SEAT Dye (leather)

**Steven B.** · April 9, 2014, 10:09 AM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

Monte, a few years ago I was speaking with one of Al Knoch's folks about a previously dyed and then stripped vinyl dash and was given some good advice on a new coating. You may want to call Al Knoch and get some advice on your leather seats. If you have a GOOD upholstery shop in your area they may also be able to help. Steve

**Ronald W.** · April 9, 2014, 05:24 PM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

If you are ok with the black color but just want it brighter (less faded) and shinier, I recommend a product called Leather Honey. Very thick, goes on like molasses. You would think it would never absorb into the leather but it does overnight leaving the leather darker, shinier (not too much) and softer. Best product by far I have ever used. Did a dark blue leather couch that showed some sun fading. Completely eliminated the problem. Following is their web site.http://www.leatherhoney.com/leather_...r_automobiles/

**Carl N.** · April 9, 2014, 08:59 PM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

also available on Amazon per their web page - I'm going to order some and try on C5 and DD

**Monte M.** · April 9, 2014, 11:24 PM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

Steve,
I will do that for sure. Start at a good source for information.

Ron,
I appreciate the idea, but there are a few irregularitys in the color. I am hoping to find something that will actually dye it a bit and leave a nice even finish.

The vinyl parts took quite a bit of work, but it is turning out that the dye/paint on the leather seats is different than what was on the vinyl. It is much more labor intensive to clean these seat up.
Before I take the time to remove the dye/paint from the drivers seat I think I will find out if I can even correct the problem at all.

It is a very original car and nothing on the interior has been replaced, so I am hoping all this work will end up with me keeping the original seat covers as well.
If it does not work out, I guess I will be calling Al for seat covers.

**Ronald W.** · April 9, 2014, 11:43 PM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

Originally posted by Monte Marin (18651)

Steve, I will do that for sure. Start at a good source for information.Ron, I appreciate the idea, but there are a few irregularitys in the color. I am hoping to find something that will actually dye it a bit and leave a nice even finish.The vinyl parts took quite a bit of work, but it is turning out that the dye/paint on the leather seats is different that what was on the vinyl. It is much more labor intensive to clean these seat up. Before I take the time to remove the dye/paint from the drivers seat I think I will find out if I can even correct the problem at all.It is a very original car and nothing on the interior has been replaced, so I am hoping all this work will end up with me keeping the original seat covers as well. If it does not work out, I guess I will be calling Al for seat covers.

Do not use any spray dye or any dye that sits on the surface rather than is absorbed into the leather. It will just wear off in areas where it gets rubbed and will look like sh**. You could remove the covers and find someone that "tank" dyes leather. As a last resort b/4 you buy new seat covers try the Leather Honey as it tends to even out the color due to either fading in some areas or different areas of the leather are dryer than other areas.

**Monte M.** · April 10, 2014, 12:25 AM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

Ron,
That is a very good tip that I was aware of but did not think of in such black and white terms. Making sure the dye being used penetrates the leather versus being a top coating.

What I am removing now is a top coating that is very thick. Truth is: the fact that it did not penetrate the surface of the leather is working to my advantage now that I am trying to remove it. As the last few layers come off each section I do, I do my best to not let it get so liquid that it does go into the leather.

At that point I just keep wiping until there is very little or no more black coming off at all.

They are just a very soft leather now with a very flat finish. I think taking them to a shop is going to be the ticket. If I cannot find a shop to give them a try, there are plenty of areas on the inside and back edges that I can try dying myself. There is really not too much to loose at this point anyway.

I am using alcohol with glycerin to do the final stripping and it sure seems to leave a very clean dry surface.

Thanks for the input.

Monte

**Harry L.** · April 10, 2014, 09:55 PM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

Hi Monte , I have black leather seat but I want to turn them to white. Are seat covers the only way? Dutch

**Monte M.** · April 11, 2014, 03:44 AM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

Hi Dutch,
Good to hear from you. I hope all is well.

First, I want to say I am no expert. What I have learned is there is two basic types of dye. One is alcohol based and this is the type I have been dealing with. Truth is, I tried many kinds of chemicals to strip these before I tried D-Natured alcohol. It worked really well taking the mess off the vinyl I was dealing with. I then moved onto the product that is on the seats. It did a good job on the seats too.

