Rescuing a leather jacket?

Rescuing a leather jacket?

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Discussion

ChemicalChaos

Original Poster:

10,360 posts

159 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
quotequote all
Evening all,

I just swapped a 70s replica A2 jacket of mine for a genuine WW2 one. Unfortunately, the jacket has been stored for many years and is stiff as a proverbial board.

What would be the best treatment to make it lovely and supple again?

Also, the cotton lining is a bit minging and could do with re-making. Any recommendations?

Thanks smile

Edited by ChemicalChaos on Saturday 18th October 21:01

B17NNS

18,506 posts

246 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
quotequote all
You could try using some leather feed.

55palfers

5,893 posts

163 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
quotequote all
Give saddle soap a shot

Available from a tack shop I expect - or the internet.

Fishtigua

9,786 posts

194 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
quotequote all
Invest in a few tubs of this.

http://www.leathercaredirect.com/shop_product.php?...

Used on all my bike jackets, got it free as Dad ran a saddlery factory.

If it's really gone board hard, try this first.

http://www.leathercaredirect.com/shop_product.php?...

Edited by Fishtigua on Saturday 18th October 21:13

SLCZ3

1,204 posts

204 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Try dubbin of the same colour I found it very good.

ianrb

1,529 posts

139 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
SLCZ3 said:
Try dubbin of the same colour I found it very good.
Dubbin can rot the stitching, so no, don't use dubbin. You can buy leather cleaner and treatment, for car seats, from Halfords.



SLCZ3

1,204 posts

204 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
ianrb said:
Dubbin can rot the stitching, so no, don't use dubbin. You can buy leather cleaner and treatment, for car seats, from Halfords.

Really, I have used for 30+ years and had no problems with any stiching.

crankedup

25,764 posts

242 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Use Liquid Leather (Gliptone) no other product comes close. Do not use saddle-soap, its designed for a completely different market and the last thing you want to do is introduce water into the restoration. Dubbin used to be used on old leather football boots helping to water-proof them, as a restoration product its next to useless.

www.liquidleather.co.uk

Pixelpeep7r

8,600 posts

141 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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if Nicholas cage can do it, you can too!

NRS

22,079 posts

200 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Will this go with the cowboy hat and white jeans?

GCH

3,984 posts

201 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Pecards antique leather dressing.
Amazing product and designed exactly for stuff like this.

Predominantly US sold, but there are a couple of uk places that do it - try here: http://www.antiqueleatherdressing.co.uk/shopping/o...
The 6oz tub will be more than enough to do even the most battered single jacket several times.


Saddle soap not ideal for jackets

StuntmanMike

11,671 posts

150 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
All piss taking aside, let us know how this goes.

ManFromDelmonte

2,742 posts

179 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
StuntmanMike said:
All piss taking aside, let us know how this goes.
Agreed.

Before, during and after shots required.

Can you also start a thread on how you nearly destroyed that science classroom please?

downstairs

3,558 posts

216 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
GCH said:
Pecards antique leather dressing.
Amazing product and designed exactly for stuff like this.

Predominantly US sold, but there are a couple of uk places that do it - try here: http://www.antiqueleatherdressing.co.uk/shopping/o...
The 6oz tub will be more than enough to do even the most battered single jacket several times.
Was just about to post this. Pecards is good stuff.

ChemicalChaos

Original Poster:

10,360 posts

159 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
Thanks chaps. I was going to go with the Connolly suggestion, but as so many of you have recommended Pecards, and its cheaper, I'll give that a try first!

Here's some "before" pics:






anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
i'd be fairly sure that it's a replica not a WW2 original.

If it is original - it's worth a fortune.

somewhere like Aero Leather in Scotland can check it over and repair

Colonial

13,553 posts

204 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Wait. Do you have a camouflage bedspread?

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Just wear the damned thing. Looks fine to me. smile

Colonial said:
Wait. Do you have a camouflage bedspread?
biggrin I tried to block that out like when you mentally block out adverts on a website.

downstairs

3,558 posts

216 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Before you spend any money you really should verify its age. It doesn't look WWII vintage to me, but it's hard to tell from the pictures. Restoring it will take plenty of spend: I had quotes to reline a leather jacket that varied between £80-£120, and replacing the knitted cuffs and waist could be that again (although that's just a guess). Unless the jacket is original it's just not worth it - you can buy a HH A2 to the original pattern for £250, and new repros for half that.

And stop biting your nails!

downstairs

3,558 posts

216 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
Oh, and I've never noticed before: do all A2s have zip pulls on the lady's side?

eta: check the zip pulls for a maker's name. That might give you a clue to vintage - if it's YKK, forex, it's new. If it's genuinely old it could well be Talon.

Edited by downstairs on Tuesday 21st October 07:35