Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[louvigilante]

Love following everyone's rehabs.

I have a question for you pros. After finding my first coach bag that's been hiding in my closet, I realized it needed some TLC. It looks great except for the corners. The colors are fading and its lost a bit of color. What would you ladies recommend? Should I dye the corners?

 

[whateve]

Love following everyone's rehabs.

I have a question for you pros. After finding my first coach bag that's been hiding in my closet, I realized it needed some TLC. It looks great except for the corners. The colors are fading and its lost a bit of color. What would you ladies recommend? Should I dye the corners?

The corners probably don't need dye. Conditioner, especially something like Blackrocks, usually hides the wear. I usually mix a little acrylic paint in with conditioner and use it to refresh the color on the corners of my vintage bags.

 

[whateve]

I have a flannel grey bag that has a small dent or divot on the front. Is it possible to fill it and have it less noticeable than it is now? I've already conditioned it. The picture didn't come out very good but at least you can get an idea of how big it is. It doesn't really look that white.

 

[louvigilante]

The corners probably don't need dye. Conditioner, especially something like Blackrocks, usually hides the wear. I usually mix a little acrylic paint in with conditioner and use it to refresh the color on the corners of my vintage bags.

Oh thank you! That's right, I forgot the arcylic tip. I'll do this today and will post before and after photos.

 

[Two.time.bags]

I have a flannel grey bag that has a small dent or divot on the front. Is it possible to fill it and have it less noticeable than it is now? I've already conditioned it. The picture didn't come out very good but at least you can get an idea of how big it is. It doesn't really look that white.

I filled a similar hole on a Court bag with Leatherique Filler, however that was on the side so was less noticeable. It was fiddly as you have to build up the layers allowing them to dry in between, then you have to paint it.

 

[whateve]

I filled a similar hole on a Court bag with Leatherique Filler, however that was on the side so was less noticeable. It was fiddly as you have to build up the layers allowing them to dry in between, then you have to paint it.

Thanks! I'm using Fiebings Leathercraft Cement and it looks a lot better already.

ETA: I'm really happy with the results! I think it might be a little shinier so you can see it if the light hits it but it is barely noticeable now!

 

[frenchieRU]

Does anyone know if the saddle pouch came with edgekote on the straps? I got one today that is a little worn and might benefit from having some applied. This is the bag I'm talking about. (I can take some pictures tomorrow if needed, its just a little late here on the east coast.) The straps are a little fuzzy on the edges so would I have to smooth it out before applying or just go for it?

 

[whateve]

Does anyone know if the saddle pouch came with edgekote on the straps? I got one today that is a little worn and might benefit from having some applied. This is the bag I'm talking about. (I can take some pictures tomorrow if needed, its just a little late here on the east coast.) The straps are a little fuzzy on the edges so would I have to smooth it out before applying or just go for it?

You know I was wondering that too, but I'm almost positive they didn't use edgekote on NYC bags. My saddle pouch doesn't have any and it is in pretty good condition. (One thing that's odd is that there is one place where the sewing actually missed the edge of the strap.) I've had some that are fuzzy. I would try to trim it. I don't think it will get a smooth edge from the edgekote unless you get it smooth before you apply it. I've rubbed acrylic paint on the edges of straps when I just wanted to add some color but not give it a plastic coating.

Which size is yours? I think mine is the large since it is almost 11 inches across.

 

[Two.time.bags]

Does anyone know if the saddle pouch came with edgekote on the straps? I got one today that is a little worn and might benefit from having some applied. This is the bag I'm talking about. (I can take some pictures tomorrow if needed, its just a little late here on the east coast.) The straps are a little fuzzy on the edges so would I have to smooth it out before applying or just go for it?

I agree with whateve. I too have used acrylic paint on the edges of straps that are noticeably worn. I have lightly sanded them first using a fine sanding block. Sometimes just rubbing in conditioner and Black Rock is enough to restore colour.

 

[frenchieRU]

You know I was wondering that too, but I'm almost positive they didn't use edgekote on NYC bags. My saddle pouch doesn't have any and it is in pretty good condition. (One thing that's odd is that there is one place where the sewing actually missed the edge of the strap.) I've had some that are fuzzy. I would try to trim it. I don't think it will get a smooth edge from the edgekote unless you get it smooth before you apply it. I've rubbed acrylic paint on the edges of straps when I just wanted to add some color but not give it a plastic coating.

