Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[whateve]

To dunk or not to dunk? She's very clean inside and out, just a bit dehydrated.

What would you do? Any opinions most appreciated, thanks.

If she doesn't need reshaping, I might not dunk. Although dunking seems to plump up the leather and it might even help the leather absorb moisturizer better. What color is she? Why are her handles a different color? I've seen darkening of handles but that looks like a huge difference.

 

[Two.time.bags]

If she doesn't need reshaping, I might not dunk. Although dunking seems to plump up the leather and it might even help the leather absorb moisturizer better. What color is she? Why are her handles a different color? I've seen darkening of handles but that looks like a huge difference.

She's burnt orange like a red clay brick. It looks like the handles were originally the same colour as they have less patina on the insides.

 

[indiekicks]

Hello everyone, I have a NYC black duffle bag with scratches on it!!

Anything I can do about it? Or will I have to take it to a professional? Any estimates on how much that would cost?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Two.time.bags]

Here's the outside of the handles.

 

[whateve]

She's burnt orange like a red clay brick. It looks like the handles were originally the same colour as they have less patina on the insides.

I had a bag that was this color when I got it but after I dunked it, it turned red! I guess it was so dry that it just looked orange. I guess it might have changed color anyway just from conditioning, but now I'll never know. Orange wasn't one of the original colors so maybe they never made it in orange.

The handles looked a little like that. I was able to lighten them by cleaning them gently with steel wool. You want to do just enough to remove the goopy residue from people's hands but not so much that it removes any of the leather. If you do too much, it will look even darker when you apply the conditioner.

 

[whateve]

Hello everyone, I have a NYC black duffle bag with scratches on it!!

Anything I can do about it? Or will I have to take it to a professional? Any estimates on how much that would cost?

Thanks in advance!

The lighter scratches can be improved by just conditioning. For the deeper ones, you might be able to lightly sand them or apply leather filler, or a combination of both. You're lucky that it is black because that should be the easiest to fix. You might even be able to fill the grooves with craft paint. There is also this stuff called Wood n stuff Leather Refinisher that you can paint on to restore a smooth surface and even color.

 

[Two.time.bags]

I had a bag that was this color when I got it but after I dunked it, it turned red! I guess it was so dry that it just looked orange. I guess it might have changed color anyway just from conditioning, but now I'll never know. Orange wasn't one of the original colors so maybe they never made it in orange.

The handles looked a little like that. I was able to lighten them by cleaning them gently with steel wool. You want to do just enough to remove the goopy residue from people's hands but not so much that it removes any of the leather. If you do too much, it will look even darker when you apply the conditioner.

Thanks Whateve. I probably will dunk her and I'm certainly keen to remove 'the goopy residue from people's hands'! Given the good condition of the rest of the bag, whoever owned her either had very sweaty hands (yuk) or used lots of hand cream.

I wonder if she'll turn red?

 

[vintageb1]

I don't know what Apple conditioner is like but I get the impression it may be more suitable for maintenance rather than rehabbing so you might want to get a heavier conditioner such as Leather Therapy or CPR to use before applying the Black Rock.

Graphite may help with the zipper - try rubbing a pencil lead along the teeth.

I wonder how the ring got damaged? Maybe someone tried to cut it. Strange.

Good luck.

Graphite--what a great idea. I'll try that. Thanks.
I've seen several rehabbers say they use Apple conditioner. But I'm happy to try other products if users have better suggestions.

 

[vintageb1]

I wonder what did that to the ring. Soap helps make a zipper run more smoothly. I don't like to use polish ever. I consider Blackrocks to be a finisher so I like to make sure the leather is moisturized sufficiently before I use it. However, I don't think there is any problem with using Blackrocks and then moisturizing more later. It's just that Blackrocks has some wax in it which I think would seal the leather and make it less likely to absorb moisturizer. I've never used Apple. I think there are moisturizers that work better on seriously dry leather.

The bag is probably a convertible clutch 9635, if it is about 11 x 7 x 2 1/2, and doesn't have a back pocket. There was a dark gray color. The easiest way to tell the original color is to look on the most protected part of the bag, such as inside the front slip pocket.

Thanks, whateve! I can try that on the zipper--two.time.bags also suggested graphite. I think the mechanism might just be "glued" to the zipper teeth from corrosion.

