Do try this at home: leather jacket repair tips

[JMax]

How should I apply this stuff?

A little dab where the tape is fraying. A little bit at a time. Then let it sit for a little while, dry out. Don’t worry too much if you apply a tad more than a dab, it all soaks into the tape. But too much and it will run into the leather so have something handy to quickly wipe it off. Or it may run into the zipper, which you don’t want.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

This stretching stuff is genius if not the basic principle of the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so to speak.

Would love to try on my one Cal that I love to death but is just a half size too small for me. I think the problem with the CHP style is the panels by the laces will get most of the stress of the stretch. They're also thinner leather so I don't think they'll hold up well.

Also wondering what might happen with a jacket with gussets, under arm footballs and/or action backs or other pleats, etc. I'd be afraid of where the stress will hit the leather. So I think, maybe I'm wrong, this is best done with plain, one piece backs.

Usually I'm going with the "shrinki" method. Looks like now we have the "stretchi" method as well.

 

[Flying Monkey]

I have a nice Branded Garments perfecto style in a 44 which for some reason is more like a 42 in the chest. Maybe a custom. Fit great everywhere else. Almost mint condition. I really wanted another 1/2" in the chest and shoulders. I took one of those large inflatable exercise balls and put it in the zipped up jacket uninflated. I then took sopping wet towels and put them on the outer parts of the jacket that I wanted to stretch. Back, shoulders, chest. I then inflated the ball until it was fairly tight. I say fairly tight. Watch what you are doing at this point because the pressure from the ball is surprisingly powerful. You can utterly destroy a jacket if you are not paying very careful attention. This particular jacket is made of very thick leather and is pretty modern. I would not advise this procedure on anything thin or vintage, you will be left with a pile of rags. Anyway, I left the wet towels on for about a full day at which point I wiped everything dry and left it inflated for about a week. It really really worked. The fit is exactly what I wanted. Realize that I only was hoping for about 1/2" and that's what I got. I have not allowed the jacket to get caught in the rain so I don't know if it would shrink back if it got wet. I did this about a year ago and the fit has not altered back. Apparently one of my rare triumphs in life.

 

[Marc mndt]

Let's see if I can turn this 38 into a 42 lol

 

[Imuricecreamman]

Let's see if I can turn this 38 into a 42 lol

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That's gonna have more stretch marks than "octomom"

 

[Will Zach]

I have a nice Branded Garments perfecto style in a 44 which for some reason is more like a 42 in the chest. Maybe a custom. Fit great everywhere else. Almost mint condition. I really wanted another 1/2" in the chest and shoulders. I took one of those large inflatable exercise balls and put it in the zipped up jacket uninflated. I then took sopping wet towels and put them on the outer parts of the jacket that I wanted to stretch. Back, shoulders, chest. I then inflated the ball until it was fairly tight. I say fairly tight. Watch what you are doing at this point because the pressure from the ball is surprisingly powerful. You can utterly destroy a jacket if you are not paying very careful attention. This particular jacket is made of very thick leather and is pretty modern. I would not advise this procedure on anything thin or vintage, you will be left with a pile of rags. Anyway, I left the wet towels on for about a full day at which point I wiped everything dry and left it inflated for about a week. It really really worked. The fit is exactly what I wanted. Realize that I only was hoping for about 1/2" and that's what I got. I have not allowed the jacket to get caught in the rain so I don't know if it would shrink back if it got wet. I did this about a year ago and the fit has not altered back. Apparently one of my rare triumphs in life.

Yes, same with me on a horsehide Vanson. I got about 1/2 to 1-in stretch in chest and shoulders.

 

[Marc mndt]

My contribution— mail it to Dena.

Though I do use the following to reinforce the zipper tape when it starts to fray. Best product I have found so far, no question.

View attachment 351741

Great tip. This is a similar product that's available on the European market. Not only does it keep the fabric from fraying any further, It also stiffens up the frayed area which makes it easier to get the pin into the slider.

 

[Jin431]

Let's see if I can turn this 38 into a 42 lol

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any update on this? how long do you place the jacket under tension?

 

[Marc mndt]

any update on this? how long do you place the jacket under tension?

It came out perfect. Apart from the high / tight armholes which only stretched up a tiny bit, it feels totally comfortable now. Rainy weather all day so I didn't have an opportunity to take proper pics. I did take a quick mirror selfie when I wore it to the gym this morning.

I keep it under tension until fully dry. Which in this case took about 24 hours. I got scared the moment I took out the pillows this time. For a moment I thought I ruined the jacket because all the grain was gone, the leather looked dull and it was shaped like a sausage (no drape at all because it was stiff like brand new CXL). Luckily the grain came back and the drape did as well as soon as the leather softened up. A thin layer of Urad brought back the luster and color depth.

Pre-stretching I could not zip it up. It was a size 38 and I have a 43 " chest. I'm pretty pleased with the result.

