Has anyone had luck revitalizing their seats?

[markmalin]

I don't know if this is the right place to post...but here goes.

My tan interior is showing wear and cracking on the driver's and passenger seats. I've done some reading on the forum about Leatherique Rejuvinator with mixed results. Kind of the bottom line is, my seats are in descent shape, but showing cracks and wear on the driver's primarily. Is there anything I can do to bring them back to new-'ish looking again short of recovering them? I'd be interested in anyone's input/experience, especially on tan leather.

Thanks guys!
Mark.

[911jettat]

One thing I did was switch seatbacks. Driver's side switched to passenger's side.

My passenger seat looked almost 100% brand new, and I only had a little wear in the door-side of my driver's seat. By switching, I have mint looking drivers seat, and the wear on the passenger's side bolster is hidden from my view.

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by 911jettat

One thing I did was switch seatbacks. Driver's side switched to passenger's side.

My passenger seat looked almost 100% brand new, and I only had a little wear in the door-side of my driver's seat. By switching, I have mint looking drivers seat, and the wear on the passenger's side bolster is hidden from my view.

I've done that on my old BMW's... I'd like to swap the entire seat so I stop wearing out the driver's seat, but the bases are not identical on the power seats

[Rot 911]

Those seats are more dirty than anything else. They will look considerably better after using a good leather cleaner and then conditioner.

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

Those seats are more dirty than anything else. They will look considerably better after using a good leather cleaner and then conditioner.

Well...that's kind of the color of the interior. It's not tan, it's beige, but yah, I can certainly clean them some more. I've cleaned and conditioned them several times with Lexol but my main concern is the cracking going on on the driver's seat base...and the areas where the leather die/paint has warn off (like the driver's side bolster). I sent pictures to a local leather guy here in Phoenix and his comment was "they are too far gone...they need to be recovered". I'm not going to do that, but would be willing to try Leatherique if it would help.

[theclaw]

This stuff is the best.

http://http://www.leatherique.com/

Takes some work and its a bit pricey but worth it.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by markmalin

Well...that's kind of the color of the interior. It's not tan, it's beige, but yah, I can certainly clean them some more. I've cleaned and conditioned them several times with Lexol but my main concern is the cracking going on on the driver's seat base...and the areas where the leather die/paint has warn off (like the driver's side bolster). I sent pictures to a local leather guy here in Phoenix and his comment was "they are too far gone...they need to be recovered". I'm not going to do that, but would be willing to try Leatherique if it would help.

The leather guy just wanted to sell you seat covers for $1500. Leatherique will work, but you need to use the Rejuvenator and Prestine Clean so most of the salt and oils from you body comes out of the leather. It will be cleaner then, but if you got the Leatherique dye kit with crack filler, the seats would look brand new.

[markmalin]

So you've had good luck with the die and crack filler kit? I'm a little worried about the perforated leather on the seat base and how the crack filler would work -- but I have no idea how the stuff works so maybe it's OK?

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

The leather guy just wanted to sell you seat covers for $1500. Leatherique will work, but you need to use the Rejuvenator and Prestine Clean so most of the salt and oils from you body comes out of the leather. It will be cleaner then, but if you got the Leatherique dye kit with crack filler, the seats would look brand new.

[Jayboundless]

Originally Posted by theclaw

This stuff is the best.

http://http://www.leatherique.com/

Takes some work and its a bit pricey but worth it.

Just used Leatherique as recommended by a good friend of mine who owns several vintage BMW's. The stuff is simply amazing. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS. You need to apply on a hot day or as I did, put an electric space heater in the car and be very patient, i.e. let it soak in and keep reapplying for an entire day or overnight (which I did). My seats were in decent shape (not torn) but hard as a rock. They now look almost factory new and are as soft as a baby's bottom. Great stuff. You wont be disappointed.

[larrym]

i have a loose SC set just like those above

great advice here

- i will get the Leatherique, and maybe re-dye Black -

so then maybe i can sell 'em

.
.

[burgermeister]

I did the leatherique thing. The seats did look & feel great, but 4 years later, they look crappy as ever, and the bottoms are starting to crack now.

I do drive the car frequently, and there is track use as well, so the seats get abused - but 4 years is not a lot of mileage for the work involved.

YMMV

[Bob Kontak]

Hi Mark,

You need to understand that your seats are very, very restore-able. Your bolsters have no indication of being smooshed down and most of the "cracks" look like creases rather than flat out separation of the leather.

WPOZZZ hits the nail on the head - the dude wants to re-skin your seats - period - Fire him and listen to your bros here. It's not your responsibility to help put his kids through college.

I use Colorplus products which are in the same league as Leatherique. Top notch.

There is plenty of info on bringing back the life in the leather before dying so I won't pontificate. The only thing I will offer is on the flexible leather/crack fill, mix a little of the seat dye into the filler to match the end color better. It's like toothpaste and you squish it in, spread it, let it dry and sand it smooth. It is technically boring but works like a charm.