Thank you also for identifying the bag. I'm sure that is it; your description and measurements match it exactly. I compared the inside and outside and it really hasn't faded; that is the color, and we compared it with my daughter's Whitney navy bag and it is definitely a different color (especially noticeable on the unlined interior). I'm kind of excited to think it is a Flannel Gray bag because I read somewhere that they are kind of rare (although I don't have confirmation of that).

The edges are a bit worn as is a spot around the base of the turn lock. Will some better conditioning help? I've seen some posters suggest a light coating of acrylic paint?

 

[whateve]

Thanks, whateve! I can try that on the zipper--two.time.bags also suggested graphite. I think the mechanism might just be "glued" to the zipper teeth from corrosion.

Thank you also for identifying the bag. I'm sure that is it; your description and measurements match it exactly. I compared the inside and outside and it really hasn't faded; that is the color, and we compared it with my daughter's Whitney navy bag and it is definitely a different color (especially noticeable on the unlined interior). I'm kind of excited to think it is a Flannel Gray bag because I read somewhere that they are kind of rare (although I don't have confirmation of that).

The edges are a bit worn as is a spot around the base of the turn lock. Will some better conditioning help? I've seen some posters suggest a light coating of acrylic paint?

You're welcome. I've used acrylic paint mixed with conditioner, especially on corners. Sometimes conditioning is all you need. The flannel gray is subtle and hard to tell from black. Actually that is true about a lot of the older colors. Sometimes I don't know what color it really is until I'm done rehabbing. The gray is most obvious on the inside suede and the contrast between the pocket and the zipper fabric, since the zipper is either navy or black. The navy of your daughter's Whitney would most likely be lighter and more blue than the navy Coach used in the 80s. Does your bag have a NYC creed? I know flannel gray was available on NYC bags but I haven't seen that color much, if at all, on later bags.

 

[whateve]

Thanks Whateve. I probably will dunk her and I'm certainly keen to remove 'the goopy residue from people's hands'! Given the good condition of the rest of the bag, whoever owned her either had very sweaty hands (yuk) or used lots of hand cream.

I wonder if she'll turn red?

I'm so curious to find out!

 

[indiekicks]

The lighter scratches can be improved by just conditioning. For the deeper ones, you might be able to lightly sand them or apply leather filler, or a combination of both. You're lucky that it is black because that should be the easiest to fix. You might even be able to fill the grooves with craft paint. There is also this stuff called Wood n stuff Leather Refinisher that you can paint on to restore a smooth surface and even color.

Thank you, I'll look into all your suggestions!

 

[burnsmr]

This is my first Coach bag from 2006, Canvas Large Carly #10449. I love it to death, but it's been through a lot and is filthy! I've tried the Coach fabric cleaner on it with no luck. The canvas almost seems like it's sealed or protected so moisture won't penetrate it. Coach didn't have any helpful solutions other than their cleaner when I took it into a boutique to ask for suggestions.

What would you ladies suggest? I couldn't find any previous threads about cleaning canvas so I hope I'm not asking a duplicate question. Would soaking it in OxyClean work? I'm scared to ruin her!

 

[whateve]

This is my first Coach bag from 2006, Canvas Large Carly #10449. I love it to death, but it's been through a lot and is filthy! I've tried the Coach fabric cleaner on it with no luck. The canvas almost seems like it's sealed or protected so moisture won't penetrate it. Coach didn't have any helpful solutions other than their cleaner when I took it into a boutique to ask for suggestions.

What would you ladies suggest? I couldn't find any previous threads about cleaning canvas so I hope I'm not asking a duplicate question. Would soaking it in OxyClean work? I'm scared to ruin her!
View attachment 2472870View attachment 2472871View attachment 2472872

Coach fabrics are treated with something to protect them. I don't have this bag but others on here have been successful with washing similar bags, even in the washing machine. I have washed Coach jacquard and nylon bags in the sink with dishwashing soap. I think the OxyClean is a good idea.

 

[burnsmr]

Coach fabrics are treated with something to protect them. I don't have this bag but others on here have been successful with washing similar bags, even in the washing machine. I have washed Coach jacquard and nylon bags in the sink with dishwashing soap. I think the OxyClean is a good idea.

Will that not impact the leather at all? I've always been told that water will ruin leather, which I know is stupid, but it still makes me apprehensive.