Leatherique

D

Danspeed1

New member
Hello,



I just purchased the 32oz Leatherique Kit for use on a set of Impala SS seats that are all dried out and dirty. I am located in NY and its about 25*F here. How is this going to effect my process? I know this stuff works best with heat. I have a fireplace in my house (propane)... I could take the seats out, and cover them with garbage bags... leave them in my living room???? Or should I just apply and wait a couple weeks?



DG
 
Oh here is something i might be able to help you with!



If you have access to a steam cleaner then have a go with that first. You are going to get a lot of deep grime thats important to remove before introducing oils to the leather.



Probably a nail-scubbing brush and good leather cleaner with the seats laid back would be a good as well. Something like the Chemical Guys Leather Cleaner.



If the seats are plastic coated leather then Leatherique is unlikely to yeild any long term results. The oils wont penetrate and will get wiped away, maybe leaving a little to soften the plastic coating. But you always then get dirt being attracted back by what is left on the plastic coating of the leather.



Geoff
 
Danspeed1 said:
Hello,



I just purchased the 32oz Leatherique Kit for use on a set of Impala SS seats that are all dried out and dirty. I am located in NY and its about 25*F here. How is this going to effect my process? I know this stuff works best with heat. I have a fireplace in my house (propane)... I could take the seats out, and cover them with garbage bags... leave them in my living room???? Or should I just apply and wait a couple weeks?



DG
Click to expand...

If your seats are dried out they're probably cracked as well. This will allow Leatherique to do its magic.



You do *need* to use Leatherique in a hot environment. To understand why, you need to understand how it works.



Crash course:

Leatherique works differently to *every* other leather treatment around. The Rejuvenating Oil (RO) is used first. Under hot conditions, it's applied and the dry, thirsty leather 'drinks' it in. Keep applying until it stops 'drinking'. (This only works in a hot environment.) The RO then dissolves the rubbish deep in the leather and by displacement (this is where it's different) pushes all the contaminants to the surface. Only then, do you use the Prestine Clean to wipe off the surface scum forced out by the RO.



That's why heat is so important. If it's too cold (as in your case) some place an electric fan heater in the car to turn the interior 'tropical'. This allows the RO to do its stuff.



If the the leather is finished (plastic-coated) and sound, Leatherique won't work because no contaminants have gone below the surface. Then a general "leather cleaner-treatment" will be best. If it's cracked, Leatherique will work.
 
crc1 said:
How can you tell for sure if it's plastic coated or not?
Click to expand...



Allow a drop of water to hit the leather. If the water slowly absorbs into the leather, it is not coated. If the water beads on the leather, it is coated.
 
Good tips guys, thanks... So I think I am going with the "fireplace method." I will pull the seats out soak them down with leatherique and leave them in front of my propane fireplace while surf autopia at night.



How long can I leave this stuff on the seats (or how long should I)?



P.S. seats feel like cardboard but with the exception of the drivers seats the rest are mint with NO cracks or scratches. They feel horrible though.



DG
 
bert31 said:
Allow a drop of water to hit the leather. If the water slowly absorbs into the leather, it is not coated. If the water beads on the leather, it is coated.
Click to expand...

Unfortunatley, it's not easy to tell. If a seat has been treated with a silicone-based leather care product (pretty much all) then they will bead with water, even if they have no plastic coating.



It's often a case of visual, and tactile inspection.



Danspeed1 said:
How long can I leave this stuff on the seats (or how long should I)?



P.S. seats feel like cardboard but with the exception of the drivers seats the rest are mint with NO cracks or scratches. They feel horrible though.



DG
Click to expand...

1-2 days is good. Inspect often. If an area looks dry after application, keep applying. Stop when all the surface looks saturated and can't absorb any more after 24hrs.
 
Alfisti said:
Unfortunatley, it's not easy to tell. If a seat has been treated with a silicone-based leather care product (pretty much all) then they will bead with water, even if they have no plastic coating.



It's often a case of visual, and tactile inspection.
Click to expand...



