Do try this at home: leather jacket repair tips

[cbez]

I busted the lining a bit on my old a2, not sure if it's an old repair or not as the other side doesn't have a seam in that position.

Would it be viable to just throw a basic but ugly reinforcement stitch in there and keep wearing it?

 

[Canuck Panda]

Different color threads indicates there was a repair job there before. Looks like a lazy job just grab surrounding fabric to mend the hole.

I would stitch a patch in place. Wabi Sabi.

 

[Marc mndt]

A coupe of weeks ago I found this Buco j82 on eBay. It obviously shows some wear but the seller told me the jacket was solid so I decided to take a flyer.

Overall the jacket turned out to be in good condition but the leather was dry and needed to be reconditioned.

The leather felt like sandpaper in places where the topcoat was worn off.

I could make the jacket look like new using Black Urad but this time I want to use colorless product only in order to preserve the wear / patina.

I start by applying a coat of Tenderly which softens and conditions the leather without making it feel greasy or sticky.

As you can see it darkens the leather. This is only temporarily, after a minute or 10 when the product is fully absorbed the leather will return back to its original color.

The leather now doesn't feel like sandpaper anymore. As a bonus it brought out some extra grain.

Before - after

 

[Marc mndt]

Next I'm going to apply colorless Urad leathercream which cleans, conditions and protects the leather. It will deepen the color and give the leather a nice sheen. Make sure to use as little product as possible.

The end result

 

[Marc mndt]

Last but not least I'll replace the missing dome studs. Easy job, simply stick the prongs through the existing holes and bend them using a pair of pliers.

A Job well done

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Thanks for sharing this @Marc mndt . Always great to see this process.

 

[PeterRocco]

Needless to say I'm very pleased with the end result. The jacket smells fresh, deep wrinkles are gone and the horsehide has a nice sheen. Good to go for another 75 years.

Only thing that's missing is a belt so I think I'll have one reproduced. It looks a lot better with a belt imo.

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It came out Perfect! Enjoyed reading the steps you took to get the final look.

 

[navetsea]

great recondition and refurbishment of the jacket Marc, very nice end result, thanks for documenting and sharing the process

 

[newtojackets]

I have a name cowhide jacket I got recently.

Part of the leather got wet recently, and where it dried I can see a very faint outline (the part that was wet is a slightly different shade to the rest of the jacket, and the part where the wet and dry parts meet has a grey-white tint). I tried to capture it in photos, but it’s not showing up on the camera.

What can I do to get rid of this whiteish tint? Should I do something to add some water resistance to the naked cowhide for next time?

 

[PeterRocco]

Have you tried Bick 4 Conditioner?

 

[newtojackets]

Have you tried Bick 4 Conditioner?

Nope, but wanted to check before conditioning naked cowhide

 

[PeterRocco]

Nope,lol but wanted to check before conditioning naked cowhide

I understand. Maybe other members will give their advice also. Good Luck.

 

[newtojackets]

Is there anything I can do to get this thread back in the hole?

 

[3.14nche]

Is there anything I can do to get this thread back in the hole?

You could try to tuck it back in with a toothpick.

 

[newtojackets]

You could try to tuck it back in with a toothpick.

How would I hold it in place though?

 

[3.14nche]

I had one such loose thread on the back seam of a jacket.
I just tucked it in and it hasn't moved in like 3 years.
I can't even tell where it was at this point.
If you manage to put all the thread back in and it's tight enough it should stay put.

 

[PeterRocco]

Is there anything I can do to get this thread back in the hole?

Try and put a little if this in the hole. I have used it before with great results.

 

[attack_decay]

So I've opened up the lining once more and found something I wasn't expecting: an elastic band! It has only come undone on one side so this actually looks like an easy fix.

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Re attached:

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I thought this would have done the trick... but unfortunately it didn't. As you can see the top part of the gusset is now pulled in but the bottom part is still bulging out :

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I asked Greg for advice and it turns out he always installs two bands. So two bands it will be...

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Broke a needle during the process... horsehide is though material.

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End result...

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As you can see the gussets don't look 100% clean yet, I think the leather will need to settle a bit. It certainly looks 10 times better than before.

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Next up: replacing the main zip slider. To be continued...

I want to try this repair on one of my jackets. Do you have any information on the piece of elastic you used? Also what gauge of thread do you use for these repairs. I assume you're using a waxed thread?

 

[Marc mndt]

Do you have any information on the piece of elastic you used?

Don't know, I went to the sewing supply store and bought whatever they had.

I assume you're using a waxed thread?

I don't even know what that is or why it should be used. I used nylon thread just like most jacket makers.

 

[VansonRider]

just picked up a vintage jacket. Although the colour is still very good on the whole, there are certain parts that look really dull, particularly in one of the forearms View attachment 487316 View attachment 487317

Would conditioner be enough or will I need some sort of dye? If it’s the latter is it worth trying or is it too risky?

Oh that is COOL!
You may already know this, but shoulder insignias are three tuning forks laid on top of each other and are the logo for Yamaha, which makes musical instruments as well as motorcycles.