 

[Leather Walker]

Great tip. This is a similar product that's available on the European market. Not only does it keep the fabric from fraying any further, It also stiffens up the frayed area which makes it easier to get the pin into the slider.

View attachment 366342

Yes! I use this product, I'm really happy with Prym fray check. I apply it on zipper tape when the plastic film is cracking, so the liquid can filter to the tape.

 

[Jin431]

It came out perfect. Apart from the high / tight armholes which only stretched up a tiny bit, it feels totally comfortable now. Rainy weather all day so I didn't have an opportunity to take proper pics. I did take a quick mirror selfie when I wore it to the gym this morning.

I keep it under tension until fully dry. Which in this case took about 24 hours. I got scared the moment I took out the pillows this time. For a moment I thought I ruined the jacket because all the grain was gone, the leather looked dull and it was shaped like a sausage (no drape at all because it was stiff like brand new CXL). Luckily the grain came back and the drape did as well as soon as the leather softened up. A thin layer of Urad brought back the luster and color depth.

View attachment 366344

Pre-stretching I could not zip it up. It was a size 38 and I have a 43 " chest. I'm pretty pleased with the result.

your LL collection is getting better and better. the fit looks just right, the rounded shoulder looks perfect. even the length and sleeves looks good from that photo. cant wait to see the back photo of this, just to see how it works being worn

 

[Al 916]

Jacket is about the same age as me but I still have all mine.
Without a full new denture how would one go about sorting this?

 

[Al 916]

I think I will try a transplant from a couple of teeth at the zip top.

Should have the jacket delivered in the week.

 

[Jules Myers]

To Marc and you other gurus: I recently picked up this deerskin Custom Coat Co jacket. Gorgeous leather, but some jackass used a regular wire coat hanger creating matching pouches on the shoulders. Is there a way to “unstretch” this stretched out leather?

 

[Marc mndt]

View attachment 375586 View attachment 375585 To Marc and you other gurus: I recently picked up this deerskin Custom Coat Co jacket. Gorgeous leather, but some jackass used a regular wire coat hanger creating matching pouches on the shoulders. Is there a way to “unstretch” this stretched out leather?

I would try making the whole shoulder panel completely wet (warm water). Then massage and gently stretch the parts around the pouches. After that I'd stuff the chest with towels and let it dry. Not sure whether or not this will work, but you could give it a try. Cool jacket by the way.

 

[Jules Myers]

I would try making the whole shoulder panel completely wet (warm water). Then massage and gently stretch the parts around the pouches. After that I'd stuff the chest with towels and let it dry. Not sure whether or not this will work, but you could give it a try. Cool jacket by the way.

Right on. I will give it a try, Marc.

 

[Will Zach]

I would try making the whole shoulder panel completely wet (warm water). Then massage and gently stretch the parts around the pouches. After that I'd stuff the chest with towels and let it dry. Not sure whether or not this will work, but you could give it a try. Cool jacket by the way.

I think Marc's advice is spot-on (as always). You cannot shrink the stretched part, but you can try to blend it in by slightly stretching the areas around it while wet, and then drying it under tension (filled with towels). I bet it'll work, too.

 

[JMax]

When I went down after my deer buddy got up close to say hi, the topcoat of a portion of the sleeve on my LW was rubbed off. It was the leather at the cuff and up and around the zipper. It looked matted and was not smooth like the leather that was untouched by pavement. I applied Leather Sheen and am happy with the result. This is dried and ready to wear. Post accident pics are here somewhere, but I deleted them. To traumatic lol.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Just wanted to give another nod to the get wet and stuff method if you're looking to expand maybe a half size. I have tried now on 3 jackets and have had great results. Picking up usually about a half inch on ptp. Assuming a good quality jacket with solid stitching, etc., I seem to get a pretty even stretch. Even keeps some of the nuances of the cut, etc. Originally was worried it would pull apart from the thinner parts or get warped somehow.

My only close call was with my wife's Schott Racer. It had an action back, so a lot of the tension went to the flaps. So I probably would not do again with anything that had gussets, action back, or those CHP style panels. But I kind of knew that going in and I knew I was going to sew down the action back anyway because my wife didn't like how it puffed out.

It's crazy how many towels you need to stuff in there to fill it out. On this last one, I did a "spot" stretch, only focusing on the upper quadrant, ptp, front shoulder panel. It worked great. Literally has made 3 unwearable jackets wearable.

 

[Al 916]

I think I will try a transplant from a couple of teeth at the zip top.

Should have the jacket delivered in the week.

In this case I suggest not trying this, the white metal teeth of this zip are soft and opening causes them to fall apart.

Worth a try as it was this or a new zip anyway.
I found a nice couple in Hertfordshire just up the road who specialise in Irvin renovation and other leather tailoring. They are sorting a new zip for the 654 and new snap backs for the 654 and the older brooks gold.