I posted the inside pic with the creed, because I thought that showed the fading accurately.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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Hold on now lady. So I wash my bag and use towels to shape. THEN I use a conditioner like CPR (will cadillac boot and shoe care work instead of CPR?) and THEN I use black rocks as finish? Did I get it right?
Another Q. What if I need a paint job on my bag? Do I condition and then paint or reverse?
There are a few stains toward the bottom, but I can live with that. Interestingly enough, the handles are in good shape. I think you have helped me decide to simply put a coat of Blackrock on it and use it.
You can use Cadillac. If your bag is really dry, it might not do as good of a job as CPR or Leather Therapy. I like Cadillac better for maintenance of bags than rehabbing, but if you have it, use it. Once you feel the bag is fully conditioned, then do Black rock. I usually do several rounds of conditioning at least 24 hours apart. When the conditioner no longer soaks in, you are done conditioning. Then use Black rocks as your finishing coat. I usually do 2 applications, 24 hours apart.
As far as paint, I assume you mean to touch up the corners? You may find that you don't need to use paint if you condition the bag well. If you do, add just a drop or two of acrylic with a healthy amount of conditioner and apply to the corners. I usually do something like that after I've conditioned but before Black Rocks. You need to let it set for several days to cure. Often times, I find that I don't really need to use acrylics.
Wow! It looks great, especially with the Coach accessories. I really like the long tassel bag charm and the Mickey luggage tag.
Thanks! I like using all those coach accessories with my VB computer bag, too. I especially like the long tassel in chalk. I also have the navy tassel and yesterday I bought one in carmine for $20 at Nordstrom Rack!
So I am not sure if my limited photography skills captured the subtle but noticeable difference to me with dying the bag. I bought the Plaza off ebay last fall. I got what I felt was good deal, about $45 shipped. The seller pics did show slight fading (were taken outdoors in full sun). The bag as you can see was in good shape, so the fading was from the aging or lack of conditioning or both. I did dunk it with applications of Leather Therapy, Obenauf's Oil and Blackrock. The fading did not change.
After seeing what @marleneryd did for her black bags with Saphir products, I wanted to try to dye my bag, to restore it to a rich black color. I am a selective perfectionist. I can live with certain little spots or this or that on a bag. But I really like a black bag to be a rich black color and not faded. Go figure. Even though I felt nervous about dye. I mean I will dunk just about anything twice and ask questions later, lol, but dying a bag intimidated me.
marleneryd posted she used a colorant and conditioner combined. I looked at the Saphir products offered and decided on using Juvacuir Recolorant. It lead me to believe, or I read into it, that this product would eliminate the need to use a conditioner combined with it.
So I tested it on a slightly faded, much worn but conditioned black Bleeker. Well, I felt it was just sucking up the product and I am looking at the little bottle, 2.53 oz and thinking, holy moly. On a whim, I had just ordered Cadillac Select premium leather lotion and decided to mix it with colorant/dye. And I was pleased with what it did for the Bleeker. And I did mix it with the Cadillac Select for the Plaza. I applied it with a cotton cloth. I think next time I will use a make up sponge applicator, as I saw after the fact posted by @whateve . I still have about half of the bottle.
So moving forward, even though I thought I could forgo using a conditioner, I know whatever kind of dye or colorant product I will use in the future, I will be prepared to use a conditioner as well.
So the bottom line is I am really pleased how this came out on my first attempt. I have a Patricia with alot of fading on the front flap, especially on the edges. Now want to pull out and see how it responds. And I look forward to keeping my black Monterey Hobo looking good!!
And Ithis community. If it wasn't for you, I would have used the Kiwi product to touch up black shoes
! For real!
Today I was walking around the Saturday morning farmer's market enjoying it like a new bag!
Your bag looks fabulous! Thanks for all the information, now I won't be afraid to try dying a bag!
I have to get into The Rack to check out the Coach. That place overwhelms me, so I haven't been in there in years.
It looks great! I can't tell from the photo about the colour change, but the finish looks very pretty and 'glowy'. Did it change the feel of the leather at all? Did you wash the bag again before recoloring? I'm so curious about the Saphir recolorants because the products get such good reviews. I have a sample pack of their shoe polish and it is like buttah.So I am not sure if my limited photography skills captured the subtle but noticeable difference to me with dying the bag. I bought the Plaza off ebay last fall. I got what I felt was good deal, about $45 shipped. The seller pics did show slight fading (were taken outdoors in full sun). The bag as you can see was in good shape, so the fading was from the aging or lack of conditioning or both. I did dunk it with applications of Leather Therapy, Obenauf's Oil and Blackrock. The fading did not change.
After seeing what @marleneryd did for her black bags with Saphir products, I wanted to try to dye my bag, to restore it to a rich black color. I am a selective perfectionist. I can live with certain little spots or this or that on a bag. But I really like a black bag to be a rich black color and not faded. Go figure. Even though I felt nervous about dye. I mean I will dunk just about anything twice and ask questions later, lol, but dying a bag intimidated me.
marleneryd posted she used a colorant and conditioner combined. I looked at the Saphir products offered and decided on using Juvacuir Recolorant. It lead me to believe, or I read into it, that this product would eliminate the need to use a conditioner combined with it.
So I tested it on a slightly faded, much worn but conditioned black Bleeker. Well, I felt it was just sucking up the product and I am looking at the little bottle, 2.53 oz and thinking, holy moly. On a whim, I had just ordered Cadillac Select premium leather lotion and decided to mix it with colorant/dye. And I was pleased with what it did for the Bleeker. And I did mix it with the Cadillac Select for the Plaza. I applied it with a cotton cloth. I think next time I will use a make up sponge applicator, as I saw after the fact posted by @whateve . I still have about half of the bottle.
