some pictures.

I welcome any advice on how to approach the spill. Also, any advice about working with bone would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you

Boo!

 

[Tilis]

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.

Thank you @whateve, I took your advice and used a bit of vinegar on the chrismas-tree q-tip, but I don't think it did much for the brass shine. I polished those loops as best as I could, and even though it is not perfect, I'm satisfied with it. The rest of the hardware polished up beautifully. She is presently ensconded in towels, after her bath and first CPR treatment. I'll show her off when she rejoins society

 

[kaokite]

Thank you @whateve, I took your advice and used a bit of vinegar on the chrismas-tree q-tip, but I don't think it did much for the brass shine. I polished those loops as best as I could, and even though it is not perfect, I'm satisfied with it. The rest of the hardware polished up beautifully. She is presently ensconded in towels, after her bath and first CPR treatment. I'll show her off when she rejoins society

I was thinking about this problem earlier today and realized the solution might just be pipe cleaners with a little simichrome or other polish to clean the gunk out of the strap loops, sort of like dental floss. I'd do it pre-dunk as @Crystalcoach suggested, then after w/out the polish. I don't have any pipe cleaners, so I can't test this theory, but I'm going to see if I can find some at the craft store and/or at an estate sale to use on my next project.

 

[kaokite]

The bag as apparently been stowed in the closet for 20+ years. It’s actually fairly clean. However there was some sort of spill on the inside. The inside stain is “salty” in nature. What worries me is that over time whatever was spilled soaked through over time I guess and has caused “bubbling” on the outside. I’ve included some pictures.

I think that might be some kid of mold, but would be interested to hear what the others have to say..

 

[Michelle1x]

I was thinking about this problem earlier today and realized the solution might just be pipe cleaners with a little simichrome or other polish to clean the gunk out of the strap loops, sort of like dental floss. I'd do it pre-dunk as @Crystalcoach suggested, then after w/out the polish. I don't have any pipe cleaners, so I can't test this theory, but I'm going to see if I can find some at the craft store and/or at an estate sale to use on my next project.

I use pipe cleaners. I have some tough verdigris on both a Trader brief and diplomat brief, with the square brass connectors - I was able to turn the brass around to clean it but the verdigris inside the leather is really tough, pipe cleaners work pretty well though.

 

[vintagecoachuk]

Hi everyone, hope you had a good Halloween? I have acquired the pony bag. Really excited to rehab this beauty. There’s a scruff in the leather which may benefit from some filler. Or whether I should leave it? Just wondered whether you would dunk it first? Any recommendations on filler options would be amazing. Thank you

 

[whateve]

Hi everyone, hope you had a good Halloween? I have acquired the pony bag. Really excited to rehab this beauty. There’s a scruff in the leather which may benefit from some filler. Or whether I should leave it? Just wondered whether you would dunk it first? Any recommendations on filler options would be amazing. Thank you

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I'm jealous! I would dunk first. You can easily fill that hole with leather cement and or fabric puff paint, then cover it with acrylic paint to match the bag.

 

[Michelle1x]

Hi everyone, hope you had a good Halloween? I have acquired the pony bag. Really excited to rehab this beauty. There’s a scruff in the leather which may benefit from some filler. Or whether I should leave it? Just wondered whether you would dunk it first? Any recommendations on filler options would be amazing. Thank you

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Whoa! Does it have a strap? It looks to be in wonderful condition

 

[vintagecoachuk]

I'm jealous! I would dunk first. You can easily fill that hole with leather cement and or fabric puff paint, then cover it with acrylic paint to match the bag.

Aww thank you. This will be the first time I attempt this type of rehab so appreciate your expertise will I be ok to dunk the bag in future if it needs it? With the cement and acrylic paint?