Reconditioning my leather seats - Page 2 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

jeffm · 02-21-2014, 12:00 PM

Nice!
I purchased the Leatherique products and plan to try that first. Depending on those results, this may be an option.

Ckrikos · 02-21-2014, 02:49 PM

LWT is going to replace my bottle of dye. Did you get low or medium gloss. I originally got low, but may change that to medium.

Also is the dye permanent, i was able to rub it off the handbrake with a bunch of lexol. It did require lots of elbow grease, now i didnt let it dry much and was about half an hour after originally applying it.

Ill also add that it doesn't appear to color the vinyl very well. Ill keep you guys posted when i get the replacement.

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rick3000 · 02-21-2014, 03:40 PM

Ckrikos, please keep us posted on what color ends up matching Graphite Grey. Thanks!

jc986 · 02-21-2014, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ckrikos

LWT is going to replace my bottle of dye. Did you get low or medium gloss. I originally got low, but may change that to medium.

Also is the dye permanent, i was able to rub it off the handbrake with a bunch of lexol. It did require lots of elbow grease, now i didnt let it dry much and was about half an hour after originally applying it.

Ill also add that it doesn't appear to color the vinyl very well. Ill keep you guys posted when i get the replacement.

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk

I used the low gloss, but I think if I were to do it again I would go with the medium gloss. I did apply Lexol conditioner today and that added a nice shine to the leather. The dye is supposed to be permanent. Not sure about the handbrake. If it's leather, before dying, make sure you go over it lightly with a scuff pad. Be careful not to scratch the surface. LWT sells the right kind of scuff pad for that (they're similar to scotch brite pads but not as abraisive

Ckrikos · 02-21-2014, 04:52 PM

I tried the handbrake leather because I had it sitting around and needed to test the dye on something. I bought the dye to repair the driver seat bolster as they are worn and the tops of my rear seats as they faded and just need to be dyed. I'll let you guys know how it works out.

Meir · 12-09-2015, 07:30 AM

raising up this thread from the dead.
i think 2 years later, its a good timing to follow up with the results.
so how is it holding up for you guys?

epapp · 12-09-2015, 10:31 AM

Pleeeeease!

grc0456 · 12-09-2015, 11:14 AM

Good idea! How did they hold up?

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epapp · 12-14-2015, 09:32 AM

Spill the beanz!

ZX9RCAM · 12-22-2015, 10:53 AM

JC86 appears to have not been online since Nov. 2nd.
May be waiting a while for a response.

Meir · 12-22-2015, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZX9RCAM

JC86 appears to have not been online since Nov. 2nd.
May be waiting a while for a response.

yes.
but Ckrikos is around

let's go Ckrikos let's go :dance:

Ckrikos · 12-22-2015, 04:49 PM

I'm still here, turns out my second bottle was not a perfect match either, but good for spot corrections in the leather. I did test the dye on a black rear seat and can post pics of you guys have any interest. It came out well just not a perfect match.

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epapp · 12-26-2015, 07:30 PM

Definitely post pics! How is the initial application holding up?

jc986 · 12-27-2015, 04:18 AM

Hi guys, sorry, haven't been on here for a while. Just got back from a trip to Asia. Well, the seats are still in good shape, but now having a problem with the convertible top mechanism, haha. Always something to work on.

Meir · 12-27-2015, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc986

Hi guys, sorry, haven't been on here for a while. Just got back from a trip to Asia. Well, the seats are still in good shape, but now having a problem with the convertible top mechanism, haha. Always something to work on.

I'll tell you what.
Post some pics and I'll help you fix the top

Unfortunately, I become an expert on that.

grc0456 · 12-31-2015, 06:42 AM

I purchased the Leather Magic Deluxe Repair Kit and reconditioned the seats in my 2003 Box.

https://leathermagic.com/leather-repair-kits/#!/Deluxe-Leather-Repair-Kit/p/49974297/category=13262202

I have no affiliation with them whatsoever, but am satisfied with the results. Basically you clean the leather, prep the leather, clean again, sand, fill, sand, fill again, sand and clean a final time. Dry with a blow dryer after each cleaning. Then you apply the coloring agent (the Deluxe kit has the pre-mixed Porsche factory colors - Savanna Beige for me) with a foam brush into the nooks and crannies. Dry with a hair dryer. Then apply VERY light coats with the aerosol sprayer. This was a little tricky. I found short, quick bursts worked better then a continual side to side method. You should practice a little before this step. Light spray, blow dry, repeat. I did "re-perforate" with a small nail some of the perforated holes that were covered where I sprayed a little too heavily - fixed 'em nicely.

Here is the passenger side before (note the nasty spot which was caused by yours truly when I over-rubbed some cleaner trying to get a small spot removed):

Here is the passenger side after:

Drivers side before (note this was after the "leather prep" stage - it wasn't quite this bad to start, but the prep stage does remove some original color and makes one think "there is no turning back now"):

Drivers side after:

I am going to let them cure for 48 hours (as recommended) and then apply the conditioner to soften them up a bit.

Not perfect, but I think they came out great and I can live with this - provided they hold up. Only time will tell!

Ckrikos · 12-31-2015, 09:02 AM

The seats look great in the pictures, but even if they aren't perfect in person they at least appear much better than what was there.

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grc0456 · 12-31-2015, 09:13 AM

Thanks! Yeah, the before pics look really crappy! Not quite as bad in person, as I think the flash/lighting on my cell phone camera made them appear worse. But, clearly, these 12 year old seats needed a refresh in a big way. I don't believe the original owner treated them with too much love, but I will from now on!

Ckrikos · 12-31-2015, 09:14 AM

Here is a picture of a supple leather seat that I repainted from black to Gray. The color is off a little from the center console cover below, but not bad. I bought the coloring to repain one of my drivers side bolsters that is wearing. I also want to try it with an airbrush to see the results. To date I am happy using it for spot touch ups on plastic and leather.

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grc0456 · 12-31-2015, 09:19 AM

Nice! Wow, it really covers well.

Next up for me may be a carpet re-dye. My Box has Graphite Grey carpets. Fairly unusual with a Savanna Beige interior, as most I see have beige. I'll have to decide to keep the GG or go to beige. Either way, there's a lot of sun fade that went on in this old FL car.