Hermes Vintage Bag Nightmares & Hermes Leather Care

[docride]

Hi Doc,

I have been looking for a restoration project for a while and thought I had found one but I fear this Drag may be a step too far. The cleaning and the polishing I can do but when it comes to repairs and stitching which is needed on the sides then it has to go to the experts. I have not bought it yet and have only ever used Hermes Spa for cleaning - nothing major. Do you think Drag this is restorable? I don't know the leather but guessing some kind of natural leather. It is a 28 drag.Oh, and the seller is asking for £500 so I need to factor in spa costs too.

Many thanks,

Gill

I don't see that cleaning is going to make this bag look much better,nor will polishing IMO. You have major color change and staining here. Color restorer could be used but it's not easy to get light colors to cover over dark discolorations.

Additionally the stitching may be a problem IF the leather is so dry it can no longer hold a stitch. I wonder if the stitches have come undone or the leather was so dry that the stitches just ripped through and the leather tore away from the stitches.

All of this information can not be figured out by just the photos I see. IMO this project for this price should be passed on unless you can make sure the leather is not in the stage called dry rot where is it can't hold a stitch and can't be repaired to any great and usable sturdy degree. and you like the shabby chic look.

 

[cheapfrillnorth]

Hi Doc,

I have been looking for a restoration project for a while and thought I had found one but I fear this Drag may be a step too far. The cleaning and the polishing I can do but when it comes to repairs and stitching which is needed on the sides then it has to go to the experts. I have not bought it yet and have only ever used Hermes Spa for cleaning - nothing major. Do you think Drag this is restorable? I don't know the leather but guessing some kind of natural leather. It is a 28 drag.Oh, and the seller is asking for £500 so I need to factor in spa costs too.

Many thanks,

Gill

Thank you Doc.

You have taken the time to spell out why this is a disaster. I look at it and see a magic spa and a lovely bag. You see it how it really is and I am very grateful. As a child I always rescued birds with broken wings, and lost dogs and cats so I guess this a grown up way of doing that.

Thank you again.

I don't see that cleaning is going to make this bag look much better,nor will polishing IMO. You have major color change and staining here. Color restorer could be used but it's not easy to get light colors to cover over dark discolorations.

Additionally the stitching may be a problem IF the leather is so dry it can no longer hold a stitch. I wonder if the stitches have come undone or the leather was so dry that the stitches just ripped through and the leather tore away from the stitches.

All of this information can not be figured out by just the photos I see. IMO this project for this price should be passed on unless you can make sure the leather is not in the stage called dry rot where is it can't hold a stitch and can't be repaired to any great and usable sturdy degree. and you like the shabby chic look.

 

[docride]

Hi Doc,

I have been looking for a restoration project for a while and thought I had found one but I fear this Drag may be a step too far. The cleaning and the polishing I can do but when it comes to repairs and stitching which is needed on the sides then it has to go to the experts. I have not bought it yet and have only ever used Hermes Spa for cleaning - nothing major. Do you think Drag this is restorable? I don't know the leather but guessing some kind of natural leather. It is a 28 drag.Oh, and the seller is asking for £500 so I need to factor in spa costs too.

Many thanks,

Gill

Thank you Doc.

You have taken the time to spell out why this is a disaster. I look at it and see a magic spa and a lovely bag. You see it how it really is and I am very grateful. As a child I always rescued birds with broken wings, and lost dogs and cats so I guess this a grown up way of doing that.

Thank you again.

I do the rescues too as you well know..however I try and choose projects with the knowledge of what the end result can be/will be before I begin. I like to choose projects which will have good out comes. The main thing you alwyas want to keep in mind is is this bag sturdy enough to restore and to be used after it's been restored.
There are lots of vintage bag projects,in this case I would keep lookingh unless you can find out more about the state of the leather and you don't mind the darkened handles (these could be dyed a darker color so to even them out but I wouldn't think you'll be able to make them light again without them looking and feeling "done"

 

[lightdays]

Which type of leather are you enquiring about?
generally if the spa is going add polish and buff the bag then the answer is no,it will not soften the noticably.

Any pebbly leather like clemence, togo, epsom, etc. Do those get soften by spa?

