How Guides

It is important NOT to clean the leather with soap. Soap will dry out the leather and cause it to shrink. NEVER use household cleaners on the leather, especially ones containing caustic soda and salt. If you use a product containing ammonia, it will strip the natural oils and cause It to harden. NEVER use beeswax on the leather. It will make the leather shiny and slippery

and block the leather’s pores. If you require a glossy finish you can use the Gloss Enhancer. DON’T spray aerosol polishes on or around leather as the silicones that they may contain, will harm the leather. 

For daily cleaning of the leather, use Leather Cleaner. NEVER use all-in-one leather cleaners and conditioners. If you apply one, any dirt that is on the surface, will absorb into the leather along with the conditioner. The Leather Intensive Cleaner and Leather Protection Cream & Conditioner is ideal for this process.

If you have not cared for the leather for a long while, then you should start from scratch. It is important that you firstly deep clean the leather. You can use the Intensive Leather Cleaner and a Nailbrush to do this. Apply the Intensive Leather Cleaner onto the leather and use the Nail Brush to agitate it in a circular motion. This will enable the Intensive Leather Cleaner to absorb into the grain of the leather for a deeper clean. If the leather is very dirty, you can leave the Intensive Leather Cleaner for a couple of minutes before wiping off with a damp Microfibre Cloth.

After the leather is dry, sparingly apply the Leather Protection Cream & Conditioner using a Microfibre Cloth, ensuring that you rub evenly into the grain. For extra dry leather, reapply another coat after 24 hours.

For daily cleaning, use the Leather Cleaner.

The Graining Mat with Additive uses twin tubes to allow the latex and hardener to mix together at the correct rate when used with the Graining Mat Dispensing Gun and a Mixing Nozzle. Apply the Graining Mat with Additive next to the area that needs repairing and dry using a Hairdryer. Once dry, peel off the impression and use this as your mould. Ensure that the patch is made as thin as possible.

When gluing the leather, use the Leather & Vinyl Contact Structural Adhesive and sparingly apply the glue to one side of the leather. Wait 30 seconds before pressing the repair together. The Leather & Vinyl Contact Structural Adhesive is also ideal for gluing a Weld Backing Fabric patch to strengthen the leather repair. 

Before filling the leather, ensure that the leather is clean. Patch up the repair using the Backing Weld Fabric and the Leather & Vinyl Weld Replicator. Glue any loose material then fill the repair using Aquafiller and a Palette Knife.  Wait until the filler is dry before applying a dye.

For best results, the preparation of the leather is most important before applying a Bespoke Leather Dye. The leather MUST be cleaned thoroughly using Leather Intensive Cleaner or Leather Cleaner, otherwise the Bespoke Leather Dye will absorb the dirt causing the colour to react or change. Ensure that the leather is free from any oils/ grease, otherwise the Bespoke Leather Dye will not adhere properly to the leather. The Leather Grease & Oil Remover can be used to remove these. To promote adhesion, you can use the Adhesion Promoter or the Leather PreCoat. The Bespoke Leather Dye can then be applied. After the Bespoke Leather Dye has dried, the leather should be conditioned using Leather Protection & Conditioning Cream. The Bespoke Leather Dyes already have a built-in sealant in them, however for extra protection you can purchase a Lacquer Sealant in a Matt, Gloss or Satin finish or use the water based Extra Matt Top Coat Sealant or the Gloss Top Coat Sealant.

There are three main types of leather and it’s not always clear which type you possess. They are aniline leather, semi-aniline leather and pigmented leather. To determine what type of leather it is, you can perform a couple of different tests.

To determine what type of leather it is, you can use your sense of touch. Aniline leather will feel very light and smooth as it has not received any treatment. Semi-aniline leather will feel a little light and smooth. Pigmented leather is protected leather and will almost feel like plastic. It will not feel smooth, soft or light. 

You can also simply perform a water test. Drip a small drop of water onto a hidden area and time how long the water remains on the surface. For aniline leather, the water will absorb almost immediately. For semi-aniline leather, the water will sit on the surface and slowly absorb. For pigmented leather, the water will sit on the surface and not soak in.

Before re-colouring leather, it is recommended that the leather is primed. Dye Crosslinker is used to strengthen the top coating of the leather. It improves the resistance of water and solvents. This is best used with Dye Adhesion Promoter. When using these products, they should be added to the dye beforehand.

Leather PreCoat can also be used to prime the leather. It dissolves the original factory sealant and leaves the surface tacky. It is then ready for the dye. 

If you are applying the Bespoke Leather Dye to a small area of leather or vinyl, it is best to apply the dye by dabbing with a Sponge Applicator. This will form a thin and even coat without blotching. If you are re-colouring a large area, it is best to use an Airbrush. To enable the dye to go into the leather grain, a Mouth Diffuser can be used to spread it. 

You should aim to apply the Bespoke Leather Dye in thin even layers. If applying several layers, it is important that you allow the dye to dry thoroughly in between applications. You can speed up this process by applying heat using a Hairdryer. If the layers are too thick, it will result in uneven tones and it appear raised.  After the application process, leave the leather to dry for 24 hours. 

