Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[catthecurious]

It looks good. I wonder if you could coat patent leather straps with acrylic varnish to help prevent cracking.

Thanks - now I'm wondering since that's the area that takes more bending than the rest of the strap, how long my fixed strap will last... As for using acrylic varnish on patent leather to protect from cracking - that's a very interesting idea, whateve. In general, have you ever tried using acrylic varnish on something that you actually use (other than paintings) and, if yes, how did it go?

 

[HI5O]

Hi ladies, I am attempting my first rehab. While soaking the bag, I noticed that while using a soft brush to clean the interior of the pocket there was some pink color on the brush. I'm thinking that perhaps the owner had some lipstick that had broken off in the bag? I thought I got it all out but when I checked on the drying bag I saw the paper towel had more pink color on it. Do you recommend I re soak the bag (I'm very anal about getting the color out) or do you think I should perhaps use a qtip with rubbing alcohol until it disappears? It's a black bag, not sure if the name but having it authenticated in the AT forum. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also I noticed that where the strap attached to the body of the bag buckle, the outside part of the rivet is missing. Do you think I should take it to Coach to fix or should I just go to a shoe repair shop? Thanks again for your words of wisdom!

 

[LondonUK]

Consider yourself initiated into the club!

Thanks, I'm already shopping for another to rehab! Her she is this morning
, the leather was a little bit tight and I put some Lexol on her. We are in New Mexico so things dry quickly here. I think she might be dry by this afternoon. I do a few round of leather resotorer and top off with Blackrocks.

 

[LondonUK]

This color looks beautiful!

Here's the back, I'm not thinking the color will change much but I guess will get darker and richer with the leather restorer and Blackrocks.

 

[Catbird9]

Hi ladies, I am attempting my first rehab. While soaking the bag, I noticed that while using a soft brush to clean the interior of the pocket there was some pink color on the brush. I'm thinking that perhaps the owner had some lipstick that had broken off in the bag? I thought I got it all out but when I checked on the drying bag I saw the paper towel had more pink color on it. Do you recommend I re soak the bag (I'm very anal about getting the color out) or do you think I should perhaps use a qtip with rubbing alcohol until it disappears? It's a black bag, not sure if the name but having it authenticated in the AT forum. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also I noticed that where the strap attached to the body of the bag buckle, the outside part of the rivet is missing. Do you think I should take it to Coach to fix or should I just go to a shoe repair shop? Thanks again for your words of wisdom!

I recently had a similar situation. Scrape off as much of the material as you can with a plastic knife, then work on what remains.

I tried alcohol and q-tips, which did pull the lipstick pigment out of the leather, but as the leather became saturated with the alcohol, I noticed some color loss to the area surrounding the lipstick stain.

I began to think just scrubbing with soap and water would be a better idea. I used many paper towels, pressing and blotting on both sides of the stain. I was able to get most of it out, but not all.

For the rivet: shoe repair shop.

 

[HI5O]

I recently had a similar situation. Scrape off as much of the material as you can with a plastic knife, then work on what remains.

I tried alcohol and q-tips, which did pull the lipstick pigment out of the leather, but as the leather became saturated with the alcohol, I noticed some color loss to the area surrounding the lipstick stain.

I began to think just scrubbing with soap and water would be a better idea. I used many paper towels, pressing and blotting on both sides of the stain. I was able to get most of it out, but not all.

For the rivet: shoe repair shop.

Thanks so much catbird9! I ended using alcohol wipes and that seemed to help a lot. Just conditioned with Leather CPR and will do another slathering later, then Blackrock! I was amazed at how much color came off in the water but truly I dare say it looks like a whole new animal! There was a reddish spot on the outside of the bag--almost looks like a sharpie. I still see it when I place the bag at a certain angle but hoping the conditioner and Blackrock will make it unnoticeable. Thanks again!

 

[Bucketbagger]

Any idea on how to rehab a pre-creed Cashin shopper with a Mexican stripe lining? I don't think I am going to dunk it, but I would appreciate the thoughts of the cognoscenti here. How do you tighten a loose kisslock? I am thinking with a plier wrapped in something so that it won't mark the metal. Also not sure what to do with the separated zipper. Gingerly tiny stitches?

 

[LondonUK]

So I just want to make sure this is normal. I applied the leather therapy but the top left of the bag seems to be drying a dit darker then the rest. Will it eventually dry the same color?

