Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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Hi,
I'm new to rehabbing and have just attempted my first project, a pink Maggie duffle. I've ordered a replacement hangtag from Coach - what a great service they provide!
I'm so impressed by what I've seen here I'm hoping you can advise me on the next steps.
I gave her a good soaking and had some real success in cleaning up the inside. I dried her and slathered her in three coats of an Australian leather conditioner made with all natural ingredients. There's a lot of rubbed edges and inconsistent colour its a bit patchy. I tried some acrylic paint today but ended up wiping it off before it dried as I wasn't really happy with it. The strap isn't too bad but has some pen marks and one rubbed mark . The photos show before and after so far, but the pics of the outside actually look better than IRL I'm thinking re-dye? Any comments and suggestions appreciated.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2h8s7koern11igk/C-ycIT7XuK
I'm new to rehabbing and have just attempted my first project, a pink Maggie duffle. I've ordered a replacement hangtag from Coach - what a great service they provide!
I'm so impressed by what I've seen here I'm hoping you can advise me on the next steps.
I gave her a good soaking and had some real success in cleaning up the inside. I dried her and slathered her in three coats of an Australian leather conditioner made with all natural ingredients. There's a lot of rubbed edges and inconsistent colour its a bit patchy. I tried some acrylic paint today but ended up wiping it off before it dried as I wasn't really happy with it. The strap isn't too bad but has some pen marks and one rubbed mark . The photos show before and after so far, but the pics of the outside actually look better than IRL I'm thinking re-dye? Any comments and suggestions appreciated.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2h8s7koern11igk/C-ycIT7XuK
WOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! So a bag bath REALLY DOES WORK! I can't wait to try!
Not a Coach or rehab/rescue here but maybe you can weigh it down? Maybe a book stood on it's side?
I was redirected here by Hyacinth, and I know whateve has mentioned a bag bath so it led me to read up here.. Amazing job you ladies are doing btw!
Just wanted to ask though, if I get a camel coloured bag, can I darken it myself? I know it can be done, but what's the best way? I really want the bag to be british tan colour but I can never find a good one on ebay unfortunately (c'est la vie of course...) so I think I will resort to layering leather dye or conditioner onto it if you ladies suggest so
thanks!
Just wanted to ask though, if I get a camel coloured bag, can I darken it myself? I know it can be done, but what's the best way? I really want the bag to be british tan colour but I can never find a good one on ebay unfortunately (c'est la vie of course...) so I think I will resort to layering leather dye or conditioner onto it if you ladies suggest so
thanks!
There is leather dye. I've tried it once but I couldn't get it to go on evenly. There is also something called Wood n Stuff Leather Refinisher which will give it a new appearance but it is made of acrylic so it is a coating that goes on top, rather than a dye that soaks in. Some people on the forum have used it with good results. If you have a good leather repair place near you, you might be able to get it professionally done.I was redirected here by Hyacinth, and I know whateve has mentioned a bag bath so it led me to read up here.. Amazing job you ladies are doing btw!
Just wanted to ask though, if I get a camel coloured bag, can I darken it myself? I know it can be done, but what's the best way? I really want the bag to be british tan colour but I can never find a good one on ebay unfortunately (c'est la vie of course...) so I think I will resort to layering leather dye or conditioner onto it if you ladies suggest so
thanks!
I read somewhere that leather dye is rather light/see through (? For a lack of better words!); how did yours come out unevenly? Did the dye dry before you were able to go through the bag? This is interesting though.. It definitely lets me gauge how much I should be spending on a bag I might ruin >.< lol
I get impatient too when searching for a bag but I have learnt that there are zillions out there so if you can be patient and search diligently, eventually you will find the one you want. Hopefully it will be in good condition or just need a good clean rather than radical treatment like a re-dye which you msy end up regretting.I was redirected here by Hyacinth, and I know whateve has mentioned a bag bath so it led me to read up here.. Amazing job you ladies are doing btw!
Just wanted to ask though, if I get a camel coloured bag, can I darken it myself? I know it can be done, but what's the best way? I really want the bag to be british tan colour but I can never find a good one on ebay unfortunately (c'est la vie of course...) so I think I will resort to layering leather dye or conditioner onto it if you ladies suggest so
thanks!