The Colorplus flex-fill is a light gray before mixing. I don't know what the Leatherique filler starting color is.

Don't stress this too hard. Even if you do a crap job (assuming lots of alcohol and mind altering drugs, the significant other is beating on you while you perform the work and you cop an "I don't really care" attitude" will still net a massive improvement. Alternatively, especially for the novice, patience, elbow grease and focus will render astounding results.

I would stay away from trying to fill anything in the perforated areas except for blatant cracks. The dye will breathe new life into the creases.

[markmalin]

I'll look at both Colorplus and Leatherique, then. Thanks for the encouragement. I may wait until it gets hot here again because it seems people say to let it sit in the heat (and we have lots in AZ). How well did the dye match?? This was a special order color in 85...so I'm not sure if they have it directly...but I'll contact both places.

Sure would be nice to have them new'ish again

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Hi Mark,

You need to understand that your seats are very, very restore-able. Your bolsters have no indication of being smooshed down and most of the "cracks" look like creases rather than flat out separation of the leather.

WPOZZZ hits the nail on the head - the dude wants to re-skin your seats - period - Fire him and listen to your bros here. It's not your responsibility to help put his kids through college.

I use Colorplus products which are in the same league as Leatherique. Top notch.

There is plenty of info on bringing back the life in the leather before dying so I won't pontificate. The only thing I will offer is on the flexible leather/crack fill, mix a little of the seat dye into the filler to match the end color better. It's like toothpaste and you squish it in, spread it, let it dry and sand it smooth. It is technically boring but works like a charm.

The Colorplus flex-fill is a light gray before mixing. I don't know what the Leatherique filler starting color is.

Don't stress this too hard. Even if you do a crap job (assuming lots of alcohol and mind altering drugs, the significant other is beating on you while you perform the work and you cop an "I don't really care" attitude" will still net a massive improvement. Alternatively, especially for the novice, patience, elbow grease and focus will render astounding results.

I would stay away from trying to fill anything in the perforated areas except for blatant cracks. The dye will breathe new life into the creases.

[Bob Kontak]

I am freezing my tats off in Ohio, right now, thank you.

[markmalin]

lol. For me it's the BEGINNING of the driving season. The PO removed the A/C and though I've tried...when it's above 100 it's just not fun! Enjoying these "cool" 80 degree days for the 8 months (finally!) But I moved here from Wisconsin, so I feel your pain!

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I am freezing my tats off in Ohio, right now, thank you.

[theweaver]

Hi,
I restored my leather this year. It was quite a big job, but really worth it, the leather looks like new.

It meant removing the seats, then all the plastic trims...they just pull off, or screw off. I also split the base from the back.

The colour needed to be completely removed, and leather treated to make it supple again.

It was then a simple matter of spraying the leather colour and then the gloss clear top coat for durability, and finally a satin coat for finish.

I guess the whole job took me about 30 hours, and cost about £150 I suppose about $200, but well worth it.

Below I have provided the website for the company in the UK who have a video showing their products and how to do it.

It might sound somewhat drastic to strip off the old colour, but I had a lengthy conversation with Furniture Clinic, and as well as being very helpfull they explained that the leather colour on cars is only a type of paint, impregnable to treatments once it leaves the showroom. I thought that it was a dye when the leather was tanned. However you will see that the leather is pale grey when you strip off the colour.

They do supply a kit which includes a miniature spray gun, I would reccommend that you DO NOT go down that route. Buy the paint products from them only!!
The products are all water based, and spray guns are easily cleaned under the tap/ fawcet. I would strongly reccommend that you hire or borrow a small spray gun setup, unless you already own one....there are not enough aerosol cans of air in the kit, and they are expensive.

The company I used are called The Furniture Clinic, and I am sure that they would post over the pond...I think that their website is very comprehensive, and they are aware of Porsche colours, which I think are on their website.

Page Not Found.

Should you wish to email me independently geoff@theweaver.plus.com

I also attach a photo of my recently restored 1980 SC

All the best

[tazzieman]

Scroll halfway down this thread and see what is possible

**MOST Common 928 Issues AND Fixes**

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by tazzieman

scroll halfway down this thread and see what is possible

**MOST Common 928 Issues AND Fixes**

holy cats!!!

[Darkly-Noon]

New owner here - I recently got a 1980 SC, and my leather seats look similar to Mark's. Is the leather only on the areas of the seats where you sit, with the seat sides and backs in vinyl? At this point all the surfaces feel the same - rock hard.

Also, would anyone know the colour code for the dark blue interior of a 1980? Navy? Midnight Blue? Cobalt Blue?



thanks
John

[azzarule]

Originally Posted by markmalin

holy cats!!!

Ditto, those seats look lovely, I am definitely going to look at redying my door panels and rear seat and parcel shelf panels on my 356 when I get home. I have had to replace the front seat upholstery as it was torn and lifeless, but now I know that you can redye the other panels and seats, I should be able to get them all looking the same.