How to Go About Leather Recolouring

Leather recolouring is an easy process that can make a big difference to the look of your furniture. It covers up blemishes such as sun exposure, dirt, and stains and thus gives your leather furniture a new lease on life.

The colour layer or foil coating can peel off, if the work is done wrong, or if the leather is damaged before it is tanned.

1. Preparation

The preparation of leather is important to ensuring that the recolouring process goes smoothly. First, it’s important to make sure that the leather is clean and free from dust and other particles.

The hide is passed through a machine that removes extraneous flesh, separating the leather into a top-grain layer and the flesh split. The top-grain layer contains fibrous collagen, which gives the leather its strength and durability. The flesh split is used for cheaper leather products such as suede and dog bones.

This process is followed by retanning to modify the physical characteristics of the leather to suit its final use. The leather is then tanned with chromium salts, vegetable matter or a combination of both.

Retanning is a very important step in the leather manufacturing process and it provides the base for the dyeing stage of recolouring. It adjusts the softness, fullness and density of the leather. It also alters its elongation, break, and colour.

2. Dye

Leather recolouring NZ is an excellent way to freshen up leather sofas, chairs, car seats, saddles, tool pouches, and other leather items. The dye used in leather recolouring is a strong, colorfast pigment.

Before recolouring, you must remove any old coats of paint, wax, or any other finish on the surface of your leather item to ensure the dye can penetrate the fibers of the leather. The best way to do this is by using a deglazer.

A good deglazer will also take off the protective seal on the surface of your leather, making it easier for the dye to absorb.

After preparing your leather, you can use either an alcohol-based or oil-based leather dye. Both are good options for recolouring, though they vary in how they affect the outcome of your leather project.

When you are recolouring your leather, it is important to test the dye on a small piece of scrap to ensure you have selected the right color. It is also a good idea to recondition your leather before you begin dyeing it to ensure the final result looks as good as possible.

3. Sealing

Once your leather crafts have been dyed, it is important to apply a suitable sealer. This will help keep the colors of your items protected, making them appear bright and appealing.

There are many types of leather sealers available on the market. They range from wax-based to resin and acrylic.

Resin sealers use a mixture of various chemicals to create a durable, protective coating. They are best for products that need a thin coating, while acrylic and lacquer sealers provide an all-purpose product.

These sealers are easy to apply and provide a durable barrier against moisture, fading, and cracking. They are available at drug stores, grocery stores, and online retailers.

If you are in search of a quality product that will protect your leather items, try Fiebing’s Resolene. This sealer is formulated with acrylic, which offers excellent protection against fading and water damage.

4. Finishing

Leather recolouring  NZ can bring an old leather piece back to life by covering up blemishes such as stains, dirt, and marks. However, it is important to note that changing the color of leather upholstery requires a professional and precise process.

Leather is coloured in a multilayer system, with a primer sprayed as a base, followed by colour and then the top coat. Unfortunately, a problem can occur with some leathers when the layer beneath the top colour starts to soften.

This is caused by the leather being tanned in the wrong way or by the leather not adhering to the colour coating properly. It can also happen when the leather is exposed to heat, sweat and hair grease.

In these cases, a deglazing agent must be applied to strip the surface. It may be an acetone solution or lacquer thinner. This should be done in temperatures that are recommended for the particular deglazer being used.

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