I use all 4 of those products but I consider Blackrocks to be the most important and Leather CPR to be next important. You can live without the other two unless you do a lot of rehabs or more difficult rehabs, like bags that need extra moisturizing. For dunking I just use my dishwashing liquid. Many people use Dawn. There are products made specifically for leather.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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This is one of my favorite topics. I've been at this several years, and I have tried tons of different products for dunking and conditioning. If you are rehabbing old bags, the best thing you can do is get a high quality conditioner, Blackrocks, and a horsehair brush.
As far as a soap for dunking, I don't think it makes much of a difference. I'm now using Castile soap because it is gentle and doesn't make too many suds. My second favorite soap for dunking is Woolite. I like Woolite because it is also very gentile and rinses out easily. I've tried soap specially formulated for leather, and I wasn't impressed. Don't waste your money on anything special. Just about anything should be fine. Personally, I find it hard to rinse out regular dishwashing liquid like Dawn. If you don't rinse the bag really well, the leather can get stiff. If you use something like Dawn, just be sure to rinse until the water is clean and clear and no soap is left in the bag. I've also been adding a bit of vinegar to the bath when I dunk.
As far as conditioners go, for really dry bags or old bags, my favorite product is Montana Pitch Blend Leather Oil and Conditioner. http://www.montanapitchblend.com
Leather Therapy is a close second. I think oil-based conditioners do a better job than cream conditioners in really getting into the pores of a bag, which you need to do if the bag is super dry. (Note: both of these products will darken lighter bags.) I also just love the feel of hand oiling a bag.
I usually use cream conditioners or what I would term mid-level conditioners on bags that aren't so dry or after I've oiled them and they've started to come back. Leather CPR is a favorite of this group, and I think it does a good job. I also think Cadillac is good. Two mid-level conditioners are Skidmore's and Leather Honey. I love Skidmore's. I've had mixed results using Leather Honey on Coach bags, but it is the only thing I use for my older Balencigia. If I had to pick one, I'd say go with Leather CPR. It's tried and true. Second would be Skidmore's.
For finishing, Blackrocks is a must in my opinion. It gives bags a glow that you can't get from anything else. Obenauf's LP can also be used for finishing and waterproofing, but isn't as good as Blackrocks as far as I'm concerned. (If you are working on vachetta, however, Obenauf's is a must.)
Get a good horsehair brush. They are cheap. I find that brushing a bag makes a huge difference. It helps get the conditioner into the pores of the leather.
Finally, I highly recommend reading through all of this thread and all of the old thread. I know they are long, but the information will help you tremendously.
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Yeah, the Montana Oil is pricey, but I love the stuff. A little bit goes a long ways, so it will last you a while. I bought the 1/2 gallon when I finished my first 8-oz bottle. I refilled the 8-oz bottle and still have some in it, and I've done lots of rehabs with it since I last filled it. I like it better than Obenauf's oil, but Obenauf's oil is really good, too. (I know a couple people who have had Obenauf's Oil go rancid, but I haven't had an issue with it.) I hope you like the Montana Oil.
I often use both Obenauf's LP and Blackrocks. I don't think you are overdoing it by using both. I think they both do different things. I think Obenauf's LP is really good at giving a water protection barrier. Blackrocks gives it that glow.
I use Lexol and then Blackrocks. The Lexol is good when the bag is still damp. It helps prevent cracking.
Hi, lovies! [emoji4] I thrifted/rescued this oldie but goodie wallet today at Goodwill. I discovered the missing piece in the zip compartment but now have a quandary. I have NO IDEA how it attaches to the other part, lol. Anyone know what this is supposed to look like altogether? It looks like it may need a pin of some sort to hinge in some way? Help me out, Coachies!
Secondary question...any reccs on how to clean this? It's in pretty decent shape but appears dirty/brown in a few areas. Can I dunk it?
Secondary question...any reccs on how to clean this? It's in pretty decent shape but appears dirty/brown in a few areas. Can I dunk it?
Hello all! I'm new here, but I've always been a big Coach lover 
I recently purchased a 9927 Willis bag (made in 2000) off of ebay and am looking to restore it. It actually came in much better condition that I anticipated, and now I'm unsure if I need to wash it. I've never tried restoring any leather bags before, let alone wash them, so I'm bit afraid of ruining it. The inside is surprisingly clean minus one negligible pen mark, the outside has some light scratches, and the bag is soft and has lost its original shape so it's quite flat. So my main questions/concerns:
I recently purchased a 9927 Willis bag (made in 2000) off of ebay and am looking to restore it. It actually came in much better condition that I anticipated, and now I'm unsure if I need to wash it. I've never tried restoring any leather bags before, let alone wash them, so I'm bit afraid of ruining it. The inside is surprisingly clean minus one negligible pen mark, the outside has some light scratches, and the bag is soft and has lost its original shape so it's quite flat. So my main questions/concerns:
- Should I wash the bag? Or should I leave it alone? It will be conditioned whether or not the bag is washed.