 

[gabrijel]

I would prefer you state your leather types and let me give answers .. rather than show me 4 photos so I have to figure each leather type out and give you four answers OK?

Lexol PH can be used to clean many leather types however I do NOT recommend it for all leathers nor all projects.
The easiest is the Lexol PH wipes which will pre-dose the amount and keep folks from getting into problems.

The reason I mentioned Blackrock so often is becasue it's pretty easy to work with and is generally fool proof if used as directed sparlingly and after a small hidden test area has been done.


For removing old polish (and that's what your project requires as it's first step) Lexol PH will not work even half as well as Blackrock Leather N Rich

The main problem happening here is you read some old posts from other people 's projects and got it in your mind that you needed the very same products you read about (this quite common, its a good get er done attitude). It's better though to be starting your project with a fresh slate and a treatment plan specifically tailored to your bag...

And no worries you'll find uses for the the Lexol PH ...

In this case regarding the first bag you mentioned Lexol PH is not the best choice for the first step.

With very old or very dry bags I would not want you to in anyway shape or form to add water (especially true when folks use the Lexol PH liquid) or anyother product which may stress the leather with having to dry from being wet..See?
I do not want get into every specific detail here about why and how the interior leather fibers can get stressed or weaken; but they can and we don't want that possiblity in the mix so lets just move along now OK? ..

If you can not find Blackrocks Leather N Rich then go and find which ever Cleaner Conditioner Combination product (it should be a single product) you can made by Meltonian, or Saphir, Woly, Kelly's, Griffen... (can you find any of these brands in your country?)

**** The take home message is " LIKE DISOLVES LIKE"
So, if you want to disolve or remove old polish which is wax a light waxy cleaner like blackrock or will disolve it (the polish) and remove it most easily.

So, let us just stay focused on your first project and then when you have completed it, we can move on to your other projects OK?

Hi Doc
Thank you very much for your help!!
Sorry for just posting pictures from my bags instead of leather types...I actually have no idea which bag is from which leather type..I thought you as a professional would see this on the pictures....but as you said...lets just start with my first project...

I have received the kelly today...there is quite a lot to do...there are a few places which need some stitching...In a post from yesterday about a Drag bag you asked if the stitches are undone or if the leather was so dry that the stitches ripped trough....as far as I can see on my kelly the stitches have come undone and its not because the stitches ripped through.. also there is a hole on one edge...I'll post some better pictures so you can see it yourself...

Your are totaly right about every project is different...I just tried to get together as much information as I can (from your old posts) to not bother you with things you have said allready many times...

Woly and Saphir are available in my country.. but I am not sure which product is the right one.. from Woly there is a product called "combi cleaner"... is this something I could use for my project?
I just have talked to a guy from a saddlery and he told me that I can also use aceton for removing the old polish..but the guy has not seen the leather..so maybe for my bag this isnt an option.



I'm looking forward for this project and cant await to start
Thanks once again for your help
Gabrijel

 

[docride]

Hi Doc
Thank you very much for your help!!
Sorry for just posting pictures from my bags instead of leather types...I actually have no idea which bag is from which leather type..I thought you as a professional would see this on the pictures....but as you said...lets just start with my first project...

I have received the kelly today...there is quite a lot to do...there are a few places which need some stitching...In a post from yesterday about a Drag bag you asked if the stitches are undone or if the leather was so dry that the stitches ripped trough....as far as I can see on my kelly the stitches have come undone and its not because the stitches ripped through.. also there is a hole on one edge...I'll post some better pictures so you can see it yourself...

Your are totaly right about every project is different...I just tried to get together as much information as I can (from your old posts) to not bother you with things you have said allready many times...

Woly and Saphir are available in my country.. but I am not sure which product is the right one.. from Woly there is a product called "combi cleaner"... is this something I could use for my project?
I just have talked to a guy from a saddlery and he told me that I can also use aceton for removing the old polish..but the guy has not seen the leather..so maybe for my bag this isnt an option.



I'm looking forward for this project and cant await to start
Thanks once again for your help
Gabrijel

If your saddler said to use "ACETONE" do NOT use it .
Check the label on the woly combi cleaner...what are the ingredients?

 

[docride]

Any pebbly leather like clemence, togo, epsom, etc. Do those get soften by spa?

