Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[Ravvie99]

Hi, Ravvie99! I would just like to ask what the disadvantages are in using shoe polish to correct color imperfections in leather bags? I have vintage coach bags that have prominent scuff marks/color loss especially on the leather pipings that I initially thought would be corrected by using colored shoe polish. Is this a bad idea? One alternative I've been thinking was to use acrylic paint mixed with conditioner to cover the color loss and scuff marks. Have you had any experience with this? Sorry I've so many questions. I'm new to this and I'm absorbing as much information as you experienced rehabbers are sharing on this thread.

Whateve gave you great info and is a more experienced rehabber than I am. I may have more experience with what NOT to do, on occasion [emoji39] Just didn't want you to think I was ignoring your question.

 

[Transported]

I'm not katev but I coincidentally just pulled off the leather cap that it supposed to cover each end of bags with dowels (mine is a Murphy). I have a few authentic bags where the cover was missing.
View attachment 3761206

Ravvie99, Any tips on replacing a lost leather cover for a dowel like this on a station bag? I don't have the leather piece, Should I try and find scraps that are thin soft leather that match the color of the bag? and poke it around the dowel? Tack it with leather glue? should i attempt it before or after rehab( Dunking)? Would appreciate any suggestions or tips.
Thank you!

 

[coach943]

Hello! I've been meaning to ask this thread if it's okay to use neutral shoe polish to "seal" a vintage coach bag and give it a little shine after conditioning. I usually dunk my vintage finds and proceed with conditioning with lexol and I observed that after dunking and conditioning, the bag is not as shiny as i like. I wonder if you all have the same experience and if this is expected? We have very limited leather care products in our area. Aside from the Lexol Cleaner and conditioner I have only found polishes for shoes (Kiwi Brand). I'm technically new to the rehabbing hobby and in collecting coach bags so any information and advise would be much appreciated.


Thank you for referring to the hermes thread. I was also thinking of using colored shoe polish to correct scratches and scuffs. If not colored shoe polish, I wonder if you have tried using acrylic paint mixed with conditioner? I've read that some use that mixture to correct discolorations and scuffs. Did that work for you? Thank you in advance!

I agree with everything @whateve said in her response. I don't think a neutral shoe polish would give you the results you want. Blackrocks does a great job finishing a rehabbed bag. If you can find it, that is a much better way to go. (I always order it via Amazon). Many scratches and scuffs will come out of a bag if you give it a bath and condition it with a high-quality conditioner. (Like @whateve said, you probably need something other than Lexol). Most vintage Coach bags were dyed through the leather as opposed to being just surface dyed, and they have an amazing ability to rejuvenate.

 

[StrictTime]

I can't laugh. I bought a gorgeous black Station on eBay that for some unknown reason had been shoe polished all over. I am currently trying to put moisture back in after using a whole bottle of acetone to scrub the polish off. It makes me want to cry and kick someone's ass.

 

[Lake Effect]

Hi, Lake Effect! I was actually planning to use Kiwi neutral shoe polish to sort of "seal" and add shine to my rehabbed bag after conditioning it with lexol conditioner. The kiwi shoe polish I intended to use was the one in the tin can with a cream/wax-like consistency. Do you think this is a bad idea? Unfortunately, aside from lexol products, I have found no other leather care products locally. The kiwi shoe polish is my next best thing.

ArengoKC, my disclaimer is that I have been seriously rehabbing bags for a little under a year. I am here in the US, so it is relatively easy for me to get products like Leather Therapy R/C, Obenenauf's Oil and Leather Rock which I use in addition to the Lexol cleaner and conditioner. I have been on this Coach forum regularly since February when I joined, but I lurked for at least 6 months before that. Based on looking at lots of posts during this time. I get that rehabbers more experienced than I discourage using shoe polish products, basically because the goal of using shoe polish (and the wear and tear in a way on shoes and boots) is different than that of restoring a dry leather Coach bag. So I am not comfortable telling someone else outright what is a bad idea (and I know some of my pointed comments do, in a sense) or not. What I can say is based on what I read about shoe polish, is that I do not use it on my bags, as of now. I am considering experimenting with a dye combined with a conditioner to restore fading on a black bag.
So I encourage you to keep reading and asking others their experience so you can make your own informed decisions. Is the cost of shipping to where you live keep you from ordering from the internet? I needed to order from the internet but fortunately with Amazon prime, I did not have any shipping fees. I feel having the right products has made the difference in rehabbing. Trust me, I can be really frugal/cheap! I understand your question given limited choices. Keep educating yourself!

 

[whateve]

Ravvie99, Any tips on replacing a lost leather cover for a dowel like this on a station bag? I don't have the leather piece, Should I try and find scraps that are thin soft leather that match the color of the bag? and poke it around the dowel? Tack it with leather glue? should i attempt it before or after rehab( Dunking)? Would appreciate any suggestions or tips.
Thank you!

