Seat Restoration
10-16-2013, 10:04 AM
#46
Rennlist Member
Craig,
Your seats look spectacular in the pictures. Congrats on a job VERY well done.
I've been using ColorPlus for over 12 years on Porsche and MB cars. Find the products are very good, the Soffener really softens up hard leather (multiple applications over several days/weeks), and the dye is both easy to apply and durable.
JoAnne's assistance and communications are outstanding as well. I've met her a couple of times at the Hershey Swap Meet, and she is a very helpful/friendly business woman.
Gary-
PS: The leather on the seats in this avatar were very dry/hard champagne leather from a TX car. Stripped old 'dead' surface dye off with lacquer thinner, treated with lots of Soffener, light stripping with lacquer thinner to remove any surface Soffener, then three coats of ColorPlus Cork dye. Been on for 6 months, and NO flaking, wear, etc.
Your seats look spectacular in the pictures. Congrats on a job VERY well done.
I've been using ColorPlus for over 12 years on Porsche and MB cars. Find the products are very good, the Soffener really softens up hard leather (multiple applications over several days/weeks), and the dye is both easy to apply and durable.
JoAnne's assistance and communications are outstanding as well. I've met her a couple of times at the Hershey Swap Meet, and she is a very helpful/friendly business woman.
Gary-
PS: The leather on the seats in this avatar were very dry/hard champagne leather from a TX car. Stripped old 'dead' surface dye off with lacquer thinner, treated with lots of Soffener, light stripping with lacquer thinner to remove any surface Soffener, then three coats of ColorPlus Cork dye. Been on for 6 months, and NO flaking, wear, etc.
10-16-2013, 10:20 AM
#47
Rennlist Member
I had some flaking when I dyed my GTS shifter from grey to burgundy. I attribute that to less than perfect prep work. Love ColorPlus.
10-16-2013, 12:04 PM
#48
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Craig,
Your seats look spectacular in the pictures. Congrats on a job VERY well done.
I've been using ColorPlus for over 12 years on Porsche and MB cars. Find the products are very good, the Soffener really softens up hard leather (multiple applications over several days/weeks), and the dye is both easy to apply and durable.
JoAnne's assistance and communications are outstanding as well. I've met her a couple of times at the Hershey Swap Meet, and she is a very helpful/friendly business woman.
Gary-
PS: The leather on the seats in this avatar were very dry/hard champagne leather from a TX car. Stripped old 'dead' surface dye off with lacquer thinner, treated with lots of Soffener, light stripping with lacquer thinner to remove any surface Soffener, then three coats of ColorPlus Cork dye. Been on for 6 months, and NO flaking, wear, etc.
Your seats look spectacular in the pictures. Congrats on a job VERY well done.
I've been using ColorPlus for over 12 years on Porsche and MB cars. Find the products are very good, the Soffener really softens up hard leather (multiple applications over several days/weeks), and the dye is both easy to apply and durable.
JoAnne's assistance and communications are outstanding as well. I've met her a couple of times at the Hershey Swap Meet, and she is a very helpful/friendly business woman.
Gary-
PS: The leather on the seats in this avatar were very dry/hard champagne leather from a TX car. Stripped old 'dead' surface dye off with lacquer thinner, treated with lots of Soffener, light stripping with lacquer thinner to remove any surface Soffener, then three coats of ColorPlus Cork dye. Been on for 6 months, and NO flaking, wear, etc.
After hearing back from Joanne, my issue of segmental non-adherence will be due to an agent that is adhering to the sides of the pores in the leather. Even after meticulous fine sanding this adhered material is not allowing the Colorant to anchor in. I did all the steps correctly, but Joanne says I now have to strip these areas down, clean well with quick dry lacquer thinner or acetone, sand again, Sofener treatment again, and then Colorant. I did all these maneuvers more than once , but did NOT use a solvent on the original surface prior to sanding, etc... I will have to wait till the thaw up here, for Joanne says one shouldn't apply Colorant when less then 70 deg ambient temperature. The car will be going to sleep soon for the winter anyway.
Craig
10-16-2013, 10:59 PM
#49
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Here is a message I just received from Joanne. She really is something.
Hi Craig,
I appreciate the compliments - thank you so very much. However, you do not have to "order" more Surflex. I will provide it at no charge when you need it. Just remind me next Spring when you are ready. I work alone (i.e. "only elf in the tree") and have too much to remember on any given day. It is not because the Surflex is not performing to your expectation, but that I feel my job is to help my customers any way I can to make their projects come out perfect. I have learned from the technicians in the high-end restoration shops and private collections that the Surflex always performs. They have told me that it is not the product that is the problem, the leather itself is the problem - too many unknowns when the person starts working on the restoration. And also, at times, some ineptitude on the part of the customer. That said, if someone has a problem - and gratefully it is very infrequent - I feel it is my duty to provide more Surflex if it is needed.
I will enjoy the winter. it's my favorite season. My husband says I come from a planet called Zadar where it only gets to 32 degrees in the Summer.
Thank you again for your kindness.
Joanne
Hi Craig,
I appreciate the compliments - thank you so very much. However, you do not have to "order" more Surflex. I will provide it at no charge when you need it. Just remind me next Spring when you are ready. I work alone (i.e. "only elf in the tree") and have too much to remember on any given day. It is not because the Surflex is not performing to your expectation, but that I feel my job is to help my customers any way I can to make their projects come out perfect. I have learned from the technicians in the high-end restoration shops and private collections that the Surflex always performs. They have told me that it is not the product that is the problem, the leather itself is the problem - too many unknowns when the person starts working on the restoration. And also, at times, some ineptitude on the part of the customer. That said, if someone has a problem - and gratefully it is very infrequent - I feel it is my duty to provide more Surflex if it is needed.
I will enjoy the winter. it's my favorite season. My husband says I come from a planet called Zadar where it only gets to 32 degrees in the Summer.
Thank you again for your kindness.
Joanne