The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly! 5 Tan Bags-Rehab Reveal!

[katev]

Wow, your skills are amazing! Can I ask a question? In the first bag's photos, the bottom corners seem really faded and worn but in the rehab they look the same color as the bag again. Is that polish or dye, or it just happens after washing and conditioning?

Thank you! I didn't use any polish or dyes on the bags, they just darkened naturally when the bags were washed and conditioned. I did use acryllic paint to touch up the edges on some of the straps.

For the bags in the worst condition, the court bag and the USA city bag, I used Black Rocks conditioner and it does darken leather a little - but I wanted them to darken because it helps to hide the flaws and uneven coloration.

But the first bag (Turkey city bag) was in pretty good shape when I started, so all I did was give it a bath, condition with Leather CPR and shine the hardware. It was an easy rehab!

 

[Jessi319]

Have you had any trouble with the "glued on" older creed #'s coming unglued during a wash? I have hesitated rehabbing a couple of older bags for this reason since they are quite often missing making me wonder how durable the glueing was over time.

 

[katev]

Have you had any trouble with the "glued on" older creed #'s coming unglued during a wash? I have hesitated rehabbing a couple of older bags for this reason since they are quite often missing making me wonder how durable the glueing was over time.

I have only rehabbed one bag with the glued-in serial number (I have another one in my rehab pile but I haven't worked on it yet!) The slim satchel that I revealed in this thread has a glued-in serial number.

It didn't come unglued during the rehab but it became darker than the rest of the leather on the pocket/creed patch and the surface is now a bit higher than the rest of the pocket.

I was concerned about that too but I figured that I would just glue it back in with fabric glue if it came unglued!

 

[Hyacinth]

I give you credit...your doing an awesome job and overall a really good thing as others might see them useless and just toss them. THUMBS UP they look great!!

Thanks!

 

[ArengoKC]

Item: Court bag (British Tan, 9870, USA, 1996)
Seller: Salvation Army Thrift Store
Price: $18

Comments: This bag was one of my earliest rehabs and I had previously revealed it and I was quite happy with the results. This was the bag that first taught mejust how challenging light-colored bags can be to rehab! I recently pulled this bag out and found myself less satisfied with the condition now than previously.

Ive learned some tricks since that early rehab! For instance, Ive learned to touch up the edging on straps and to use Black Rocks conditioner to darken and reduce uneven coloration. I also wasnt as pleased with the cleanliness of the bag as I had been, so I decided to rewash it and repeat the rehab.

I am much happier with the results now but it still isnt as good as I would wish. I would probably walk-away from this bag if I saw it at the thrift store today, and I certainly wouldnt have paid $18 for it. But it has been a great learning experience and I am okay with the results.

The first 3 pics are before and the last 2 are after. Picture number 4, the first after photo, is kind of dark but I selected it because shows the uneven color and flaws better than the brighter photos.

Hello, Katev! I found this post while reading up on your process of restoring vintage coach bags. May I know how you touch up the edging on the strap of your court bag? did you touch up also the edging of the handle? and lastly how do you use black rocks? I've tried it bit it seemed to not darken/even out the color of my bag. Any advise is welcome and much appreciated.

And may I just say that I'm a big fan of your restorations. I look for them all the time in the threads.

 

[katev]

Hello, Katev! I found this post while reading up on your process of restoring vintage coach bags. May I know how you touch up the edging on the strap of your court bag? did you touch up also the edging of the handle? and lastly how do you use black rocks? I've tried it bit it seemed to not darken/even out the color of my bag. Any advise is welcome and much appreciated.

And may I just say that I'm a big fan of your restorations. I look for them all the time in the threads.

Thank you!

I don't always use paint on the edges of bags, but when I've completed the rehab and the strap edges (and occasionally corners or piping) still have significant color loss then I may consider touching them up.

I usually use small bottles of simple acrylic hobby paint for touch-ups with a paint brush. I mix the paint with Leather CPR to help it absorb into the leather. The acrylic paint is easy to clean up and work with.

It works best when you are dealing with a basic, dark color like black or dark brown but the results are more variable when you are dealing with lighter and/or more unusual colors. Sometimes you have to mix paints to try and get a good match and that may or may not be successful. If it doesn't look good while it's still fresh then you can easily remove it with mild soap and water, but the paint becomes permanent after it dries. I usually take the hangtag with me to the hobby store to help me find the right color(s) - but don't lose the hangtag, I've done that!