I'm not Ravvie99, but I think that sounds like a great approach. I would do it after dunking. Make sure the wood is dry first.

 

[coach943]

ArengoKC, my disclaimer is that I have been seriously rehabbing bags for a little under a year. I am here in the US, so it is relatively easy for me to get products like Leather Therapy R/C, Obenenauf's Oil and Leather Rock which I use in addition to the Lexol cleaner and conditioner. I have been on this Coach forum regularly since February when I joined, but I lurked for at least 6 months before that. Based on looking at lots of posts during this time. I get that rehabbers more experienced than I discourage using shoe polish products, basically because the goal of using shoe polish (and the wear and tear in a way on shoes and boots) is different than that of restoring a dry leather Coach bag. So I am not comfortable telling someone else outright what is a bad idea (and I know some of my pointed comments do, in a sense) or not. What I can say is based on what I read about shoe polish, is that I do not use it on my bags, as of now. I am considering experimenting with a dye combined with a conditioner to restore fading on a black bag.
So I encourage you to keep reading and asking others their experience so you can make your own informed decisions. Is the cost of shipping to where you live keep you from ordering from the internet? I needed to order from the internet but fortunately with Amazon prime, I did not have any shipping fees. I feel having the right products has made the difference in rehabbing. Trust me, I can be really frugal/cheap! I understand your question given limited choices. Keep educating yourself!

Re: experimenting with dye to restore fading -- I've done this with success. I had a brown non-Coach briefcase that I rehabbed that had faded in some places, and I mixed Lexol conditioner with dye. I applied it with a cotton cloth rag. I left it for several days, then used conditioner on it. It worked great. I've also mixed Lexol with a little bit of dye to touchup corners on bags.

I've also had great success with touching up black bags using just Kiwi leather dye. It has it's own applicator and was not messy at. It worked great. This is the one I used.

 

[ArengoKC]

Whateve gave you great info and is a more experienced rehabber than I am. I may have more experience with what NOT to do, on occasion [emoji39] Just didn't want you to think I was ignoring your question.

Hi, Ravvie99! Thank you for giving attention to my post and not ignoring my questions. Yes, @whateve has been very helpful. I tried her suggestions. Maybe when I'm done with them i can post pics.

 

[Lake Effect]

Re: experimenting with dye to restore fading -- I've done this with success. I had a brown non-Coach briefcase that I rehabbed that had faded in some places, and I mixed Lexol conditioner with dye. I applied it with a cotton cloth rag. I left it for several days, then used conditioner on it. It worked great. I've also mixed Lexol with a little bit of dye to touchup corners on bags.

I've also had great success with touching up black bags using just Kiwi leather dye. It has it's own applicator and was not messy at. It worked great. This is the one I used.

Thanks! There are a couple of youtube videos that show people using different dyes on bags and kiwi may be one of them.
There was a poster here a few months back who rehabbed her Bleekers using a Saphir brand product. Either her cobbler or another poster's recommended the Saphir products. I did a little research on Amazon and Saphir has a whole line of products. I want to order one that is dye mixed with conditioned and is intended to help with fading. I have a well used black Bleeker tote that can be my test bag. Then I want to use it on a Plaza bag. The Plaza is faded all over. Will post results.

 

[ArengoKC]

I agree with everything @whateve said in her response. I don't think a neutral shoe polish would give you the results you want. Blackrocks does a great job finishing a rehabbed bag. If you can find it, that is a much better way to go. (I always order it via Amazon). Many scratches and scuffs will come out of a bag if you give it a bath and condition it with a high-quality conditioner. (Like @whateve said, you probably need something other than Lexol). Most vintage Coach bags were dyed through the leather as opposed to being just surface dyed, and they have an amazing ability to rejuvenate.

Thank you, Coach943! I noticed that after every bath the leather does look so much better and refreshed but somewhat flaws like color loss on pipings become more visible and edges become dry. I read that that is to be expected from dunking. I would just have to find away to get the products you all recommend. Thank you again!

