Leather restoration

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules

Topic author
BarryCogan
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:45 pm
First Name: BARRY
Last Name: COGAN
Location: GROSSE POINTE, MI

Leather restoration

Post by BarryCogan » Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:36 am

Has anyone used a leather restore product to bring badly faded seat leather back to black?

User avatar

John iaccino
Posts: 818
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 5:25 am
First Name: John
Last Name: Iaccino
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 Roadster, Open Runnabout
Location: Rhinebeck, NY

Re: Leather restoration

Post by John iaccino » Wed Aug 25, 2021 10:34 am

Lexol cleaner, then Lexol conditioner.


speedytinc
Posts: 4726
Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:24 pm
First Name: john
Last Name: karvaly
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 14/15 wide track roadster. 23 touring, 27 roadster pickup, 20ish rajo touring
Location: orange, ca
Board Member Since: 2020

Re: Leather restoration

Post by speedytinc » Wed Aug 25, 2021 11:04 am

John iaccino wrote:
Wed Aug 25, 2021 10:34 am
Lexol cleaner, then Lexol conditioner.
Once re hydrated, I have used kiwi shoe polish as needed to re color. (leather motorcycle seats)


jiminbartow
Posts: 2434
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:55 pm
First Name: James
Last Name: Patrick
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Coupe
Location: Bartow, FL
Board Member Since: 2001

Re: Leather restoration

Post by jiminbartow » Wed Aug 25, 2021 1:58 pm

“Griot’s Leather Rejuvenator” is the best on the market. When applied, it makes your leather smell like a new pair of shoes. With it, I have restored an old dried out WWII leather flight jacket, and the dried out tooled leather of an 1812 Bible as well as many other leather projects. Jim Patrick

DA836E35-47B1-458A-B29D-D246944B897F.jpeg
7065CCF7-5DCC-4156-BF23-D63771A3910B.jpeg

User avatar

TRDxB2
Posts: 6262
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:56 pm
First Name: Frank
Last Name: Brandi
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Speedsters (1919 w 1926 upgrades), 1926 (Ricardo Head)
Location: Moline IL
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Leather restoration

Post by TRDxB2 » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:50 pm

BarryCogan wrote:
Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:36 am
Has anyone used a leather restore product to bring badly faded seat leather back to black?
Before you try something you need to identify if its leather or a simulated product. Model T seats were not leather but an oil cloth like product, repro seats may be a Naugahyde or similar type material. Be careful on what you use on car seats, had a friend that used a wax based product, couldn't help sliding around as he drove. :o
Here are your choices https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+ ... CA4&uact=5
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger


Erik Johnson
Posts: 1055
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2019 10:25 pm
First Name: Erik
Last Name: Johnson
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Re: Leather restoration

Post by Erik Johnson » Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:12 pm

Never put anything on upholstery that can transfer to your clothing.

You put some magical elixir on the upholstery, then you sit on the upholstery, it gets on your clothing, then you go inside the house and sit on the furniture and it transfers from your clothing to the furniture, then your wife yells at you, etc.


Art M
Posts: 964
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 12:57 pm
First Name: Art
Last Name: Mirtes
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 Touring
Location: Huron, Ohio
Board Member Since: 2016

Re: Leather restoration

Post by Art M » Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:13 pm

Model t open cars had leather upholstery up to 1912. Not sure if the break is at the end of 1912, but close to it. I use mink oil on my 1923 seats. Seams to work. Rear cushion is original. Mink oil is meant for leather.
Ar t Mirtes

User avatar

TWrenn
Posts: 3743
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
First Name: Tim
Last Name: Wrenn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
Location: Ohio
Board Member Since: 2019

Re: Leather restoration

Post by TWrenn » Mon Aug 30, 2021 9:34 am

About mid-1913 Ford went from all leather to a type of vinyl, on the seat backs. They may have called it "Leatherette" back then.
By late '14 it was all "fake leather", except for the so-called armrest. Not sure when or if that ever changed.


bobt
Posts: 288
Joined: Tue Aug 13, 2019 5:43 am
First Name: Robert
Last Name: Thompson
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 touring 1926 roadster
Location: virginia

Re: Leather restoration

Post by bobt » Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:32 am

The vasoline looking product will NOT restore the blackness of the leather. I used "Harley Davidson black leather dye" for seats. After you dye the leather and it is dry then use the conditioner. bobt

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic