Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[whateve]

Hello,
I am new to the forum and just got my hands on these two Coach Station bags. The black one is in very good condition but has white stains on the interior and exterior. The dark green one is an older bag and has dark and brown stains of unknown origin all over the exterior. I plan to give the latter a bath but will probably need to touch up the brown spot with acrylic paint. Please advise me on what cleaner to use for the white stains on the black bag. I am also not sure when to use acrylic paint after a bath should I need to touch up those brown spots: before or after applying leather conditioner, or do I let it dry completely without applying conditioner and then use acrylic paint? Thank you.

Give them both a bath. You might be surprised at what washes off. The white stains could be mold, so I might use vinegar. You usually can't tell how clean they end up until they dry. Condition completely before attempting any painting. Remember when using paint, less is more. Too much paint will look obvious and won't have the right texture or sheen.

The green one is rather rare and I don't think it should be altered too much. A little patina is normal in older bags.

 

[whateve]

Yay! Thanks, whateve. The seller doesn't normally ship international, but I pled my case and hopefully she will take pity on me. If she does I've never bought on Bonanza before. Do they have the GSP like eBay? I'm hoping not, to keep costs down.

Were you able to get the bag?

 

[whateve]

Postmark is kind of a mess. Totally buyer beware. It's a Bleecker large duffle though, if you search eBay there's tons. Strap hardware makes them heavy and they are big. Medium size has more reasonable strap but it's smallish. Leather is really nice on this collection though.

I'd Google measurements for you but I'm on my phone.

Your PM inbox is full.

 

[fuzzymummy]

Were you able to get the bag?

Hi, she was just walking out the door when I emailed her. She said she'd post to Canada but would advise me of the cost since the bag is over 3 lbs. I just bought a D and B bumblebee duffle so I might have to rethink my plan. But it's such a good price........

 

[Kobreniuk]

Give them both a bath. You might be surprised at what washes off. The white stains could be mold, so I might use vinegar. You usually can't tell how clean they end up until they dry. Condition completely before attempting any painting. Remember when using paint, less is more. Too much paint will look obvious and won't have the right texture or sheen.

The green one is rather rare and I don't think it should be altered too much. A little patina is normal in older bags.

Thank you again for your help whateve! Do I apply vinegar to the white stains directly?

 

[seekingvintage]

Great work! They look like new!

 

[whateve]

Thank you again for your help whateve! Do I apply vinegar to the white stains directly?

You're welcome. I would first try vinegar on a cloth. If you need to use a more concentrated amount, I don't think you have to worry about it staining or streaking the leather. I often soak the hardware at the ends of my straps in vinegar and it doesn't hurt the leather if it gets on it.

Since black is easier to rehab than green, I suggest you do the black one first.

 

[Two.time.bags]

Seller and I thought this Chester was black, but turns out it's very dark navy blue.

Before.

 

[Two.time.bags]

After bath, 2 coats of Leather Therapy and Black Rock. Lots of buffing. Touched up strap edges and raw piping edges with navy blue leather dye.

 

[Zealous]

After bath, 2 coats of Leather Therapy and Black Rock. Lots of buffing. Touched up strap edges and raw piping edges with navy blue leather dye.

Looks fabulous! Great work!

 

[honkers]

Hi everyone! I've been so busy for the last several months I can't keep up with all of your lovely work! Two.time I'm having total bag envy over that Hudson-- and your dappling of sunlight and background of green! They are calling for snow tonite here. If it actually comes it will be our first of the season.

So thought I'd post a group of bags I finally got to work on this past week. The Court Bag was the biggest mess to start with, and it still has some unevenness but that's the beauty of patina, right? Here they are: a City Bag, a Shelbourne and a Court Bag, all in British Tan, before and after.

MissBaltimore, I was going through some old posts before I start the rehab on two British Tan bags and came across your 1/5/15 post with three rehabbed BT bags. They are beautiful!
What products did you use on them? I am planning on dunking and then using CPR then Blackrocks. I will post before and after pics.
Thanks in advance for your tips!

 

[honkers]

GW purchase, burgundy suede bag. It is in pretty good shape, the inside is spotless. The outside looks dingy. After reading posts here, I have washed this in the washer but it still looks dirty on the outside. . . . any suggestions?
Thanks, spending the afternoon waiting for the dishwasher repair person and catching up on my Coach rehabs!!

 

[missbaltimore]

MissBaltimore, I was going through some old posts before I start the rehab on two British Tan bags and came across your 1/5/15 post with three rehabbed BT bags. They are beautiful!
What products did you use on them? I am planning on dunking and then using CPR then Blackrocks. I will post before and after pics.
Thanks in advance for your tips!

Hi Honkers-- What luck I saw your post today. I've been buried in work for more than a month now and haven't been checking in (much less attacking the pile of bags in the corner of my dining room!) but have a breather today. I'd be happy to tell you my process (similar to many here).

I start with a warm water bath with Dawn. I use a cuticle brush and Power Dawn (or whatever their power formula is called) to lightly scrub the surface all over and particularly any spots. Hang then stuff with towels to dry. While it is still damp I go over the bag with a light coat of Lexol NF conditioner. While the NF stands for neatsfoot oil (which I know causes controversy), the Lexol product is a special preparation with lanolin and other elements that can be used wet or dry, doesn't leave an oily residue, doesn't darken leather, is odorless, and has been formulated to penetrate and condition. After it dries (overnight) I use Leather CPR or Bick 4 depending mostly on my mood, and then finish with Blackrocks. I also have a jar of Meltonian London tan in case I need to touch up a badly worn edge.

Good luck and looking forward to the results!

 

[honkers]

Hi Honkers-- What luck I saw your post today. I've been buried in work for more than a month now and haven't been checking in (much less attacking the pile of bags in the corner of my dining room!) but have a breather today. I'd be happy to tell you my process (similar to many here).

I start with a warm water bath with Dawn. I use a cuticle brush and Power Dawn (or whatever their power formula is called) to lightly scrub the surface all over and particularly any spots. Hang then stuff with towels to dry. While it is still damp I go over the bag with a light coat of Lexol NF conditioner. While the NF stands for neatsfoot oil (which I know causes controversy), the Lexol product is a special preparation with lanolin and other elements that can be used wet or dry, doesn't leave an oily residue, doesn't darken leather, is odorless, and has been formulated to penetrate and condition. After it dries (overnight) I use Leather CPR or Bick 4 depending mostly on my mood, and then finish with Blackrocks. I also have a jar of Meltonian London tan in case I need to touch up a badly worn edge.

Good luck and looking forward to the results!

Thanks so much! I have not used Lexol (any type) but otherwise it is the process I have used for other darker bags.
Keep you posted!

 

[Two.time.bags]

After bath, 2 coats of Leather Therapy and Black Rock. Lots of buffing. Touched up strap edges and raw piping edges with navy blue leather dye.

Thanks Zealous