Thank you! That has been my thinking exactly. Were it in one of the "natural" colors as in black or any shade of brown, there would be a way to even out the patina, some scratches and even some minimal staining. And the minor flaws wouldn't really stand out. It would just feel like a natural sign of wear. But that never translates the same on bags in greens, blues, purples etc. As hard as I tried to fight against it, the best option is to paint.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
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I have a busy few days here so I won’t keep you waiting 
Here are the before pictures of my burg Marketing Tote:
This was in early evening light. If you enlarge the photos, you can see a lot of blotchy-ness and unevenness from wear, comparable to the before photos. I love what the conditioners have done for this bag! I ended up using Brasso on the visible part of the rings (
for the reminder @Narnanz). I need to brush out the suede interior pockets and hit the zipper pulls with a little Brasso and it is good to go! The interior was quite clean, given the wear. I understand many have a preference not to dunk (including those who did a lot of dunking in the past!). Owning many vintage Coach bags that do not appear to have been dunked and handling even more that were for sale, I do not feel the leather has been compromised (like my brothers’ baseball gloves that got left out in the rain - the glove-tanned leather that inspired the Cahn’s).
Between this and my burg Stewardess, has my burgundy vintage Coach itch been scratched??
Will take them to the office tomorrow.
Here are the before pictures of my burg Marketing Tote:I posted on May 24 with some details of the process. And here it is following an app of Renapur, which I used for finishing. And lots of buffing:Hi
At your convenience , please take a look at what I hope is a legit Marketing Tote.
The link is no longer active from last spring; eBay seller: reignition
Measures 9.5 in high, 14.75 in wide, 3 in inches deep
This was in early evening light. If you enlarge the photos, you can see a lot of blotchy-ness and unevenness from wear, comparable to the before photos. I love what the conditioners have done for this bag! I ended up using Brasso on the visible part of the rings (
for the reminder @Narnanz). I need to brush out the suede interior pockets and hit the zipper pulls with a little Brasso and it is good to go! The interior was quite clean, given the wear. I understand many have a preference not to dunk (including those who did a lot of dunking in the past!). Owning many vintage Coach bags that do not appear to have been dunked and handling even more that were for sale, I do not feel the leather has been compromised (like my brothers’ baseball gloves that got left out in the rain - the glove-tanned leather that inspired the Cahn’s).Between this and my burg Stewardess, has my burgundy vintage Coach itch been scratched??
Will take them to the office tomorrow.
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Really, really beautiful.I have a busy few days here so I won’t keep you waiting
I posted on May 24 with some details of the process. And here it is following an app of Renapur, which I used for finishing. And lots of buffing:
View attachment 6182048View attachment 6182049View attachment 6182050
This was in early evening light. If you enlarge the photos, you can see a lot of blotchy-ness and unevenness from wear, comparable to the before photos. I love what the conditioners have done for this bag! I ended up using Brasso on the visible part of the rings (
Between this and my burg Stewardess, has my burgundy vintage Coach itch been scratched??
Finally finished working on the Waverly as well. It took some time to figure out, but it turned out to be in Ocean. Based on the original photos I was sure it would be Mint, but it was the paint on the edges of the bag and the tag that gave it away, more than the leather. There was a considerable difference in color inside and outside the bag as well.
It seems I overcame my fear of paint with the Megan so I really went ham with this one and even painted the inside of the bag. Basically everything except for the interior of the pocket. Even the trim. Basically matched the shade to the less discolored parts of the interior and the zipper, which should originally be a close match to the color of the bag.
Used Angelus paints as before (Grey as the base, with added White, Blue, Yellow), but also a considerable amount of 2-Thin. I don't know if it's a question of batch, but I've noticed that some of the Angelus paints are much thicker than others. And so there can be a risk of losing all of the natural texture of a smooth leather and creating a uniform rubbery surface.
It seems I overcame my fear of paint with the Megan so I really went ham with this one and even painted the inside of the bag. Basically everything except for the interior of the pocket. Even the trim. Basically matched the shade to the less discolored parts of the interior and the zipper, which should originally be a close match to the color of the bag.