I did eventually change to the alcohol with glycerin in it. It seemed to evaporate off quite a bit slower and leave the leather a little more moist. Could be just my eyes playing tricks on me, but it did seem to really work better. Nothing cleaned even close to as good as the alcohol. Well, other things cleaned as good or better, but they damaged the vinyl. The alcohol did not damage it at all.

So to answer your question: In my limited experience it is not possible to go from black to white on leather.

Now, to answer the question I think you might might be asking. What is the condition of the black seat covers you have now?

Monte

**Harry L.** · April 11, 2014, 08:25 AM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

Originally posted by Monte Marin (18651)

Hi Dutch,
Good to hear from you. I hope all is well.

First, I want to say I am no expert. What I have learned is there is two basic types of dye. One is alcohol based and this is the type I have been dealing with. Truth is, I tried many kinds of chemicals to strip these before I tried D-Natured alcohol. It worked really well taking the mess off the vinyl I was dealing with. I then moved onto the product that is on the seats. It did a good job on the seats too.

I did eventually change to the alcohol with glycerin in it. It seemed to evaporate off quite a bit slower and leave the leather a little more moist. Could be just my eyes playing tricks on me, but it did seem to really work better. Nothing cleaned even close to as good as the alcohol. Well, other things cleaned as good or better, but they damaged the vinyl. The alcohol did not damage it at all.

So to answer your question: In my limited experience it is not possible to go from black to white on leather.

Now, to answer the question I think you might might be asking. What is the condition of the black seat covers you have now?

Monte

My black leather seats are in perfect condition. Dutch

**Monte M.** · April 12, 2014, 02:40 PM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

Here is an example of what it is I am trying to accomplish. My seats are not nearly as bad as the couch on the left, so I hope my results are as good as the couch on the right.
I will post the results to let you know how the seats turn out.
Thanks to all who contributed.

Monte

Screen-shot-2011-04-19-at-1.21.20-PM.jpg

**Gene M.** · April 12, 2014, 08:32 PM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

Monte,
What did you use on the couch? It looks really good.

**Steve B.** · April 15, 2014, 06:14 PM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

Monte, I agree with Gene, the couch looks great. I would love to know what was done or what product was used to get that result. Thanks, Steve

**Monte M.** · April 16, 2014, 06:14 PM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

I am actually doing a set of seats right now. I used a cleaner that came in a clear plastic bottle that I bought from a shop. I will find out what that cleaner is, but that is not what makes things turn out good or not.

The biggest thing I have learned is how you apply the dyes.
You have water based and alcohol based dyes. The dye on my 72 seats was alcohol based. It was very very thick and layed down like paint. Once I broke through the top coat, the layers seem to come off pretty well.

I am not sure what the original dye is because as I stripped off the aftermarket dye, the original dye held up pretty well. If it continued to try to remove what appeared to be original dye with the alcohol, nothing seem to happen.

So, to answer your question: the trick to getting a nice even finish is in the application. When applying the dye, do not leave too much on. But, the most important thing is, when you do a section, do the whole section. THEN, LET THE SECTION YOU DID COMPLETELY DRY BEFORE PUTTING ON ANY FURTHER COATS.

If you let it dry all the way, the areas that have enough dye will no longer take any dye, but the areas that need more will still take it. As it dries is what leave the even finish. I was done when I was happy with the finish being even enough.

I will gather a list of products that I used and post it. Even the pads that I used to strip off the old dye made a huge difference. I used the round applicators that some gals use for make-up. They absorbed a certain amount of old dye and that was it. Time to get a new one. They were only $3.00 for a 100 so that part was not an issue. Other things we tried did not absorb the old dye off the leather.

Best of luck,
I will post the seats when they are done. It is far more work than it has been worth. If it was not an original low mileage car, I just would have replaced them. No fun in that though.

Monte

**Ronald W.** · April 16, 2014, 07:05 PM

Re: SEAT Dye (leather)

Here is a before and after pics of my couch using only Leather Honey!https://s-media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com...d1854913f7.jpg

SEAT Dye (leather)

SEAT Dye (leather)

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