Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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Hi! I’m new to this vintage Coach hobby but already obsessed. I cleaned up a Multizip in British tan, and I’m almost finished with a mahogany Metropolis bag. Both of them were in decent condition to start but rehabbed beautifully with a dunk, a scrub of the hardware with vinegar, and a few coats of Bick 4 leather conditioner.
My nemesis, however, is this Lightweights collection small bucket bag in some sort of light tan/taupe color. It definitely had a musty odor, and the leather was SO dry and almost crunchy feeling when I got it (from eBay).
I scrubbed the hardware with brasso and then vinegar, then dunked the bag with Dawn and a tiny bit of vinegar. Scrubbed with horsehair brush while it was soaking. I put some Bick4 on while it was still wet, stuffed with towels, then 24hrs later another good coat of Bick4 and went over it for a few minutes with a hair dryer.
It’s still a tiny bit damp so I’m desperately hoping that the color will even out some when it’s fully dry… but is this bag doomed? I can’t even tell what color it is, and the bag, interior pocket, and strap look like they’re 3 different colors. It still feels verrrrry dry and a bit crunchy so maybe it just needs a bunch more coats of conditioner? Should I try another product?
My nemesis, however, is this Lightweights collection small bucket bag in some sort of light tan/taupe color. It definitely had a musty odor, and the leather was SO dry and almost crunchy feeling when I got it (from eBay).
I scrubbed the hardware with brasso and then vinegar, then dunked the bag with Dawn and a tiny bit of vinegar. Scrubbed with horsehair brush while it was soaking. I put some Bick4 on while it was still wet, stuffed with towels, then 24hrs later another good coat of Bick4 and went over it for a few minutes with a hair dryer.
It’s still a tiny bit damp so I’m desperately hoping that the color will even out some when it’s fully dry… but is this bag doomed? I can’t even tell what color it is, and the bag, interior pocket, and strap look like they’re 3 different colors. It still feels verrrrry dry and a bit crunchy so maybe it just needs a bunch more coats of conditioner? Should I try another product?
With earlier bags, the dyes weren't necessarily even in color from piece to piece. Different pieces took the dye differently so it isn't uncommon to see bags vary in color, especially with lighter colors. Adding to that, lightweights bags used a thinner leather that didn't absorb as much dye as original bags and were very prone to fading. They don't respond as well to rehabbing.
I'm not sure Bick 4 is the best conditioner in this situation. The leather should never feel crunchy. You need something heavy duty like CPR or even leather honey, but with Leather Honey you are likely to see even more variation of color. If you do use Leather Honey, you might use it until the leather has recovered, then have to redunk and use other conditioners to get the color more even. Or last resort, add a bit of dye to your conditioner at the end to fix the color.
Good to know. I didn’t realize CPR was more heavy duty — I had read some reviews saying that and the Bick were very similar so I went with the Bick because it was half the price on Amazon. I’ll track down some leather CPR this week and give that a try! At this point I don’t have much to lose!
Hi and welcome. I saw your bag count. You’ll fit in just fine here!
You might start by rubbing leather conditioner into the area to see if it lessens the discoloration.
The photo is after multiple coats of CPR. I am not sure I should go with a heavier condition on that type of leather.
Well, if you already tried Leather CPR then I don't think that using more will help, but Italian Madison Leather bags may be tougher than they seem. I have rehabbed several of these bags and some of then needed to be dunked and they survived it quite well, but they took a long time to dry.
Below are before and after pics of a Forest Green Madison Drake Briefbag 4420 that I rehabbed and it was dirty and misshappen and it had slight leather damage and color loss, especially around the handles and bottom corners, and it had a imprint from the flap in the leather. It survived the rehab well IMO.
Dunking your bag should help to remove the handle imprint, but I think that some color repair will also be needed, you could try a light application of matching acryllic paint to the damaged area.
Madison Drake Briefbag Before:
https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club.833400/page-1646#post-33532798
Madison Drake Briefbag After:
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
Speaking of creeds fading...mine has almost disappeared in the Rambler..its still drying but do you think it will get better or is this it for the creed? I've never had them completely disappear on all leather bags. It might be a little better once it is dry.
forum.purseblog.com
The Drake had suedecloth lining but I have also dunked other Italian Madison bags with traditional cloth lining and they came out well, like this red Carlyle 4401:
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
Speaking of creeds fading...mine has almost disappeared in the Rambler..its still drying but do you think it will get better or is this it for the creed? I've never had them completely disappear on all leather bags. It might be a little better once it is dry.
forum.purseblog.com
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Thank you so much for the information. I will try dunking and conditioning. I love the Italian Madison bags. That Drake is gorgeous.Well, if you already tried Leather CPR then I don't think that using more will help, but Italian Madison Leather bags may be tougher than they seem. I have rehabbed several of these bags and some of then needed to be dunked and they survived it quite well, but they took a long time to dry.
Below are before and after pics of a Forest Green Madison Drake Briefbag 4420 that I rehabbed and it was dirty and misshappen and it had slight leather damage and color loss, especially around the handles and bottom corners, and it had a imprint from the flap in the leather. It survived the rehab well IMO.
Dunking your bag should help to remove the handle imprint, but I think that some color repair will also be needed, you could try a light application of matching acryllic paint to the damaged area.
Madison Drake Briefbag Before:
https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club.833400/page-1646#post-33532798
Madison Drake Briefbag After:
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
Speaking of creeds fading...mine has almost disappeared in the Rambler..its still drying but do you think it will get better or is this it for the creed? I've never had them completely disappear on all leather bags. It might be a little better once it is dry.
The Drake had suedecloth lining but I have also dunked other Italian Madison bags with traditional cloth lining and they came out well, like this red Carlyle 4401:
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
Speaking of creeds fading...mine has almost disappeared in the Rambler..its still drying but do you think it will get better or is this it for the creed? I've never had them completely disappear on all leather bags. It might be a little better once it is dry.
Have you ever used Black Rocks Leather n Rich conditioner? It has a tendency to darken leather (Just a little) and it often leaves a little sheen. Use it sparingly, as the last step on the affected area and it might help minimize the damage.