PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ALL THE WAY THROUGH BEFORE
IMPORTANT
- READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ALL THE WAY THROUGH BEFORE STARTING
- Please make a not of the colour name on the bottle of colourant – this is crucial if you are to order more.
- Please carry out your repairs in a well ventilated room and wear safety gloves.
PREPARATION
This step involves removing the manufactured finish from the leather. The finish is a transparent layer sealing in the original colour.
1. Mask off any areas that do not require colouring, including any plastic areas etc. Only prep the areas that require colouring.
2. To remove this layer, rub the leather down with the Leather Prep, cotton wool and an abrasive pad. Do this by placing the cotton wool balls on the abrasive pad and soaking them in Prep. Fold the pad over the cotton wool balls and begin to scrub the surface of the leather.
3. When the colour is transferred onto the pad this indicates the surface is being removed, make sure this is apparent all over the leather. At this stage you should also notice the surface becoming abraded, this creates a key for the colourant to bond to. After this, wipe the surface of the leather down with a cloth dampened in Leather Prep, this will remove all residues from the leather. NOTE: Creases can sometimes cause problems if their coating has cracked within them. Pay extra careful attention when preparing the creases to make sure you remove all of the cracked coating from within them.
4. Where you rest your hands on the steering wheel, the leather may absorb your natural body oils; this is often indicated with a dark patch. It is very important that you use the Leather Degreaser to remove these oils to ensure proper adhesion of colour. Failing to do so may result in the colour remaining tacky when applied.
TO USE DEGREASER: Using a paint brush (not included) spread the degreaser onto the stained area and allow it to dry (drying takes up to 30 minutes). As the product dries it will slowly absorb the grease – you will see this happening as the Degreaser will dry to a brown/yellow colour where it absorbs the grease ( everywhere else will dry to a white colour). One the Degreaser has throughly dried out it turns to a powder which should then be brushed off. If the leather still has any grease left on it, repeat this process again until it has gone.
CAUTION: Do not use on suede, nubuck or bicast leather. Always test on an inconspicuous area first. R10 Highly Flammable, R36 Irritatin to eyes, R67 Vapours may cause drowsiness or dizziness, S2 Keep out of reach of children, S7 Keep container tightly closed, S24/25 Avoid contact with skin and eyes, S37 Wear suitable gloves.
5. If the leather feels rough, sand it down with 1200 grit sandpaper to remove the roughness. NOTE: It is at this stage that you should make any repairs to the leather. If the leather is cracked, please use the filler provided to repair any damage. Directions of use: Ensure the leather is prepared before use. Apply filler to damaged area in thin layers and dry throughly. A hole may require 5 layers to fill.
APPLYING THE COLOUR
6. Shake the bottle of colourant and tints for about 2-3 minutes to make sure it is well mixed. Pour a small amount onto a sponge and rub into the leather. The idea is to sponge on a thin coat of colour working it into any gaps, creases and hard to reach areas. Apply light pressure here to work the colourant into the grain. If you apply too much pressure you may get some foam of colour of the surface, this is not a problem, just wipe it away with the sponge (gently).
Lightly dab the colour onto the surface. The idea is to sponge on a thin coat of colour. Make sure to always lightly dab the colour without applying any pressure and do not wipe or brush the colour on.
DO NOT try to achieve a perfect finish with the first coat of colourant. Wait about 20minutes for the base coat to thoroughly dry. The colourant dries naturally or you can speed it up with a hair dryer. Apply another 2 coats of the colour the same way as before, allow each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next.
NOTE: This kit includes tints. Please refer to the colour mixing guide included in this kit. Always remember to test a new colour in an inconspicuous area before carrying out the repair. Make sure you mask off all areas that won’t be getting coloured.
IMPORTANT: To avoid over applying the base, use it very sparingly – a little goes a long way. The base is not there to change the colour but to colour intricate and hard to reach areas. IT MAY LOOK SMEARY OR STREAKY BUT ADDITIONAL COATS WILL FIX THIS.
7. After you have a result you are happy with, wait 1 hour and then gently wipe the leather down with a cotton cloth. This is to remove any dust or dirt that may have settled onto the leather. You can also sand down the leather with 1200 sandpaper if it is rough and re-apply colour is necessary. The colour may dry slightly tacky, this will be fixed when you apply the leather finish.
APPLYING THE FINISH
8. This stage is to apply a sealant finish to the leather. The finish you use can be either Matt, Gloss or Satin (Please note if you want Satin mix 50% Matt with 50% Gloss). The first coat of finish is applied by sponge. Apply gently (again dabbing it) so as not to remove any of the colour. The first coat is applied very thinly to achieve a base coat similar to when applying the colour.
9. Apply second and third slightly thicker coats of finish in the same way (making sure previous coats are dry before applying the next). Once you have completed this stage, allow the finish to dry for about 1 hour. Wait 1 day before using the leather. To maintain the leather use our Leather Protection Conditioner. Do not apply any other product to the leather until at least 7 days have passed from this repair.