You have now perplexed me :think: I have had the Leatherique kit on my wishlist at autogeek for a week now because I want to surprise my husband with a redone interior on his 99 miata when he gets back from deployment in iraq. I have done the water test on the seats and it beads up, but we have previously treated the seats with a OTC conditioner and 303 aerospace protectant. How do I know if it is coated or just treated? There are wrinkles, not full cracks, in the leather. I've searched and heard that this might aid in conditioning the leather layer despite it possibly being coated. Thoughts? :thx
 
What i think was suppose to be added, you need to clean the seat before you try the water test. Obviosuly dirt, oils and protectants will all effect the beading!
 
subygirl said:
You have now perplexed me :think: I have had the Leatherique kit on my wishlist at autogeek for a week now because I want to surprise my husband with a redone interior on his 99 miata when he gets back from deployment in iraq. I have done the water test on the seats and it beads up, but we have previously treated the seats with a OTC conditioner and 303 aerospace protectant. How do I know if it is coated or just treated? There are wrinkles, not full cracks, in the leather. I've searched and heard that this might aid in conditioning the leather layer despite it possibly being coated. Thoughts? :thx
Click to expand...



Hi Hi!



Do you have a dedicated leather cleaner? If so test that on a small part of the seat to remove the current products. If you dont some APC like Megs APC and 10:1 will probably do. Though i dont think its wise to use all over the seat.



Then you will have stripped any products on the seat surface and probably alot of dirt. Test for water beading.



On the topic of conditioning the leather layer; it will only benefit from water. Its the only conditioner that coated leather will need or can acutally get to said leather layer.



When its coated, the plastic layer has micropores, so tiny that oils will wont pass thru them, only water will.



Oils etc. attract dirt that damage the coating. You may notice if you clean using a water based cleaner that your leather seems more supply, its likely b/c of rehydration.



By using a quality leather protector you will keep dirt away from the coated layer yet most dedicated leather protectors allow for small amounts of water to be transfered as to keep the leather hydrated between cleanings.



Geoff
 
I am not going to worry about whether or not my seats are coated. In this case, anything I do will help these seats... remember I had a 96 Impala before this... (pictured in my avatar)... the seats in my 96 were soft and supple. I can't begin to explain what these seats feel like. Its like sitting on paper. They are not cracked, and I believe they are coated, so i think they will benefit from any love i give them.... leatherique... supposedly one of the best products out there according to this site, must do something for them.



DG
 
It can't hurt them so worth a try. At worse, it will do nothing to them. At best, it will really soften them. Just remember, Leatherique requires heat. If you can't provide it because it's winter up there, then your better off with another leather products. Leatherique will just sit on the surface without lots of heat.
 
Danspeed1 said:
What do you think of my propane fire place idea.... every night from 8pm-11pm :LOLOL
Click to expand...

It should work well. If you cover them with a big green garbage bag as well it will improve the result.
 
subygirl said:
You have now perplexed me :think: I have had the Leatherique kit on my wishlist at autogeek for a week now because I want to surprise my husband with a redone interior on his 99 miata when he gets back from deployment in iraq. I have done the water test on the seats and it beads up, but we have previously treated the seats with a OTC conditioner and 303 aerospace protectant. How do I know if it is coated or just treated? There are wrinkles, not full cracks, in the leather. I've searched and heard that this might aid in conditioning the leather layer despite it possibly being coated. Thoughts? :thx
Click to expand...

Yes, it's a tricky one. Unfortunately, silicone is a two-edged sword. It's one of those ingredients that can make life difficult for detailing.



Try dripping water into the creases and see if it absorbs it. Let us know.



If all else fails, you'll just need to use a conventional leather cleaner and dressing.
 
Alfisti said:
Yes, it's a tricky one. Unfortunately, silicone is a two-edged sword. It's one of those ingredients that can make life difficult for detailing.



Try dripping water into the creases and see if it absorbs it. Let us know.



If all else fails, you'll just need to use a conventional leather cleaner and dressing.
Click to expand...





I sprayed some water on a crease, on a seam, and on the paint as a control. After 30 min (didn't check earlier) the water was gone on the seats and still there on the paint. Guess this means that the leatherique will work?
 
By "on paint" you mean painted metal?



Sounds like your seats will absorb moisture if it hadn't evaporated. If so, then Leatherique will work, providing you create the hot environment with heater an plastic bag, as above.
 
I applied it to the seats today... (pictures in the click and brag section) the plastic bag idea did not work out. The seats are huge and all the plastic bags I found gave me the feeling the coloring would transfer to my seats so I gave up on that idea. I soaked the seats down with the leatherique oil and set them in front of the fireplace. Within an hour it seemed like the seats were shiny but dry. They are tacky when I touch them. Am I headed in the right direction or am I messing them up?



Dan
 
Alfisti said:
By "on paint" you mean painted metal?



Sounds like your seats will absorb moisture if it hadn't evaporated. If so, then Leatherique will work, providing you create the hot environment with heater an plastic bag, as above.
Click to expand...



Yes, it was on painted metal (outside) as a control to see if it was evaporating or soaking in.
 
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