I'm not sure what CPR is like as I can't get it here so I use Leather Therapy which has a thick syrup-like consistency. I apply it with a stain / varnish sponge and it goes on really well.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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I use these sponge brushes for conditioner too. You can sometimes find a package of them in the dollar store.
So. What are the chances? That is a natural Mandy that I posted previously, soaking in the hot tub. I've been on a bit of a legacy binge the last six months or so and I was going to stop there. (Btw Miss Mandy dried incredibly fast and I'm cautiously optimistic that she's going to come out ok).
But, I was waiting for a friend that I was meeting for dinner and wandered into Buffalo Exchange and who did I see hiding back in a corner?
I work at a university and this was just down the street. It's a good bet that this is someone's old book bag. Very worn straps the inside coated with a fine white powder, burnished on both top corners, just to remind me she's been hanging just below someone's armpit.
I probably should have passed it up, $48 is too much for a bag that is pretty much worthless if it doesn't clean up well, but I knew I would regret it if I left behind a clay Gigi! Since the clay wallet did ok with a dunk I decided to risk it. I hope I didn't just throw the money away.
But, I was waiting for a friend that I was meeting for dinner and wandered into Buffalo Exchange and who did I see hiding back in a corner?
I work at a university and this was just down the street. It's a good bet that this is someone's old book bag. Very worn straps the inside coated with a fine white powder, burnished on both top corners, just to remind me she's been hanging just below someone's armpit.
I probably should have passed it up, $48 is too much for a bag that is pretty much worthless if it doesn't clean up well, but I knew I would regret it if I left behind a clay Gigi! Since the clay wallet did ok with a dunk I decided to risk it. I hope I didn't just throw the money away.
$48 for a Gigi is a fantastic deal! You didn't spend so much that you can't take risks with it. Good luck. I bet she will come out beautiful.
Well I gave her a good washing before I went to bed last night. My bathroom smells like a leather shop with a Mandy and a Gigi drying in there.
Honestly that Gigi is probably in about the worst shape of any bag I've worked on. The leather is super broken down, it's just floppy. The sealant on the straps is a mess, though not as bad around the O-ring area so that may not be such a big deal.
I was a lot less worried about working on the Mandy, because I figured anything I did to darken the leather would just make it more brown and look fine. It's a natural and it was obviously someone's every day bag, very well used. I would have definitely thought it was a whiskey if it wasn't for the white creed. It's darkened in a few areas that could be color transfer or it could be burnished, but it's mostly dry and those areas seemed to have lightened quite a bit. I had planned on doing the BlackRocks/Obenauf's combo to maybe even out the darker areas, but I think it's going to be OK either way.
On the other hand, the Gigi is just over all dirty, it had to be washed, but I'm afraid the vachetta will turn yellow underneath the clay color and it will get that greenish cast. I think the bottom section of leather is already irretrievably greenish, but it could have just been dirty. I found one spot on it when it was wet that I didn't see before, but it's small and on the back bottom side of the bag, so if you're going to have a spot, that's the best place for it. It's really small too so not noticeable at all!
I'm glad I experimented with the clay wallet or I don't know if I would have had the nerve to buy the Gigi, as there is no way that bag can be cleaned up any other way.
Anyway, wish me luck. I'll post a full series of pix when I'm finished even if they don't come out well.
Hello! Quick question, i tried the leather CPR and while I was rubbing it with a white cloth, some of the dye came off! Is this normal? Should I just use CPR on non color bags? Or neutral color bags? I want to moisturize a hunter green purse, but I don't want to mess the color up! Thoughts? Also is there a tip for getting some stain (looks like bleach almost.. Take the color was taken off) but I could be wrong! I'm not sure! Thanks!
It is normal for a little color to come off when you use conditioner. It shouldn't be enough to be noticeable.
LUCK! Can't wait to see it
Well, quick update, as I feel I need to do a full report on my legacy rehab process when I'm finished. The natural Mandy came out AMAZING. She is back to a burnished natural color. I'll probably mess around with the sealant a little more later but I may carry her today. I can't believe how good she smells!
On the other hand, and I'm not surprised, the Gigi is probably going to take some major work. I'll probably have to do some sort of dyeing, I am not so into the yellowed color. She's not quite dry but I think this is as good as it will get
get.
Here is a picture with my near perfect clay shoulder bag to show the color contrast.
WOWZA...Mandy is one hunka-hunka gorgeous leather...just beautiful. I wonder what caused the Gigi to yellow like this...so many nooks and crannies, I can't imaging trying to do a dye job. But if it can be done, I know you'll find a way
