Recolouring leather

[Philpatton]

folks,
I’m thinking about recolouring my cream leather seats and door cards to a dark red. Has anyone got experience of undertaking this? I would like to do it myself, but I don’t want it to become a mess. Can anyone recommend a company in Yorkshire who do this type of thing?
P

 

[IainP]

I helped a friend do some Jag seats about fifteen years ago, went from a weird green shade to blood red.
Was quite an simple procedure.
1. A chemical to clean the leather and open the surface.
2. A colour agent, if I remember correctly, very thin first coat, then two thicker coats using a sponge applicator. Was very even.
3. Another chemical to seal the surface again.

Did look fantastic, even years later, beautifully even and deep colour. He left it a few days before applying feed compound.

I have no idea what company sold it, was in the back of Practical Classics I think, they specialised in leather recolouring and matching. I bought a smaller kit from them right after to restore some Starion seats, but that was just to the original grey. Had to send a tiny sample from under a seat. When I parted the thing out I got more for the seats, which looked like new, than the car originally cost me.

 

[Grumps]

I did mine. It's really easy and frankly I'm pretty crap so i'm sure youll be fine. Ill see if i can find the link.

 

[Grumps]

Here you go. Makes for a good read. @Antm72 And mine are both documented in here.

https://zroadster.org/posts/228395/

 

[Philpatton]

Many thanks for this. So how has the leather held up since recolouring?

 

[Grumps]

Many thanks for this. So how has the leather held up since recolouring?

It's been done a couple of years now and other than the drivers seat has discoloured slightly it's held really well. I'm looking at changing the seats soon but if none come up in budget I'll just re-dye the one seat.