The Bespoke Leather Dye contains a built-in sealant, however, for an extra layer of protection, you can use either a Lacquer Sealant in a Matt, Gloss and Satin finish or a Water Based Sealant in a Gloss or Extra Matt finish. 

Leather is like human skin. When it is exposed to the sunlight, air and dirt, it needs thoroughly cleaning and conditioning. There are many common problems that happen to leather and we are going to discuss some of them and offer solutions that can help to maintain the leather.

Body oils, grease and sweat can cause the leather to darken in patches that come into contact with the skin or hair. Dye may even start to flake off. To prevent this from happening, try to avoid direct skin and hair contact with the leather. If you wipe the leather regularly with Leather Cleaner, this will help to keep it clean. You can also use the Leather Grease & Oil Remover. 

Dye transfer from clothing is often a suborn stain to remove. If this is spotted straight away, then the Leather Intensive Cleaner can be used to remove this. However, if it has been on the leather for a while then please contact us for further advice.

Heat and direct sunlight dullen the leather cause it to lose its shine. More creases will form and cracks can appear. To help maintain the leathers appearance, it is recommended that the leather is regularly cleaned with Leather Cleaner. For a more in depth clean, the Intensive Leather Cleaner should be used. After it has been cleaned, it should then be conditioned with the Leather Conditioner & Protection Cream. If the leather has faded, depending on how bad, either a Bespoke Leather Dye or a Colour Refresh leather dye can be used to recover the colour.  

When receiving the Bespoke Leather Dye or Colour Refresh Dye, you don’t always have the desired finish. When leather is cut out to provide a sample, it is generally a new piece of leather that hasn’t been exposed to sunlight or skin. To adjust the dye, you have three options

• Pour the dye into a clean Plastic Jug and add either Gloss Enhancer to enhance shine or Matt Enhancer to reduce shine. 
• After applying the dye, add a water-based Gloss Sealant Top Coat or to reduce the shine add an Extra Matt Sealant Top Coat onto the leather once the dye has fully dried.
• Spray a Leather Sealant Lacquer on top of the dyed leather. Choose your desired finish from Satin, Gloss or Matt.

To repair a cut, rip or hole in leather, you need Weld Replicator for Leather & Vinyl, an Adjustable Temperature Heat Iron, Teflon Sheet and Weld Backing Fabric. Firstly, you must apply Weld Replicator for Leather & Vinyl in the gap of the leather. For extra strength, add Weld Backing Fabric. Cover the gap with Teflon Sheet and apply heat using an Adjustable Temperature Heat Iron.

For smaller repairs such as scratches and minor cuts apply Aquafiller with a Palette Knife. Wait until dry and use a Sand Pad to smooth down the leather. The leather will then be ready to dye. 

Colour Refresh Dye is used on badly cracked/worn leather or to completely change the colour of the leather. Before applying the Colour Refresh Dye, the leather MUST be fully cleaned and conditioned then it is ready for dyeing. The Colour Refresh Dye can be applied using an Airbrush. After the dye has been applied, it must then be sealed. A water-based sealant, either Extra Matt Sealant Top Coat or Gloss Sealant Top Coat can be used, or a Lacquer Sealant. It is important to seal after application, otherwise it will remain tacky.

The life expectancy on a Bespoke Leather Dye depends on the storage of the product, which is most important if you want it to last. The ideal temperature for the dye is to be at room temperature (between 16-20 degrees). When pigments are exposed to variable temperatures, the pigments begin to react with each other and may cause separation. They will fuse back together once shook for 3 minutes or more.  Generally, the shelf life is at least 12 months, if stored correctly. However, this is just a guide. It may be longer or less. If the dye experiences variable temperatures, it will react and change much quicker. If changes do occur over time, corrections to the dye can be made to alter the colour back to its original form. Toners (Pigment Colours) and Enhancers can both be sent to you with an information guide on how to tweak the colour. Ensure that the lid is screwed on tightly. Air in the product can result in change. It is a good idea to turn the bottle daily so that the pigments stay fused together. 

To reserve the leather’s lifespan, it is important that you clean and condition the leather regularly. To deep clean very dirty leather, the Leather Intensive Cleaner and Nailbrush is recommended for the job. Simply pour some Leather Intensive Cleaner onto the leather and use a Nailbrush to agitate the leather in a circular motion. Wipe off the residue with a damp Microfibre Cloth. For general cleaning of leather, use the Leather Cleaner. Spray the Leather Cleaner onto a Cotton Cloth and wipe off any residue using a Microfibre Cloth.

Due to heat and exposure to sunlight, it leaves the leather dried out. The leather should be treated at least 4 times a year to preserve its lifespan. The leather fragranced Leather Protection Cream & Conditioner is great for restoring the nutrients back into the leather. Make sure that the leather is clean and then sparingly apply the Leather Protection Cream & Conditioner using a Microfibre Cloth and rub evenly into the leather grain. For extra dry leather, apply another coat in 24 hours.