Is this guy onto something, or on something?

[Starless]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI04exWUkKI

[DRACO A5OG]

Damn, going to try that. BUt I wonder what sealant he is using?

[RSBob]

If he keeps using lacquer thinner without gloves he maybe on chemo drugs soon.

[DRACO A5OG]

lol

[Pazuzu]

So, how do you get so proficient at wiping paint on your leather seats that you can do it one handed while recording a video?


Because you've wiped paint on that exact same leather seat 43 times. Recording each time. Hoping that *this* is the time that the paint sticks...

[adias]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Damn, going to try that. BUt I wonder what sealant he is using?

303 Aerospace Protectant.

[Quickstep192]

It seems as if the lacquer thinner is partially re-dissolving the dye in the seat and the spray paint is adding color back in. I’d think a good leather dye might be a better choice. Even so, I’d bet that the cracks in the leather will become visible again before too long.

[Tippy]

Well, I guess the leather dyes have solvent, but to actually put a solvent on leather seems crazy to me.

Can enamel substitute leather dye?

[old man neri]

Having just redone my seats I used a solid gallon of lacquer thinner on them to get a lot of the old cracking paint off. I then repainted them with special leather paint. Most leather 'dyes' are actually just flexible paints from what I read. A lot of the small cracks you see in the leather is actually the paint cracking.

This seems quite plausible to me but I don't think I would just use spray paint. I would be worried about the old paint and the new paint not being compatible.

[KTL]

Anybody who openly sprays paint in the car is sloppy. I know the car in the vid is a convertible, but I still stand by what I say. Same goes with the 303 protectant, just spraying a mist to get all over everything else in the car. And if you look closely at the color matching, it's rather blotchy looking.

303 protectant should be used last, as a protectant. The leather should first be treated with a proper leather conditioner to restore the lost oils that caused the dryness and cracking in the first place. The conditioner takes time to soak in and several applications. Then re-dye like old man neri said.

That said, I have a problem with a one-fits-all product like 303 protectant that works on rubber, plastic, vinyl, gel coat/fiberglass, etc. All those different materials have different properties and different needs. Throwing something on top that puts a shine on it is fine if that's your desire. But IMO best bet is to use something specifically for leather.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by KTL

But IMO best bet is to use something specifically for leather.

My opinion is you do something like this right before you sell the beater to scrounge an extra $250 out of the buyer.

You can spray paint carpet and rub it in with your hands to even it out and you can rub brake fluid all over the engine hoses. Drop in radiator pellets and dump in seal sweller in the oil and transmission, etc.

This actually may work, however. Who's the first to offer up their 911 seats for a test run?

My gut feel is the enamel paint will get dirty fast.

Just talking, especially when you can buy all the great quality leather dye/paint you need for under $100.

[KTL]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

My opinion is you do something like this right before you sell the beater to scrounge an extra $250 out of the buyer.

Well said Bob!

[canamfan]

Been there, done that as a teenager eventually if you're using this car (a lot) you'll be wearing off the paint & smudging it onto your clothes. Best is to use applicable products like Leatherique, specifically made for leather & flexing materials.

[KTL]

I actually used Kiwi brand black shoe polish on a set of black standard partial leather (leatherette?) seats from my former '87 Carrera and it worked fantastic. I did a number of applications and rubbed it in good each time and wiped it clean every time. Even tested water on it to see if it would release any dye and no black residue. I wonder why it worked so well. Maybe because IT'S INTENDED FOR LEATHER?????

[sky1jord]

Originally Posted by KTL

I actually used Kiwi brand black shoe polish on a set of black standard partial leather (leatherette?) seats

worked well for me, too, but only to blend in slightly worn spot right there:

[jjeffries]

re Kiwi shoe polish:

I'm from a generation where we had to polish our shoes at least weekly for school and I still do for those days when I have to dress properly for work. I've always used Kiwi....you just didn't think about using anything else, and it was readily available at the supermarket.

Operative word: "was". Couple of years ago I'm at the market and need a new can of black, but find they no longer have Kiwi...now it's a Chinese product. WTF? I need it so I buy it; worked OK but had this nasty perfume smell added. Is nothing sacred?

When I found my local hardware store still carried Kiwi I was about as happy as when, during my travels, I find a new Dairy Queen location: HAPPY!

Those are some nice sport seats, BTW. Best regards to all, John/CT

[dicklague]

Originally Posted by old man neri

Having just redone my seats I used a solid gallon of lacquer thinner on them to get a lot of the old cracking paint off. I then repainted them with special leather paint. Most leather 'dyes' are actually just flexible paints from what I read. A lot of the small cracks you see in the leather is actually the paint cracking.

This seems quite plausible to me but I don't think I would just use spray paint. I would be worried about the old paint and the new paint not being compatible.

you are right. the "dyes" in contemporary leather are actually acrylic paint. You can buy it on line and respray you seat. I have done it very successfully.

I would not follow that video.....spray enamel and solvent is NOT the way to go.

Here are the steps for badly cracked leather:

1. wash with soap and water and a still plastic wipe the dirt off....do this a couple of times.
2. clean with denatured alcohol.
3. fill in big cracks with acrylic filler from a kit.
4. Let the seat dry for several hours.
5. mix acrylic seat paint to a match with your color. Start with a kit and buy tubes of acrylic paint from and art store to modify it.
6. spray or brush on the color. I like to remove the seats from the car to do this.
7. finish with a coat of flash acrylic varnish.

there are lots of YouTube videos that describe this process.

[Tippy]

Running to store to buy some Kiwi shoe polish......

Haven't played with that stuff since I was a little kid in the early-80's. Dad was Army and polished his combat boots.

That smell was distinct I remember.

[911tracker85]

I was about as happy as when, during my travels, I find a new Dairy Queen location: HAPPY!

for a time in my career I covered the states of IN, OH, KY. lot of driving. and over time I think I found every DQ there was.

usually stopped for a treat on my way home after a hard day.

[KTL]

Originally Posted by jjeffries

Is nothing sacred?

Got a good laugh out of that. Thanks for the laughs and hope all is well.



Thanks to dicklague for the details on acrylic leather painting. I have a set of yellowish tan (I obviously have no clue what the actual color name is) sport seats in my '86 Carrera that appear to have been previously treated to a re-paint. They need to be started over.