Leather Restorers’ Tips
To lessen the appearance of light surface scratches from leather items such as car seats, jackets, furniture, and handbags, many restorers use the following technique:
1. Clean leather article with the appropriate strength cleaner.
a. Angelus Blue Foam Cleaner (mild)
b. Angelus Easy Cleaner (medium)
c. Angelus Dry Cleaner (strong-hazard warning)
d. Angelus Leather Preparer (very strong! will remove color. Hazard Warning).
2. You will need Angelus Brand Leather Dye (#500) in a color
close to the color of the article (or a shade lighter). A 3oz
bottle of Angelus Lustre Cream in neutral.
3. Add drops of the leather dye to the lustre cream until you
reach the desired color.
4. Rub the mixture in leather well. Let sit a few minutes and
wipe off excess.
5. Buff article well with a clean soft cloth to remove any residue.
Dyeing Leather
1. Deglaze the leather with Angelus Leather Preparer/Deglazer. This will remove most/all of the finish. Use a pad saturated with the preparer.
Rub in a circular motion to remove finish. Allow the leather to dry completely. If the leather has cracks or scuff marks, sand with fine sandpaper. Seal cracks/scuff with neutral dye if necessary to avoid over penetration of the dye.
2. Apply a liberal coat of Angelus Leather Dye with a wool dauber.
The color should be close to the final shade you want. Rub the dye well into the leather. Let it dry. Then rub the leather surface with a soft clean cloth. This will remove any excess dye that accumulates on some leathers, and will also remove any lint that may have come off of the dauber.
3. If a top coat is desired, apply a light coat of Angelus Acrylic Finisher
(shiny) or Angelus Satin Acrylic Finisher (mat finish). Apply 1-2
coats. Allow the leather to dry between coats.
4. After the finishes are set, condition the leather with Angelus Leather
Conditioner or Angelus Leather Balm. Conditioning will provide better wear and scuff resistance.
More tips for dyeing leather
· Take time to prepare the leather well.
· Shake or stir all products well before use.
· Allow dyed and refinished articles to dry overnight before wearing.
· Never apply finish over a waxed or siliconed leather.
· Do not attempt to dye dark leathers very light.
· Sand all scuffs and cracks with fine sandpaper.
· Prime all sanded scuffs/cracks with a sealer.
· Always apply light coats.
· Do not attempt to cover in one application. Two light coats are better than one heavy one.
· Do not use Acetone or Lacquer Thinner to thin dye products. They may not be compatible with the dye.
· Wear gloves and use only in a well ventilated area.
· READ ALL DIRECTIONS BEFORE USE.
· KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
· Dyes are meant to permanently dye articles, so take care not to splash or spill.