I couldn't decide whether to post this in second hand bargains, which coach are you carrying, or here. Obviously I opted for here.
I found this Ali on eBay for $30. The problems were disclosed but the pictures were blurry so it was hard to tell what I'd get. What I got was a really dirty interior (make up dump, it looks like) really great structurally, actually fairly clean for a white bag of its age on the outside, and yellowed white leather. The bottom, back, side had some brownish color transfer, it actually looked like make up, and I started by trying to wipe it with some mild soap and a washcloth but it didn't budge.
I tried to convince myself for a couple of hours that I could just clean the interior in the sink and let the rest go, the leather was on good shape and the yellowing looked like natural aging. But you know me, she ended up in the washer.
It took her about three days to dry. The color transfer was better, I felt more comfortable because she was really clean, but the yellowing was slightly worse. This doesn't surprise me with the vachetta, since its not drum dyed, as the vachetta darkens I think it starts to show through lighter colors.
I experimented a little with fiebings alcohol based white dye but it didn't go on smoothly and I doubted it would cover well. I finally bought two small sample containers of leather refinisher, one white and one vanilla, mixed them together and put on a light coat.
I don't have before pix and the yellowing probably wouldn't have shown up anyway, but here's an after.
Over all I'm really really happy. She's not perfect. The wash made a minor edging issue worse, and I tried glueing it together with Shoe Goo since other glues I've tried on other Legacy bags weren't effective. I think it might hold together but I may just paint it white instead of trying to cover with edge coat.
I found this Ali on eBay for $30. The problems were disclosed but the pictures were blurry so it was hard to tell what I'd get. What I got was a really dirty interior (make up dump, it looks like) really great structurally, actually fairly clean for a white bag of its age on the outside, and yellowed white leather. The bottom, back, side had some brownish color transfer, it actually looked like make up, and I started by trying to wipe it with some mild soap and a washcloth but it didn't budge.
I tried to convince myself for a couple of hours that I could just clean the interior in the sink and let the rest go, the leather was on good shape and the yellowing looked like natural aging. But you know me, she ended up in the washer.
It took her about three days to dry. The color transfer was better, I felt more comfortable because she was really clean, but the yellowing was slightly worse. This doesn't surprise me with the vachetta, since its not drum dyed, as the vachetta darkens I think it starts to show through lighter colors.
I experimented a little with fiebings alcohol based white dye but it didn't go on smoothly and I doubted it would cover well. I finally bought two small sample containers of leather refinisher, one white and one vanilla, mixed them together and put on a light coat.
I don't have before pix and the yellowing probably wouldn't have shown up anyway, but here's an after.
Over all I'm really really happy. She's not perfect. The wash made a minor edging issue worse, and I tried glueing it together with Shoe Goo since other glues I've tried on other Legacy bags weren't effective. I think it might hold together but I may just paint it white instead of trying to cover with edge coat.
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I've experimented with changing colors on older bags that I wasn't really emotionally invested in, we're talking $5-15 bags here-nothing that would break my heart if it didn't come out. I can tell you that one of the problems is that due to burnishing, oil absorption, and dry spots, it's virtually impossible to get dye to take evenly.
I used fiebings dye on a basic bag to deepen the color because it was bleh...it came out ok but it wasn't even. I used British Tan and I'm pretty sure the color was originally british tan on that bag, but there was enough difference in shade that it was really a color change. I think it just made it look more burnished and I was OK with the results.
I also tried a color change with http://www.wood-n-stuff.com/leatheraid.html
I had an old navy satchel that was in worse shape than expected and just for the heck of it I went with more of a cobalt blue. I liked the way it came out but it also convinced me not to try to change the color of a bag again, it was a lot of work and I would always worry that it would eventually rub off.
Both of these bags are in the old rehab thread-I just can't hunt them down right now because I should be working...
and the gist of my post is to tell you I really wouldn't recommend dying a bag that you love. I would just look for what you really want, it will probably show up eventually. I just had fun playing with these bags.I really don't think I could do much better buying a white bag this age so I'm happy. And I'm not going to freak carrying her either, which is nice. I'll be careful but I don't have that NWT feeling if something happens.
I love this style, and the white is a little dressier than my Whiskey for work...not that I dress up that much for work-HAH!
hmmm...Whiskey for work!