So moving forward, even though I thought I could forgo using a conditioner, I know whatever kind of dye or colorant product I will use in the future, I will be prepared to use a conditioner as well.
So the bottom line is I am really pleased how this came out on my first attempt. I have a Patricia with alot of fading on the front flap, especially on the edges. Now want to pull out and see how it responds. And I look forward to keeping my black Monterey Hobo looking good!!
And I
Today I was walking around the Saturday morning farmer's market enjoying it like a new bag!
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Thank you. The leather was in good condition to begin with and after dunking/conditioning and recoloring/ conditioning the leather has been enhanced nicely.
I have to say, I never heard of them until I read @marleneryd 's posts on them a few months ago. Now I am curious about the Delicate creme whateve mentioned. Even more so that it does not change the color of a bag. I have a red Pocket bag that is *like new*, not exaggerating. I am debating on what to use on it. It is this great tomato/orange red color and I am not ready to put anything on it that will change it yet! I simply put Lexol conditioner on it and I did very carefully put Blackrock on the piping/trim. I may put Cadillac Select on the bottom to see what it does. I am sure there are more Saphir products in my future. Lol.It looks great! I can't tell from the photo about the colour change, but the finish looks very pretty and 'glowy'. Did it change the feel of the leather at all? Did you wash the bag again before recoloring? I'm so curious about the Saphir recolorants because the products get such good reviews. I have a sample pack of their shoe polish and it is like buttah.
For those of you who have replaced turnlock hardware, are there any special tricks you like to use?
Also, I contacted Coach customer service about a new lock and they asked for my bag's serial #, but I'm worried they won't give me one since my bag's number is pre-1994 and some other comments here have said that Coach claims they can't authenticate it and won't send the hardware. Is this true? Would I be out of line sending a "legit" serial number with the post-1994 style number?
Also, I contacted Coach customer service about a new lock and they asked for my bag's serial #, but I'm worried they won't give me one since my bag's number is pre-1994 and some other comments here have said that Coach claims they can't authenticate it and won't send the hardware. Is this true? Would I be out of line sending a "legit" serial number with the post-1994 style number?
I requested a new turn-lock for a vintage Willis and received it within a few weeks. I think they just want to make sure you get the appropriate style? This was just a couple of months ago so I'm thinking it should work out for you as well? It came with replacement instructions and is actually pretty easy to do. Good luck!
It looks beautiful! It doesn't rub off or anything?So I am not sure if my limited photography skills captured the subtle but noticeable difference to me with dying the bag. I bought the Plaza off ebay last fall. I got what I felt was good deal, about $45 shipped. The seller pics did show slight fading (were taken outdoors in full sun). The bag as you can see was in good shape, so the fading was from the aging or lack of conditioning or both. I did dunk it with applications of Leather Therapy, Obenauf's Oil and Blackrock. The fading did not change.
After seeing what @marleneryd did for her black bags with Saphir products, I wanted to try to dye my bag, to restore it to a rich black color. I am a selective perfectionist. I can live with certain little spots or this or that on a bag. But I really like a black bag to be a rich black color and not faded. Go figure. Even though I felt nervous about dye. I mean I will dunk just about anything twice and ask questions later, lol, but dying a bag intimidated me.
marleneryd posted she used a colorant and conditioner combined. I looked at the Saphir products offered and decided on using Juvacuir Recolorant. It lead me to believe, or I read into it, that this product would eliminate the need to use a conditioner combined with it.
So I tested it on a slightly faded, much worn but conditioned black Bleeker. Well, I felt it was just sucking up the product and I am looking at the little bottle, 2.53 oz and thinking, holy moly. On a whim, I had just ordered Cadillac Select premium leather lotion and decided to mix it with colorant/dye. And I was pleased with what it did for the Bleeker. And I did mix it with the Cadillac Select for the Plaza. I applied it with a cotton cloth. I think next time I will use a make up sponge applicator, as I saw after the fact posted by @whateve . I still have about half of the bottle.
So moving forward, even though I thought I could forgo using a conditioner, I know whatever kind of dye or colorant product I will use in the future, I will be prepared to use a conditioner as well.
So the bottom line is I am really pleased how this came out on my first attempt. I have a Patricia with alot of fading on the front flap, especially on the edges. Now want to pull out and see how it responds. And I look forward to keeping my black Monterey Hobo looking good!!
And I
Today I was walking around the Saturday morning farmer's market enjoying it like a new bag!
I know! I used to be able to find rehab projects at great prices at the local thrift stores which is why my rehab piles are so big - and why it contains too many bags that will not be easy to rehab! It is difficult to walk away from a once-lovely bag when it's so cheap!
But nowadays the prices seem higher and I don't spend as much time in thrift stores. It helps that the Savers Store near me has closed down, but I still have a goodwill and a salvation army store nearby, and when I am doing errands at shops in the same malls, it's hard not to run in to check out the inventory!
I try to shop my own rehab piles but now when I buy a bag I try to focus on less common bags and easy rehabs with a high probability of success, but I still sometimes give in to temptation! I love the hunt and the thrill of finding a great bag at a cheap price!
I think that my 2 greatest scores where an Italian-made Madison Gracie bag for $2 and a genuine Bonnie Cashin 1960s Attachette (or Small Shopper) for $2! Both were found at the Salvation Army store.
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