 

[ArengoKC]

ArengoKC, my disclaimer is that I have been seriously rehabbing bags for a little under a year. I am here in the US, so it is relatively easy for me to get products like Leather Therapy R/C, Obenenauf's Oil and Leather Rock which I use in addition to the Lexol cleaner and conditioner. I have been on this Coach forum regularly since February when I joined, but I lurked for at least 6 months before that. Based on looking at lots of posts during this time. I get that rehabbers more experienced than I discourage using shoe polish products, basically because the goal of using shoe polish (and the wear and tear in a way on shoes and boots) is different than that of restoring a dry leather Coach bag. So I am not comfortable telling someone else outright what is a bad idea (and I know some of my pointed comments do, in a sense) or not. What I can say is based on what I read about shoe polish, is that I do not use it on my bags, as of now. I am considering experimenting with a dye combined with a conditioner to restore fading on a black bag.
So I encourage you to keep reading and asking others their experience so you can make your own informed decisions. Is the cost of shipping to where you live keep you from ordering from the internet? I needed to order from the internet but fortunately with Amazon prime, I did not have any shipping fees. I feel having the right products has made the difference in rehabbing. Trust me, I can be really frugal/cheap! I understand your question given limited choices. Keep educating yourself!

Hi, Lake Effect! I'm enjoying reading all your posts. I've just been active in this forum recently so I still have a lot of back reading to do but I am seriously absorbing everything I learn from all of you. Unfortunately, yes, I have really limited products to choose from. I'm from the Philippines and I don't think amazon ships here. however, maybe I can try to contact some relatives in the States to send some of your recommended products over. I am so envious that good leather care products are with in your reach there and also the selection of vintage bags there are to die for. You are blessed!

 

[ArengoKC]

It is really difficult to remove shoe polish. It doesn't come off in a dunk. You have to scrub with acetone (nail polish remover.) I never seal the bag after using acrylic paint with conditioner. I let the solution dry for a few days before doing additional conditioning. If you condition sooner, the color will come off when you buff. Even after awhile, some color coming off during the buffing process is normal, even for bags that weren't treated with acrylic. It won't come off with normal wear. I think maybe your problem is that you aren't using Blackrock Leather n Rich. If there is anyway you can order it to be delivered to you, you'll get the shine you desire. It isn't exactly a shine, it is more of a glow, that looks natural and makes every rehab look better. In fact, often it is all you need. Sometimes edges look like they need recoloring, but Blackrocks darkens them so it is unnecessary.

If Lexol is the only conditioner you have, that might be part of the problem. I don't find it to be a good enough conditioner for a rehab. It is fine for a bag that is already moisturized for maintenance, and I use it for mixing with paint, but I use other conditioners mainly for my rehabs. When you dunk a bag, you have to restore the moisture, and for that, you need a heavy duty conditioner like Leather CPR or Leather Therapy, or even something even more heavy duty like Leather Honey. If you can't get any of these, you might try mink oil. I think Kiwi makes one. Also, make sure you buff after each coat of conditioner has soaked in. The buffing helps with the glow. Kiwi also makes a buffing brush.

Thank you so much, Whateve! You been a great help. I so fear messing up because vintage coach bags in our location is so hard to come by. Same goes with leather care products. There are almost none in our local shops. I believe you when you say that the right products would make a huge difference with the outcome of the rehab. I just need have to find a way to get my hands on the products that you use. For now I would have to do with the products available to me. So your inputs are really of great help. I have started a rehab of a red vintage coach emmie flap bag with scuffed pipings. Have taken your instuction on the acrylic + conditioner mixture and so far i think i'm getting along fine. Hehe. I will post pictures as soon as I'm done so you all can see how helpful you have been.

 

[ArengoKC]

Re: experimenting with dye to restore fading -- I've done this with success. I had a brown non-Coach briefcase that I rehabbed that had faded in some places, and I mixed Lexol conditioner with dye. I applied it with a cotton cloth rag. I left it for several days, then used conditioner on it. It worked great. I've also mixed Lexol with a little bit of dye to touchup corners on bags.

I've also had great success with touching up black bags using just Kiwi leather dye. It has it's own applicator and was not messy at. It worked great. This is the one I used.

I have only tried using the acrylic+conditioner mixture but I will try the dye+conditioner solution that you mentioned. I so love learning from all of your experiences.

 

[coach943]

Thanks! There are a couple of youtube videos that show people using different dyes on bags and kiwi may be one of them.
There was a poster here a few months back who rehabbed her Bleekers using a Saphir brand product. Either her cobbler or another poster's recommended the Saphir products. I did a little research on Amazon and Saphir has a whole line of products. I want to order one that is dye mixed with conditioned and is intended to help with fading. I have a well used black Bleeker tote that can be my test bag. Then I want to use it on a Plaza bag. The Plaza is faded all over. Will post results.

I am curious about the Saphir products and how they work. I've never tried any of their products. I'll be interested to know if it changes the texture of the leather. The Feibings dye makes the leather feel different.

 

[Transported]

I'm not Ravvie99, but I think that sounds like a great approach. I would do it after dunking. Make sure the wood is dry first.

Thanks whateve. Have not had to do this type of fix before and wanted to make sure that my ideas were in line with those who have more experience than I do. Appreciate the help.
Off to hunt for leather scraps.