Leather dye / refinishing? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

mark_in_manc · 16th Feb 2012, 12:20 am

Hi folks

I've just acquired a fair quantity of white leather (mmm, nice...

) from a dead sofa, which I crept up on in the night where it lay in the street, and skinned it alive (oh, OK, dead) with a Stanley knife. I hope to put some of it to an audio-related purpose - a guitar amp cabinet - which perhaps excuses my post to this forum.

There are lots of able people on here with great practical skills and experience - has anyone any experience with leather dyeing, and the preparation of a previous finish to take a colour?

cheers

Mark

Craig Sawyers · 16th Feb 2012, 9:08 am

The place to look is dyeing car seats. I refurbished my black leather ones with black, but it is certainly possible to change colour. I used http://www.leatherique.com/ , because at the time there was a European dealer. The only trick I found was not to apply using a paintbrush because it was impossible to get a streak-free finish. I ended up using an airbrush, outside on a warm and wind-free day, which made the leather looks absolutely perfect.

Here's an example of one system http://www.liquidleather.com/re-colouring.htm . There is a multiple cycle of cleaning, softening and degreasing prior to dying. But some of these car seats have been in service for many decades and need a lot of work to get them back in servicable condition.

Use gloves with the cleaners in paricular - they can be quite nasty on the hands.

Good luck

Craig

mark_in_manc · 17th Feb 2012, 5:53 pm

Craig -

Thanks for that. Those car systems look good, but perhaps pricey - maybe I need to find another dead sofa in a colour more to my liking!

cheers
Mark

Paul Adams · 17th Feb 2012, 6:12 pm

Now for my two penny worth !
Have you tried this, see photo’s.
It brought my AVO cases up a treat, not too sure it would dye the leather completely though, but cheap as I bought three jars for a pound of the market.
I think you can get it in different colours too, oh and I managed to get it on the carpet.

Paul.

dseymo1 · 17th Feb 2012, 6:13 pm

Leather will take aniline dye readily, but I'm not sure how modern general-purpose dyes are composed. I believe that some sofa leather is lacquered, which would probably present a further problem.
What's wrong with a white leather amp, anyway?

mikelect · 17th Feb 2012, 6:29 pm

Here's a couple to start you can Google for more there's a lot out there

www.furnitureclinic.co.uk

www.leathercare.co.uk

16th Feb 2012, 12:20 am	#1
mark_in_manc Octode Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,875	Leather dye / refinishing? Hi folks I've just acquired a fair quantity of white leather (mmm, nice...) from a dead sofa, which I crept up on in the night where it lay in the street, and skinned it alive (oh, OK, dead) with a Stanley knife. I hope to put some of it to an audio-related purpose - a guitar amp cabinet - which perhaps excuses my post to this forum. There are lots of able people on here with great practical skills and experience - has anyone any experience with leather dyeing, and the preparation of a previous finish to take a colour? cheers Mark Last edited by Mike Phelan; 16th Feb 2012 at 9:54 am. Reason: Brought leather back to life.

16th Feb 2012, 9:08 am	#2
Craig Sawyers Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 4,991	Re: Leather dye / refinishing? The place to look is dyeing car seats. I refurbished my black leather ones with black, but it is certainly possible to change colour. I used http://www.leatherique.com/ , because at the time there was a European dealer. The only trick I found was not to apply using a paintbrush because it was impossible to get a streak-free finish. I ended up using an airbrush, outside on a warm and wind-free day, which made the leather looks absolutely perfect. Here's an example of one system http://www.liquidleather.com/re-colouring.htm . There is a multiple cycle of cleaning, softening and degreasing prior to dying. But some of these car seats have been in service for many decades and need a lot of work to get them back in servicable condition. Use gloves with the cleaners in paricular - they can be quite nasty on the hands. Good luck Craig Last edited by Mike Phelan; 16th Feb 2012 at 9:54 am. Reason: As post #1.

17th Feb 2012, 5:53 pm	#3
mark_in_manc Octode Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,875	Re: Leather dye / refinishing? Craig - Thanks for that. Those car systems look good, but perhaps pricey - maybe I need to find another dead sofa in a colour more to my liking! cheers Mark

17th Feb 2012, 6:12 pm	#4
Paul Adams Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 253	Re: Leather dye / refinishing? Now for my two penny worth ! Have you tried this, see photo’s. It brought my AVO cases up a treat, not too sure it would dye the leather completely though, but cheap as I bought three jars for a pound of the market. I think you can get it in different colours too, oh and I managed to get it on the carpet. Paul. Attached Thumbnails

17th Feb 2012, 6:13 pm	#5
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: Leather dye / refinishing? Leather will take aniline dye readily, but I'm not sure how modern general-purpose dyes are composed. I believe that some sofa leather is lacquered, which would probably present a further problem. What's wrong with a white leather amp, anyway?

17th Feb 2012, 6:29 pm	#6
mikelect Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK. Posts: 799	Re: Leather dye / refinishing? Here's a couple to start you can Google for more there's a lot out there www.furnitureclinic.co.uk www.leathercare.co.uk