Some bags have a thicker, shinier strap edging that may have started to peal off and leave gaps. Or there may be actual leather loss due to small chunks missing in the piping or along the handles. In such cases a hobby paint called "puff paint" mixed with Leather CPR is usually my best option. It's thicker and it helps cover the losses a little better.

So that is my usual method, other rehabbers may use other products or techniques - good luck!

 

[ArengoKC]

Thank you!

I don't always use paint on the edges of bags, but when I've completed the rehab and the strap edges (and occasionally corners or piping) still have significant color loss then I may consider touching them up.

I usually use small bottles of simple acrylic hobby paint for touch-ups with a paint brush. I mix the paint with Leather CPR to help it absorb into the leather. The acrylic paint is easy to clean up and work with.

It works best when you are dealing with a basic, dark color like black or dark brown but the results are more variable when you are dealing with lighter and/or more unusual colors. Sometimes you have to mix paints to try and get a good match and that may or may not be successful. If it doesn't look good while it's still fresh then you can easily remove it with mild soap and water, but the paint becomes permanent after it dries. I usually take the hangtag with me to the hobby store to help me find the right color(s) - but don't lose the hangtag, I've done that!

Some bags have a thicker, shinier strap edging that may have started to peal off and leave gaps. Or there may be actual leather loss due to small chunks missing in the piping or along the handles. In such cases a hobby paint called "puff paint" mixed with Leather CPR is usually my best option. It's thicker and it helps cover the losses a little better.

So that is my usual method, other rehabbers may use other products or techniques - good luck!

Thank you so much for the insight! I haven't heard of puffy paint and im sure our local hobby store doesn't have it but i saw some diy tutorials in the internet on how to make one. Would be worth a try!

Do you sometimes make several layers of black rocks to darken a bag? how long in between applications?

Thank you so much for entertaining my post and inquiries!

 

[katev]

Thank you so much for the insight! I haven't heard of puffy paint and im sure our local hobby store doesn't have it but i saw some diy tutorials in the internet on how to make one. Would be worth a try!

Do you sometimes make several layers of black rocks to darken a bag? how long in between applications?

Thank you so much for entertaining my post and inquiries!

My pleasure! You have to use Blackrocks sparingly. If you apply it too heavily it can get sticky and it takes a long time to absorb. I usually only use one application of BR. I put it on lightly in one section and immediately wipe off the excess and then move on to the next section. When I am done applying it then I buff the entire bag well with a horsehair brush. I wait a day before deciding to use a second application.

The link below is for the first time I used Blackrocks for a rehab and it really made a difference in the appearance after only one application. I've been using it ever since as the final coat on many vintage bags.

This bag cost $5 bucks and a lot of work! Rehab reveal!

I picked up a bag for $5 at the Savers Thrift Store that Hyacinth authenticated as a Saddle Pouch 9590 standard size (9 x 7 x 1 ½) made in New York City some time between the late 1970s to about 1987. The bag was structurally intact but I think it had been stored in a damp basement for a long...

forum.purseblog.com

 

[americandreaming]

My pleasure! You have to use Blackrocks sparingly. If you apply it too heavily it can get sticky and it takes a long time to absorb. I usually only use one application of BR. I put it on lightly in one section and immediately wipe off the excess and then move on to the next section. When I am done applying it then I buff the entire bag well with a horsehair brush. I wait a day before deciding to use a second application.

The link below is for the first time I used Blackrocks for a rehab and it really made a difference in the appearance after only one application. I've been using it ever since as the final coat on many vintage bags.

This bag cost $5 bucks and a lot of work! Rehab reveal!

I picked up a bag for $5 at the Savers Thrift Store that Hyacinth authenticated as a Saddle Pouch 9590 standard size (9 x 7 x 1 ½) made in New York City some time between the late 1970s to about 1987. The bag was structurally intact but I think it had been stored in a damp basement for a long...

forum.purseblog.com

I have a tub of BR on the way and hopefully I don't fall too in love with it... it's an expensive love! Haha. Renapur is the easily accessible finisher for me since it's based in the UK.

 

[katev]

I have a tub of BR on the way and hopefully I don't fall too in love with it... it's an expensive love! Haha. Renapur is the easily accessible finisher for me since it's based in the UK.

Renapur is a fine product and some rehabbers prefer it over BR, I usually prefer the blackrocks but opinions vary; I hope you find it useful.