Even though each of the leathers you specified are quite different the answer is the same. No is the answer.

 

[gabrijel]

If your saddler said to use "ACETONE" do NOT use it .
Check the label on the woly combi cleaner...what are the ingredients?

I cleaned the bag with Acetone and it worked pretty good...unfortunately the bag is in much worser condition than I thought. I decided to sell the bag and move on to another project. I'm sorry for wasting your time.

I already have another Kelly in mind and I think this one is in better shape.
Do you think this Kelly is good for a restauration or is the leather already to dry?

http://www.ebay.de/itm/HERMES-KELLY...amentaschen&hash=item3cca2d402f#ht_835wt_1378

 

[docride]

I cleaned the bag with Acetone and it worked pretty good...unfortunately the bag is in much worser condition than I thought. I decided to sell the bag and move on to another project. I'm sorry for wasting your time.

I already have another Kelly in mind and I think this one is in better shape.
Do you think this Kelly is good for a restauration or is the leather already to dry?

http://www.ebay.de/itm/HERMES-KELLY...amentaschen&hash=item3cca2d402f#ht_835wt_1378

I specifically said NOT to use acetone to clean the bag.

I can not say this strongly enough that one should never use acetone to remove old polish on an old bag it will harm the leather,weaken and dry it out.

As to this bag you are showing me it is too dry,IMO.

 

[gabrijel]

I specifically said NOT to use acetone to clean the bag.

I can not say this strongly enough that one should never use acetone to remove old polish on an old bag it will harm the leather,weaken and dry it out.

As to this bag you are showing me it is too dry,IMO.

Do you have any experiance with Kellys with canvas? Do you know if there is a way to clean the canvas?

 

[midnight23]

Hi Docride! I have an iris lindy in clemence, and I just found a deep scratch on the front panel/side panel of the bag. Is there any way I can fix it? Thank u in advance!

 

[Hed Kandi]

I really can not say from these photos, why not ask the seller? If the bag has no cracks you should be OK.

Hello Doc,

Got the bag (Chevre HAC 32 Black) and the leather seems a little dry not very much. Though the edges of the leather where there is like a 'sealant' is showing some tiny (but many) areas that seem like they are flaking.... The top area where the leather folds, where the straps go through, shows the wear the most. I hope this makes sense.

It's like the ones seen where Nancy is showing the blind stamp: http://www.biggerbids.com/auction-image-gallery.php?auction_id=457743&image_id=3475019

Should I also be worried that it only has a Blind Stap H and nothing else? I did get it authenticated on the 'authenticate this' thread.

Advice?

Thanks in advance.

 

[docride]

Hello Doc,

Got the bag (Chevre HAC 32 Black) and the leather seems a little dry not very much. Though the edges of the leather where there is like a 'sealant' is showing some tiny (but many) areas that seem like they are flaking.... The top area where the leather folds, where the straps go through, shows the wear the most. I hope this makes sense.

It's like the ones seen where Nancy is showing the blind stamp: http://www.biggerbids.com/auction-image-gallery.php?auction_id=457743&image_id=3475019

Should I also be worried that it only has a Blind Stap H and nothing else? I did get it authenticated on the 'authenticate this' thread.

Advice?

Thanks in advance.

None of what you are worried about seems worth worry about So you might want to clean and condition this bag is that right? use some lexio PH leather wipes to clean and condition in one step, next finish with some conditioning cream neutral polish I liek Tarrago neutral for you particular project. You can find both items here
www.shoetreemarketplace.com

 

[docride]

Doc, sorry to be a pest. I bought the gold courcheval Kelly on eBay that I posted about a few days ago. What products should I buy to be ready to rehab when it arrives? Many thanks!

www.shoetreemarketplace.com go here and pick out some tarrago cream polish in colors which look close you may need a few colors to mix to make a perfect match if you have major color loss you'll want the Tarrago color kits which has polish and dye in it about $9

 

[docride]

Do you have any experiance with Kellys with canvas? Do you know if there is a way to clean the canvas?

Some ladies use a special dry cleaner some use a Mr Clean Magic Eraser

However, I am not that savy with fabrics and therefore do not want to recommend anything sorry .
I am knowlegable about leather not fabrics..sorry