Paint splatters on leather jackets

[jonbuilder]

I handle more vintage jackets than I like to think about with small paint splatters on the arms. I assume from rolling out paint will wear a jacket. I guess back in the 60s old leather jackets did hold the sale value they do now and were consider beater jackets.
What are good methods to remove or hide the paint splatters?
I have a WW 2 M22a that had minor yellow paint spots on one sleeve. I was able to dissolve the paint with acetone applied with a cue tip and now noticeable harm to the jacket finish.
Yesterday I tried the acetone on a recent jacket I purchased and the paint specs did not dissolve and the black topcoat showed a fad spot. I used black shoe cream to cover the fade in the jacket topcoat and the cream cover and hid the white specs.
Sorry no before pictures

 

[MichaelRhB]

You might try a tiny amount of naphtha in place of the acetone for an oil based paint. I would try it on a hidden area first though.

If nothing else, I would try to match color and get out my 000 brush and start hiding them.

 

[North_Star]

Neither there are any after pictures

 

[handymike]

It's tricky, sometimes you can pick them off or use a kitchen scrubber sponge to get it off. Other times, I get out my black and brown Sharpies to disguise them. I figure the coats were hanging in the closet when the room got painted which is why most paint splatters I see are on the arms.

 

[Guppy]

Very gentle scraping with a finger nail.

 

[sweetfights]

It's tricky, sometimes you can pick them off or use a kitchen scrubber sponge to get it off. Other times, I get out my black and brown Sharpies to disguise them. I figure the coats were hanging in the closet when the room got painted which is why most paint splatters I see are on the arms.

Good theory...
I always wondered why so many older leather jackets had paint specks.
But, it just might be like jonbuilder mentions, painting with a "beater" jacket.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I've gotten paint on two or three leather jackets I've worn while painting. It's tricky to remove. A green kitchen scourer used carefully with water and a scraper can sometimes just lift it off without doing damage. Steel wool can work but you need to be careful not to remove the surface dye. Some paint marks look ok to me and simply become a part of the overall wear.

 

[Boyo]

I echo the steel wool trick.. espeacially if you can go back and re-dye (shoe polish) the affected areas..

How bad is it? .. do the spots really detract from the look of the vintage jacket as opposed to adding character?

 

[willyto]

I would leave them as is and call it patina, wear or whatever.

I have a vintage Half Belt with green paint on one of the front pockets IIRC and I couldn’t care less.

 

[ton312]

Timely post. There’s a beaut of an HB on eBay right now. It’s trashed but I have mind to restore it. The sleeve has a massive paint splatter. Looks to be a good 2” x 2” area. It’s the only thing that has me stalling.

 

[itsallgood]

Yesterday I tried the acetone on a recent jacket I purchased and the paint specs did not dissolve and the black topcoat showed a fad spot.

Lots of nanotechnology research has gone into new paint. The technology is amazing. I would think old paint on a vintage jacket would be easier to remove/address than anything current.

 

[jonbuilder]

Before and after Lesco jacket I was not able to remove the paint specks so I color over them with black shoe cream

 

[Peacoat]

Before and after Lesco jacket I was not able to remove the paint specks so I color over them with black shoe cream

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Good job in hiding the paint splatters, and very good graining in this jacket.

 

[Stand By]

A great post this, and one that will surely help someone out there find an otherwise great jacket that most would snub - and with some TLC could be picked up relatively cheaply and restored! Great stuff.