leather restoration/re-colour

[budd]

I've just re carpeted my Griff and now the lovely new carpets are making the leather trim look a bit well scruffy, the leather isn't ripped or torn or really badly worn but the new carpet shows it up a little so what's my options for 'tarting up' the leather a little, I've given it a good clean using Auto-smart leather cleaner and while it's better it's not as good as I'd like it, I've seen products advertised that are supposed to re-colour worn / discoloured leather as anyone any experience or suggestion on which products work and the results I should expect, any input welcome.

[chris52]

You can get a great improvement using the Furniture clinic leather paints I changed the whole interior colour on mine. Here are a few pics including close ups of the finish










Chris

[budd]

WOW Chris that looks great, do you have a link to the supplier or is it just furnitureclinic.com? also what was the colour before ?

[chris52]

link here http://furnitureclinic.co.uk/Leather_Car_Interior_...

Picture of old colour sample here it was a greenish/grey



chris

Edited by chris52 on Monday 21st May 16:16

[budd]

thanks for the link, it looks like just the stuff I need, which product did you use? the leather colourant looks favourite, how much did you need/use and how did you apply it? sorry for all the questions,

[chris52]

I used this http://furnitureclinic.co.uk/Leather_Colourant_Kit... the extra large one did my full interior.
Is your car Full leather? ie dash,seat backs, door trims, whale tail centre console etc? as this product will only do the leather not any vinyl.
You apply it with the spray gun supplied. If you send them a sample of your colour they will match it for you.
Your based in West Yorkshire I'm in Leeds so your welcome to come over and have a look and I can help with any questions you have.
chris

[budd]

chris52 said:

I used this http://furnitureclinic.co.uk/Leather_Colourant_Kit... the extra large one did my full interior.
Is your car Full leather? ie dash,seat backs, door trims, whale tail centre console etc? as this product will only do the leather not any vinyl.
You apply it with the spray gun supplied. If you send them a sample of your colour they will match it for you.
Your based in West Yorkshire I'm in Leeds so your welcome to come over and have a look and I can help with any questions you have.
chris

yes mine is full leather to, but I don't want to do the dash which is more of a biscuit colour rather than the light cream (like yours) the bulk of the interior is finished in, i've just fitted new carpets (from coverdale carpets) and the plan is to match the leather to the piping on the new carpets, the piping is more of a light tan and is slightly darker then the OE colour.
I've looked at the colourant kits and it would probably be better to buy the items seperately, as I have compressor and several spray guns to apply the costing, the kits include a air brush and propellant which I wouldn't use, so I was thinking I could maybe get away with 500ml of colourant with 250ml each of pre-cleaner, alcohol cleaner and 150ml of sealer and finish.
I'm located in Ossett so as you say not far away, it my be helpful to pop over and have look at yours, maybe get a few tips as you've obviously done a great job,BTW Do you go over to the TVR owners club meetings at the golf club?

[chris52]

I didn't use the propellant as I have a compressor, I also started with an expensive air brush that I had but found it clogged up very quickly so ended up using the one supplied with the kit which was much better. So my advice would be to use their kit.
Unfortunately I never manage to get to the Sunday meeting as I work Sunday's.
But do go to the Monday night one at the Woolpack in Esholt.
Chris

[budd]

was the air brush clogging because the colourant was drying in the nozzle ? if so this is probably because the system is water based, I'd have to check my spray guns as I know some aren't suitable for use with water based products, but I'm pretty sure my devilbiss gravity gun would do a good job if it's compatible.