Jump to content

Leather Seats?


deancassell
 Share

Recommended Posts

We do it, but I'm not sure it's what you are after... it depends how creased they are and how much money you are prepared to throw at the problem... connollising isn't exactly cheap.

If I were you I would try using a leather conditioner which can often plump the leather up a bit, and then see if you can live with the results.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No, it's not a hot iron, I have not heard of this for car seats, (although I know you can iron boots with a hot spoon!).

There are two methods of treatment, one is connollising, named after the Connoly leather company which used to make the leather for Aston-Martin, Rolls-Royce etc. Basically, the exact same methods are used to re-treat the leather as were used to treat the leather in the first place... same dyes and fillers.

The second method is far cheaper and much the same as the first except that modern acrylic inks are used instead of proper solvent dyes.

We used to get people who had bought second hand cars from dealerships come to us and ask for leather protection or leather conditioning... unkown to us, the dealerships would have repaired areas of the leather wih this second method, and when we started to apply a conditioner, these inks would wipe off! We would be lumbered with putting right the 'damage we had caused', and rather than put more of this ink on we found a chap called Allan Smith who used to work for the Connolly Leather Company to do the work properly.

There is quite a bit about it on our website, with photos:-

http://www.clean-image.co.uk/leather_upholstery.htm

http://www.clean-image.co.uk/articles/leather-restoration.htm

http://www.clean-image.co.uk/articles/connollising-gallery.htm

http://www.clean-image.co.uk/articles/connollising-gallery-2.htm

This lot should answer most of your questions.

As far as I know, there are only a handful of people in the country doing this using this origional method, many of them are self taught classic car enthusiasts, but if you dig around and ask around, you may find somebody in your area.

http://perfectauk.com/leatherrestore.htm

http://www.cains-auto-leather-renovation.co.uk/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wish I knew about this when I had my Jag! It had a tatty worn area on the drivers seat which I always hated but it was stupid money for Jaguar to replace the seat. And that 16oz Steak looks lovely that I would have had thrown in...!

Anybody that hasn't looked at the links on the above website, go and do so now, those leather repairs are truly amazing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[ QUOTE ]

has anyone got any recommendations for getting creases out of leather?

[/ QUOTE ]

Where are the creases and on what car?

The reason I ask is you may find if it is just the drivers seat buying a new cover from your dealer is worth doing cost wise, when I sold out 320d touring only the backrest was worn where I rubbed on the bolster, so £90 bought me a whole new piece.

The restoration in those links is very impressive!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We did a Jag for a customer last week and he had been quoted over £1000 for a new seat, but replacing the damaged leather panel isn't so bad price-wise. We often recommend it, becuase if the bolster or leading edge is very badly worn, then even though the repair looks perfect, it won't last long because underneath the leather is very much weakend...

but to get the new colour panel to match the old, you often have to connollise both front seats anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

P.S. I don't know the story with chitty-chitty-bang-bang which is why I haven't written anything! I keep meaning to ask Allan about it but...

All I know is that the work was done as something to do with the launch of the stage show. I think that that particular vehicle was one of the ones used in the origional film.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...