Leather is a natural substance that requires special treatment for various repairs.The only way to un-crack leather is to replace it. One approach that leather repair specialists use is to clean the leather and then re-color it. The result is that the leather will have a uniform appearance. The cracks will still be there but will be less apparent. You can also have a leather repair professional replace the cracked areas and match the new leather to the original color. This works best when you are working with a panel of leather, for example on a car seat or the surface of a furniture cushion.
Dog and Cat Scratches can easily damage a valuable piece of leather furniture. For dogs, most damage occurs while climbing on and jumping off. If you are a cat owner, leather fillers or tanner's resin will cure the symptoms but not the problem. You might consider buying your cat a scratching post and put it near the area where the cat is scratching before using the filler.
You might be able to fix slight abrasions on leather furniture. Spray water on the abrasion and cover it with a small square of one thousand grit wet sand paper from the hardware store. Sand very gently until the surface is smooth and you can't feel the tear from the abrasion any longer. You might end up requiring to re-color the piece of furniture if the scratch hurt is extensive. That would be a line of work for a professional.
If your leather has a small tear and it is not highly obvious, (and if the color is black) any leather restore kit should be adequate if you abide by the directions. Nevertheless, there are a few items to be mindful of just in case you encounter troubles. The repair textile might not bond well with the leather. This occurs whenever the leather is old or whenever the heating element supplied with the kit (if it's included) isn't hot enough.
Usually, a leather repair kit will contain grain papers that you rub over the repaired area to imprint a grain-like finish. The idea is that the grain will resemble that of the original undamaged leather as much as possible. Some grain papers are also pigmented. It's difficult to match color but it's even more difficult if the leather is old. Experts say that unless the leather color is black, the repair will show.
You might need to place a smaller piece of fabric and padding beneath the tear to assist applying the edges together. You could place a piece of textile under the tear and paste it with the edges to be repaired as close together as imaginable. Hold the edges put together while the adhesive material dries out, or use a hair drier (really cautiously) to quicken the action.
Using a leather repair kit will usually hide the tear and hopefully prevent further damage. The problem with using a leather repair kit is the damaged area will always be weaker. The other thing you can do of course is have someone replace the damaged section of leather and match the color professionally. This is the best repair, but also the most costly.
Stuck leather presents a challenge. If you have a leather item with sides, such as a purse that appear to be stuck together, look inside to see if you can tell exactly where the sides are sticking. Hold the item over a pot of boiling water ? not too closely and do not allow the purse to get soaked. The heat and humidity will expand the pores in the leather and might allow you to work the sides free, just do not force them if they will not budge. You could also try to work some leather cleaner in between the sides. If there is dirt or other grime that's holding the sides together, this may loosen it. Finally, if getting the sides separated doesn't look easy, take it to a cobbler for repair.
Dog and Cat Scratches can easily damage a valuable piece of leather furniture. For dogs, most damage occurs while climbing on and jumping off. If you are a cat owner, leather fillers or tanner's resin will cure the symptoms but not the problem. You might consider buying your cat a scratching post and put it near the area where the cat is scratching before using the filler.
You might be able to fix slight abrasions on leather furniture. Spray water on the abrasion and cover it with a small square of one thousand grit wet sand paper from the hardware store. Sand very gently until the surface is smooth and you can't feel the tear from the abrasion any longer. You might end up requiring to re-color the piece of furniture if the scratch hurt is extensive. That would be a line of work for a professional.
If your leather has a small tear and it is not highly obvious, (and if the color is black) any leather restore kit should be adequate if you abide by the directions. Nevertheless, there are a few items to be mindful of just in case you encounter troubles. The repair textile might not bond well with the leather. This occurs whenever the leather is old or whenever the heating element supplied with the kit (if it's included) isn't hot enough.
Usually, a leather repair kit will contain grain papers that you rub over the repaired area to imprint a grain-like finish. The idea is that the grain will resemble that of the original undamaged leather as much as possible. Some grain papers are also pigmented. It's difficult to match color but it's even more difficult if the leather is old. Experts say that unless the leather color is black, the repair will show.
You might need to place a smaller piece of fabric and padding beneath the tear to assist applying the edges together. You could place a piece of textile under the tear and paste it with the edges to be repaired as close together as imaginable. Hold the edges put together while the adhesive material dries out, or use a hair drier (really cautiously) to quicken the action.
Using a leather repair kit will usually hide the tear and hopefully prevent further damage. The problem with using a leather repair kit is the damaged area will always be weaker. The other thing you can do of course is have someone replace the damaged section of leather and match the color professionally. This is the best repair, but also the most costly.
Stuck leather presents a challenge. If you have a leather item with sides, such as a purse that appear to be stuck together, look inside to see if you can tell exactly where the sides are sticking. Hold the item over a pot of boiling water ? not too closely and do not allow the purse to get soaked. The heat and humidity will expand the pores in the leather and might allow you to work the sides free, just do not force them if they will not budge. You could also try to work some leather cleaner in between the sides. If there is dirt or other grime that's holding the sides together, this may loosen it. Finally, if getting the sides separated doesn't look easy, take it to a cobbler for repair.
About the Author:
Writer Ethan O. Tanner explains the various methods of refurbishing Leather and the Products for Leatherto help with refurbishing leather.. Unique version for reprint here: Leather Maintenance Tactics For Beginners.
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