- How can I restore the bag back to its original shape?
I think the bag looks like it doesn't need restoring. Once you put things in the bag, the shape will be fine. It's beautiful. Congratulations!Hello all! I'm new here, but I've always been a big Coach lover
I recently purchased a 9927 Willis bag (made in 2000) off of ebay and am looking to restore it. It actually came in much better condition that I anticipated, and now I'm unsure if I need to wash it. I've never tried restoring any leather bags before, let alone wash them, so I'm bit afraid of ruining it. The inside is surprisingly clean minus one negligible pen mark, the outside has some light scratches, and the bag is soft and has lost its original shape so it's quite flat. So my main questions/concerns:
- Should I wash the bag? Or should I leave it alone? It will be conditioned whether or not the bag is washed.
- How can I restore the bag back to its original shape?
That's a difficult decision if you aren't used to dunking bags. I recently got a bag in about the same condition from the same era and I chose to dunk. I like the way it plumps up the leather. It hasn't dried yet so I can't tell you how much better it is going to look afterwards, but I'm expecting it to. If you are afraid to dunk, you can still condition the bag but the conditioner may not soak in as well, since a bath seems to open up the pores to receive the conditioner. I honestly can't imagine you being able to ruin a bag by dunking as long as you don't overstuff. Willis is a little tricky to arrange for drying. I usually put a rolled towel inside to prop it open and leave the flap open as the bag rests on its back for the first day. Then as it gets more dry, I want to make sure the flap doesn't dry with a crease so I'll restuff the inside bottom, making sure the corners are shaped properly, close the flap, and prop the bag against a wall so both the bottom and the back of the bag are encouraged to dry flat. The strap is unbuckled, wrapped in a towel, and weighed down with books to help it dry flat.Hello all! I'm new here, but I've always been a big Coach lover
I recently purchased a 9927 Willis bag (made in 2000) off of ebay and am looking to restore it. It actually came in much better condition that I anticipated, and now I'm unsure if I need to wash it. I've never tried restoring any leather bags before, let alone wash them, so I'm bit afraid of ruining it. The inside is surprisingly clean minus one negligible pen mark, the outside has some light scratches, and the bag is soft and has lost its original shape so it's quite flat. So my main questions/concerns:
- Should I wash the bag? Or should I leave it alone? It will be conditioned whether or not the bag is washed.
- How can I restore the bag back to its original shape?
If you don't dunk, I would recommend using heat to help the conditioner penetrate. Use a good quality conditioner like Leather CPR and maybe put the bag out in the sun to help it sink in. Do many coats of conditioner and end with Blackrocks. To reshape, stuff it to the correct shape and then try hanging it in a steamy bathroom.
Hello all! I'm new here, but I've always been a big Coach lover
I recently purchased a 9927 Willis bag (made in 2000) off of ebay and am looking to restore it. It actually came in much better condition that I anticipated, and now I'm unsure if I need to wash it. I've never tried restoring any leather bags before, let alone wash them, so I'm bit afraid of ruining it. The inside is surprisingly clean minus one negligible pen mark, the outside has some light scratches, and the bag is soft and has lost its original shape so it's quite flat. So my main questions/concerns:
- Should I wash the bag? Or should I leave it alone? It will be conditioned whether or not the bag is washed.
- How can I restore the bag back to its original shape?
Great bag! I love the classic Willis. They make a great first rehab. Washing is the quickest way to reshape because you can put towels in it while it dries. (Just be sure not to overstuff it because you don't want to stretch the leather, either). I don't think you will ruin it if you give it a bath, but you are correct that not all bags really need a bath, and sometimes marks show up that weren't there if you dunk it. So, if you don't want to dunk it, I've had good luck reshaping without dunking by putting rolled towels in the bag and then leaving it hang in my bathroom for a couple weeks. The moisture from showering helps it reshape over time.
I use leather glue for thinks like that. There are lots of kinds. I used to have a bottle of Eco Flow Leather Weld but I can't find it now. I recently replaced it with Aleen's Leather & Suede Glue:
https://www.amazon.com/Aleenes-Leat...8&qid=1472172107&sr=8-2&keywords=leather+glue
A little update, I found a small spring upon further digging in the zipper compartment. I think it goes in the hole (2nd pic) but the other larger L-shaped piece still appears to need a pin/hinge of some sort but there are no receiving holes in the piece attached to the wallet. Any ideas, anyone?
I'm spatial rotationally challenged so of no help on the clasp but I do remember a recent discussion of wallet dunking. I'd search for that since it had some good tips. I'm not familiar with that style so I'd also feel around for any inserts or reinforcements between leather layers - those could create crease lines if they stop short of edges and saturated leather suctions to them.
Hopefully someone will have some clasp suggestions for you.
Maybe try a pin from a watch band?? they work like a toliet paper roll........ i'm better at this stuff if i see apic of what it original looks like....ill try googling wallet pics
anyone know the name or style or year of this?