Used Angelus paints as before (Grey as the base, with added White, Blue, Yellow), but also a considerable amount of 2-Thin. I don't know if it's a question of batch, but I've noticed that some of the Angelus paints are much thicker than others. And so there can be a risk of losing all of the natural texture of a smooth leather and creating a uniform rubbery surface.
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Holy Amazeballs!!...She really Glows!!I have a busy few days here so I won’t keep you waiting
I posted on May 24 with some details of the process. And here it is following an app of Renapur, which I used for finishing. And lots of buffing:
View attachment 6182048View attachment 6182049View attachment 6182050
This was in early evening light. If you enlarge the photos, you can see a lot of blotchy-ness and unevenness from wear, comparable to the before photos. I love what the conditioners have done for this bag! I ended up using Brasso on the visible part of the rings (
Between this and my burg Stewardess, has my burgundy vintage Coach itch been scratched??
Sharing my little organizational upgrade just for fun. Kind of thin gauge metal so won’t be taking for spins around family room, but more than sturdy enough for its purpose and $32 price tag!
Coasters to roll out when I’m working and then stow neatly back in bag closet. Got my tubs up off the closet floor. And my family isn’t asking my work-in-progress to vacate the kitchen island. 😂
Coasters to roll out when I’m working and then stow neatly back in bag closet. Got my tubs up off the closet floor. And my family isn’t asking my work-in-progress to vacate the kitchen island. 😂
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Thank you! The bags had a lot of potential! Thanks for cheering me along, with everyone else.Really, really beautiful.
I was buffing buffing buffing every step of the way, cloth and brush. It was glowing before the Renapur. The shine may “calm down” a little with use, but I wanted to give it as much conditioning without overdoing it. I caught good lighting with my iPad too. That always helps.
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My next candidate,
After years of chasing bags, test driving so many, I keep coming back to my Oliver. I like the east/west orientation and zipper that opens down the sides (no knuckle scraping) and the strap. I saw this one in black and thought why not. When a took this in the evening the flash when off and showed all its secrets, including ink! I thought it was in better shape, but black is so forgiving.
I will get this moving Saturday.
After years of chasing bags, test driving so many, I keep coming back to my Oliver. I like the east/west orientation and zipper that opens down the sides (no knuckle scraping) and the strap. I saw this one in black and thought why not. When a took this in the evening the flash when off and showed all its secrets, including ink! I thought it was in better shape, but black is so forgiving.
I will get this moving Saturday.
Nice. I have a lot of smaller items in a basket under my coffee table in my living room. I have bottles of product in the bathroom closet and in a tote that needs to rehabbed!
I have several plants by window on a thrifted drop leaf table. I got repotting almost done, will deep clean the area and open a leaf to use for rehabbing! Will take a pic when it’s ready.
Over the years I have seen some amazing color matching and refreshing. My hat is off to you! Appreciate you sharing the ingredients for your special sauce!
You guys are so tidy and organized. My stuff is all over everywhere. I have a tray on my work counter, and the round bin is stuff I use less often and spare hardware and leather scraps. There are also BAGS of more supplies. I really stocked up on leather CPR on a road trip that included "Dollar General" stores, and I stopped at each one looking for more leather CPR.
Wow, so much CPR!
I don't rehab much anymore. My stuff is in boxes in the garage and under the sink in the laundry room. When I'm in the middle of a rehab, I usually take over the laundry room.
I get you. I need to start stopping by Dollar General’s by me. Ever since the one close by revamped the store, it’s like the don’t carry it anymore. I have an unopened container, so it’s not an emergency
. Yet.I look at all those CPR bottles and cry in NZ$
*sigh* will have to look at Amazon again...see if they are doing the large refill eligible for shipping to NZ
In your defense you are and have been refurbishing an amazing number of bags! I just dunked a bag and it’s been a year and a half since the last time. I am excited to start going through my bag stash/hoard and take inventory. You’re this
rehab beacon shining on in the distance for me! Thanks for all the posting. It makes it fun.