Which size is yours? I think mine is the large since it is almost 11 inches across.

I was thinking of at the very least trimming it up since it just looks bad to have a fuzzy strap. I've got the smaller one, and its about 9 inches across. I want to say it might even be flannel grey? It's got the NYC creed on it, and it's a darker grey than my newer grey rambler.

I agree with whateve. I too have used acrylic paint on the edges of straps that are noticeably worn. I have lightly sanded them first using a fine sanding block. Sometimes just rubbing in conditioner and Black Rock is enough to restore colour.

Good to know! I think I'll trim it to get the big stuff off, then maybe sand it a little to try and get all the little bits off. I was looking online at a bunch of the saddle pouches, and it looks like it might just be some light coating to help keep the leather from fraying.

 

[Beccabaglady]

Well, after a really loooooong hiatus, I am back to rehabbing. I dunked three purses yesterday and am planning to do a few more tonight.

First up is the Chelsea 10963 that I have been looking for for just a few days short of a year! I fell in love when whateve posted hers. I got it and the matching wallet for a ridiculously low price on ebay because the seller really posted some terrible pics. It really wasn't in bad shape, but the leather on the purse had definitely yellowed a tad when compared to the wallet. I decided to dunk her, but I had the feeling that the brown straps may bleed, so I knew I had to get her dried out quickly. First she got a good vacuum. After that I bathed her in Dawn, then blotted her really well with towels. I then turned her upside down on a narrow tall plastic storage container and let her drip dry. I brought her up this morning and set her near the heating vent using the same set up. It's 2 pm here and she is totally dry and has had two applications of leather CPR. I think she came out beautifully! (She is a little darker IRL)



Notes on this rehab: The brown straps did bleed a little, but not where I thought. The straps are made of two different kinds of leather. The back parts of the strap didn't bleed as I expected, but the front parts bled through on the bottom of the purse where they were sewn at the seam. It came through the back unfinished side of the leather. My advice would be to dry the bottom inside and out with a hair dryer to minimize bleed time.

This was the worst spot, the others were lighter and smaller.



The wallet just got a good vacuum and some Leather CPR.

On another note, I will try to include the style # on my future rehab posts to make it easier if someone needs to do a search for a particular style.

 

[whateve]

I was thinking of at the very least trimming it up since it just looks bad to have a fuzzy strap. I've got the smaller one, and its about 9 inches across. I want to say it might even be flannel grey? It's got the NYC creed on it, and it's a darker grey than my newer grey rambler.


Good to know! I think I'll trim it to get the big stuff off, then maybe sand it a little to try and get all the little bits off. I was looking online at a bunch of the saddle pouches, and it looks like it might just be some light coating to help keep the leather from fraying.

Mine is flannel grey too. Yours looks like flannel grey in the picture. Actually the picture looks a lot lighter than my flannel grey. I think there were variations in the color based on the dye lot because I have another flannel grey NYC bag that is a different shade.

 

[Beccabaglady]

I have a flannel grey bag that has a small dent or divot on the front. Is it possible to fill it and have it less noticeable than it is now? I've already conditioned it. The picture didn't come out very good but at least you can get an idea of how big it is. It doesn't really look that white.

NO NO NO! Whateve, I must ask you to stop posting pictures. Even though I can only see a small part of it, that flannel grey is gorgeous!!

Must not look at grey bags on ebay, must not look at grey bags on ebay, must not look at grey bags on ebay.......

 

[frenchieRU]

NO NO NO! Whateve, I must ask you to stop posting pictures. Even though I can only see a small part of it, that flannel grey is gorgeous!!

Must not look at grey bags on ebay, must not look at grey bags on ebay, must not look at grey bags on ebay.......

Haha, I agree--it's a beautiful color! However this bag is way too small for my taste (way too narrow so my wallet would make it poof out a little bit.)

 

[pursehunter45]

Hello!

I've been working on an old black leather vintage coach, and just finished conditioning it. But the leather now looks almost waxy, and super, super easily scratches.

Any ideas why or how to fix it? I'm wondering if I conditioned it too much. I tend to over do things. Perhaps I could give it a gentle scrub without having to redunk the whole thing?