Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

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Thanks whateve, I'm seeing some old rehabs and thinking am I doing it right?
Do I just keep applying a layer until it looks nourished?
Any mink oil recommendations?

Just looked up the leather honey and skidmores too I'll just out this on over the current layers of leather cpr no problem? Gonna see what I can find locally.
I've used a combination of conditioners on the same bag without problems. I guess you could have problems if you had too much of a build-up of conditioners. Sometimes you try different things just to see which one works the best. It helps to use thin layers and make sure they have really soaked in, and buffing, before applying more. Someone here also polishes the leather lightly with very fine steel wool between layers to help the leather soak up the conditioner better.

For mink oil, I don't have a recommendation. I don't think they actually use real mink oil anymore. The stuff I used I had sitting around the house for years so it might have had real mink in it. It seemed a bit waxy.

Leather honey looks like honey. I didn't think I would like it because of that, but I painted it on with a paint brush and after awhile, it absorbed in. I used it on a bag that had mildew damage and it really improved it. I used multiple coats and it just kept soaking in.

Skidmore's is similar to Blackrocks but is easier to use and seems to soften the leather more. You don't have to be careful to not use too much like you do with Blackrocks. It doesn't give it quite the finishing sheen of Blackrocks though.

If there is a saddle shop nearby, they probably have some good products. After you find out what they have, you can google it or ask here if anyone knows anything about the products.
 
I've used a combination of conditioners on the same bag without problems. I guess you could have problems if you had too much of a build-up of conditioners. Sometimes you try different things just to see which one works the best. It helps to use thin layers and make sure they have really soaked in, and buffing, before applying more. Someone here also polishes the leather lightly with very fine steel wool between layers to help the leather soak up the conditioner better.

For mink oil, I don't have a recommendation. I don't think they actually use real mink oil anymore. The stuff I used I had sitting around the house for years so it might have had real mink in it. It seemed a bit waxy.

Leather honey looks like honey. I didn't think I would like it because of that, but I painted it on with a paint brush and after awhile, it absorbed in. I used it on a bag that had mildew damage and it really improved it. I used multiple coats and it just kept soaking in.

Skidmore's is similar to Blackrocks but is easier to use and seems to soften the leather more. You don't have to be careful to not use too much like you do with Blackrocks. It doesn't give it quite the finishing sheen of Blackrocks though.

If there is a saddle shop nearby, they probably have some good products. After you find out what they have, you can google it or ask here if anyone knows anything about the products.

Ok great will do! Thanks :) I did call today and they only had saddle soap and fiebings mink oil liquid which I believe I read had silicone in it. I had a feeling my options would be limited, I asked the local equestrians and they said they actually just bring in whenever they're travelling personally for their use.

Sounds like I have to build up quite a collection hehe
 
Looks great to me! I don't have a lot of rehab experience yet, but I learned here to let the bag sit for 12-24 hours after each application of conditioner, and that really seemed to work better. I'm working on the same bag in black trimmed with tabac.

Thank you! :) I'll try doing it, I think excitement is making me impatient lol
 
Thanks Whateve. I definitely prefer her now to the way she was with paint and dye. I think I'll try some more sunbathing. I left her out for a while today and the waxiness seems to have decreased. I'm waiting for my Blackrock to arrive - hopefully it hasn't got stopped in customs, it's been a while since it was shipped.....
I am totally losing it! Yesterday I was going to tell you that I got a Vista bag too. Then I started looking around for it and couldn't find it, so I convinced myself that it was probably just something I bid on that I didn't win or that I dreamt the whole thing! I just found it in my rehab pile! I guess this means the obsession is getting out of control!

Now I understand why you have that stripe down the front. It's because they glued on a strip of suede to cover the back of the snap. Mine is black so it will probably be a pretty easy rehab.
 
I am totally losing it! Yesterday I was going to tell you that I got a Vista bag too. Then I started looking around for it and couldn't find it, so I convinced myself that it was probably just something I bid on that I didn't win or that I dreamt the whole thing! I just found it in my rehab pile! I guess this means the obsession is getting out of control!

Now I understand why you have that stripe down the front. It's because they glued on a strip of suede to cover the back of the snap. Mine is black so it will probably be a pretty easy rehab.
I think that's why it was re-dyed in the first place because of the patina that formed along the strip. I lifted some of the edges of the strip when I was sanding it to try to even it out but without too much success. Your black one should come up well. I was thinking that if I did re-dye I'd do it black.
There's one listed at the moment 400585129664 claiming to be from the 70's. (Mind you the seller also told me that Coach has never made bags in Italy, only shoes!)
 
I think that's why it was re-dyed in the first place because of the patina that formed along the strip. I lifted some of the edges of the strip when I was sanding it to try to even it out but without too much success. Your black one should come up well. I was thinking that if I did re-dye I'd do it black.
There's one listed at the moment 400585129664 claiming to be from the 70's. (Mind you the seller also told me that Coach has never made bags in Italy, only shoes!)
Sellers are always exaggerating the age of bags. It makes me mad that they don't bother to do a little research. She could have said the style was rare and that would have been true.

This bag is bigger than I first thought and it has tons of pockets!
 
I just purchased this Becket Zip, it looks like it is in pretty good condition but the piping seems a bit dry from the photos from the seller. I'm completely new to rehabing purses. I've seen tips for various leather cleaning and conditioning products in this thread, but I'm just not sure what to use on this bag for maintenance. I want to keep her in excellent condition! Any advice will be greatly appreciated!
 

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I just purchased this Becket Zip, it looks like it is in pretty good condition but the piping seems a bit dry from the photos from the seller. I'm completely new to rehabing purses. I've seen tips for various leather cleaning and conditioning products in this thread, but I'm just not sure what to use on this bag for maintenance. I want to keep her in excellent condition! Any advice will be greatly appreciated!
Almost every bag benefits from a bath. I use Leather CPR and Blackrocks on almost all my bags, new and old.
 
After emerging from her geeee-ross bath water and receiving about 5 applications of leather cpr my sparkly elephant courier has gone from this...
IMG_20130928_222625_zpsc68dbf5a.jpg


To this.....
IMG_20131101_065043_zpsc05beb54.jpg


Thanks for all of your inspiration so far everyone! Next I have to tackle the bottom back corner. The piping is worn through, so I think I'm going to try some gel medium to patch it. She is still soaking up the CPR immediately, so I'm guessing she still needs a bit more before her coat of Blackrock's?
 
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After emerging from her geeee-ross bath water and receiving about 5 applications of leather cpr my sparkly elephant courier has gone from this...
IMG_20130928_222625_zpsc68dbf5a.jpg


To this.....
IMG_20131101_065043_zpsc05beb54.jpg


Thanks for all of your inspiration so far everyone! Next I have to tackle the bottom back corner. The piping is worn through, so I think I'm going to try some gel medium to patch it. She is still soaking up the CPR immediately, so I'm guessing she still needs a bit more before her coat of Blackrock's?
She looks great!
 
After emerging from her geeee-ross bath water and receiving about 5 applications of leather cpr my sparkly elephant courier has gone from this...
IMG_20130928_222625_zpsc68dbf5a.jpg


To this.....
IMG_20131101_065043_zpsc05beb54.jpg


Thanks for all of your inspiration so far everyone! Next I have to tackle the bottom back corner. The piping is worn through, so I think I'm going to try some gel medium to patch it. She is still soaking up the CPR immediately, so I'm guessing she still needs a bit more before her coat of Blackrock's?

Wow! She reshaped nicely!
 
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