 

[whateve]

Any idea on how to rehab a pre-creed Cashin shopper with a Mexican stripe lining? I don't think I am going to dunk it, but I would appreciate the thoughts of the cognoscenti here. How do you tighten a loose kisslock? I am thinking with a plier wrapped in something so that it won't mark the metal. Also not sure what to do with the separated zipper. Gingerly tiny stitches?

I've never had any luck repairing a zipper that has broken there. Any stitching will get in the way of the mechanism. Glue won't hold it and block the zipper from moving. If you figure out how, please let me know. It has happened to me on a few bags. Replacing the zipper cost too much.

I've washing Bonnie Cashin lining before. I've never dunked one.

So I just want to make sure this is normal. I applied the leather therapy but the top left of the bag seems to be drying a dit darker then the rest. Will it eventually dry the same color?

Probably, but maybe not. Sometimes conditioner soaks in unevenly or makes stains appear that weren't there before. I don't use Leather Therapy so I don't know for sure. I've had this happen with Leather Honey, mink oil, and Obenaufs before. It doesn't seem to happen with Leather CPR.

 

[LondonUK]

I've never had any luck repairing a zipper that has broken there. Any stitching will get in the way of the mechanism. Glue won't hold it and block the zipper from moving. If you figure out how, please let me know. It has happened to me on a few bags. Replacing the zipper cost too much.

I've washing Bonnie Cashin lining before. I've never dunked one.

Probably, but maybe not. Sometimes conditioner soaks in unevenly or makes stains appear that weren't there before. I don't use Leather Therapy so I don't know for sure. I've had this happen with Leather Honey, mink oil, and Obenaufs before. It doesn't seem to happen with Leather CPR.

Crap. I'm not keen on that darker spot and it's more noticeable in person. Should I clean it with the Lexol in a few days when it's totally dried and then use the leather cpr on it?

 

[whateve]

Crap. I'm not keen on that darker spot and it's more noticeable in person. Should I clean it with the Lexol in a few days when it's totally dried and then use the leather cpr on it?

I wouldn't do anything yet. It could absorb eventually. When I had this happen, I let the purse sit for a week or more. In at least one case, I ended up redunking.

 

[Catbird9]

I wouldn't do anything yet. It could absorb eventually. When I had this happen, I let the purse sit for a week or more. In at least one case, I ended up redunking.

Ditto that. I have an early NYC convertible clutch with mysterious dark areas that came up after the first bath.

http://forum.purseblog.com/showpost.php?p=29864458&postcount=10624

Following whateve's suggestion I did re-dunk it and have been letting it dry for a couple of weeks. The marks do seem to be fading. Keep the faith!

 

[Ravvie99]

I'll upload a photo in the morning . I think it still might dry to an orangy color. Either way I'm happy I didn't ruin it. I swear I almost died when I put her in the sink, I thought omg what have I just done!

This thing is *gorgeous* - congrats! I bet it only gets better - looking forward to the photo update!

 

[Ravvie99]

Move over Brasso and steel wool, I found something better: Flitz! Well, someone on tPF found it (I can't remember who, but thank you!) and I read about it. Wowee was I impressed! Less strain on the hands, less mess, no smell, a faster process, and better results, IMO. $7 at True Value Hardware.

Tried it on a brass-plated (?) Kelsi Dagger snap I'd gently rubbed with Brasso. Flitz shined it up considerably and removed some of the scratches.

Tried it on a Dooney post I'd already hit with steel wool/Brasso. Got such a mirror-shine that my phone camera couldn't focus well.

Moved to the good stuff and it shined an untouched Legacy zip buckle beautifully without leaving any tiny scratches.

I'm sold!

ETA: found the source: gilliana in the Louis Vuitton forum: http://forum.purseblog.com/showpost.php?p=1082141&postcount=5

 

[Sonoma]

Move over Brasso and steel wool, I found something better: Flitz! Well, someone on tPF found it (I can't remember who, but thank you!) and I read about it. Wowee was I impressed! Less strain on the hands, less mess, no smell, a faster process, and better results, IMO. $7 at True Value Hardware.

Tried it on a brass-plated (?) Kelsi Dagger snap I'd gently rubbed with Brasso. Flitz shined it up considerably and removed some of the scratches.

Tried it on a Dooney post I'd already hit with steel wool/Brasso. Got such a mirror-shine that my phone camera couldn't focus well.

Moved to the good stuff and it shined an untouched Legacy zip buckle beautifully without leaving any tiny scratches.

I'm sold!

NICE - thanks for the tip!