does leather restoration require alot of experience to get good results?

[jeff79]

I am thinking about adding leather restoration as one of my services. Right now i only offer headlight restoration but have built up a really good customer base(over 250 customers) the past couple months.

Is restoring leather interior difficult to do for begginners or can it be done using the right material/supplies? Is there a big learning curve or does it come down to getting professional supplies? If so can you reccomend any professional systems/kits/training videos/whatever it takes to get the job done correctly. I really would like to incorporate this service but have little experience with interior leather. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[haris300]

There are many different ways to go about cleaning/restoring leather. Varying methods and techniques can often times produce the same results.

I like to use a steam cleaner with a towel wrapped around the brush nozzle attachment. Heating up the leather with steam opens up pores and allows for easy lifting of dirt particles. Is a steam cleaner always necessary for cleaning leather? No. Can it be a useful tool? You bet.

Using a designated leather cleaner or interior cleaner with a leather brush/scrub pad will usually remove contamination from the material fairly easily. After scrubbing I like to wipe down with a microfiber towel, inspect my results, and repeat cleaning if necessary. I've also used diluted APC to help loosen up and lift dirt out of leather seats/upholstery. If you're unsure of what products and method to use, try working on a small test spot in an inconspicuous area.

I also like to use scrub pads on my DA for cleaning leather.

Check out this 50/50 of some leather cleaning I performed on a customer's 5 series. I steamed the material with a towel on the brush attachment and continued cleaning with Pinnacle leather/vinyl cleaner and a 3 inch Griot's Garage yellow scrub pad (on a Porter Cable 7424).

Don't forget to use a leather protectant/conditioner after cleaning.

I'm sure you will get more helpful replies from others with different cleaning methods and products. Hopefully you'll find a technique that works for you!

 

[thebamboo23]

all you need is a brush, apc, and a towels

go for it

 

[allenk4]

Are you talking about cleaning and conditioning leather or using dye and other leather "repair" tools

 

[conman1395]

Are you talking about cleaning and conditioning leather or using dye and other leather "repair" tools

Exactly what I was going to say. If you're talking about restoring, then I'd assume you mean using dye or crack filling.
Cleaning leather is not restoring leather, even if it was really, really dirty, then you're just really, really cleaning leather.
The only system I have ever seen in person (although never attempted myself) was Leatherique's dye and crack filler system. I also love they're Pristine Clean and Rejuvenator Oil for deep cleaning. It did not seem like it takes an expert, but I definitely would practice on your own cars before attempting on a customer's car.

 

[jeff79]

Exactly what I was going to say. If you're talking about restoring, then I'd assume you mean using dye or crack filling.
Cleaning leather is not restoring leather, even if it was really, really dirty, then you're just really, really cleaning leather.
The only system I have ever seen in person (although never attempted myself) was Leatherique's dye and crack filler system. I also love they're Pristine Clean and Rejuvenator Oil for deep cleaning. It did not seem like it takes an expert, but I definitely would practice on your own cars before attempting on a customer's car.

id like to implement both(in the OP i meant leather repair as oppose to conditioning/cleaning).

seems like leather repair/restoration(using crack fillers/dyes/etc) is a more nische market then cleaning and could yeild ALOT more business so i would rather start out with that. im guessing its also a more in depth process and would require some kind of training. Id like to know more about kits/supplies/training that i could get in order to do this successfully and professionally.

ALOT of customers ive seen who have leather interior, have cracks and damaged leather and told me they would pay me in a heartbeat if i could fix/restore the cracks/tears/rips/etc.

Any info on any kits and training videos would be greatly appriciated :help:

 

[jeff79]

Are you talking about cleaning and conditioning leather or using dye and other leather "repair" tools

id like learn to do actual repairs/restorations first before conditioning/cleaning

 

[allenk4]

id like learn to do actual repairs/restorations first before conditioning/cleaning

I, personally, would reverse that...

Nearly every vehicle with leather needs cleaning

If it needs "repair" it very likely would benefit from cleaning and conditioning.

Most owners will be delighted if you learn to deliver results like harris300 has pictured

A much smaller percentage of vehicles need leather "repair" and an even smaller percentage of those owners are willing to pay for it

 

[jeff79]

I, personally, would reverse that...

Nearly every vehicle with leather needs cleaning

If it needs "repair" it very likely would benefit from cleaning and conditioning.

Most owners will be delighted if you learn to deliver results like harris300 has pictured

A much smaller percentage of vehicles need leather "repair" and an even smaller percentage of those owners are willing to pay for it

That is true. There is a much greater market for cleaning then repairing but im guessing the cost would be much cheaper too. Any idea as to the going rate for either service? I've come across ALOT of people who need a restoration. It seems like everyone with leather needs a spot restoration somewhere on the interior after a couple years.

I do think there is a much much greater market for cleaning/reconditioning.. and ya that pic that harris posted above looks amazing. I'd love to be able to offer that service as well. Hopefully he will reply in this thread with tips/pointers for getting results like that

 

[jeff79]

There are many different ways to go about cleaning/restoring leather. Varying methods and techniques can often times produce the same results.

I like to use a steam cleaner with a towel wrapped around the brush nozzle attachment. Heating up the leather with steam opens up pores and allows for easy lifting of dirt particles. Is a steam cleaner always necessary for cleaning leather? No. Can it be a useful tool? You bet.

Using a designated leather cleaner or interior cleaner with a leather brush/scrub pad will usually remove contamination from the material fairly easily. After scrubbing I like to wipe down with a microfiber towel, inspect my results, and repeat cleaning if necessary. I've also used diluted APC to help loosen up and lift dirt out of leather seats/upholstery. If you're unsure of what products and method to use, try working on a small test spot in an inconspicuous area.

I also like to use scrub pads on my DA for cleaning leather.

I steamed the material with a towel on the brush attachment and continued cleaning with Pinnacle leather/vinyl cleaner and a 3 inch Griot's Garage yellow scrub pad (on a Porter Cable 7424).

Don't forget to use a leather protectant/conditioner after cleaning.

I'm sure you will get more helpful replies from others with different cleaning methods and products. Hopefully you'll find a technique that works for you!

awsome picture. looks like you got a pretty solid system down already if you can continuously get results like that. im def gonna be picking up some pinnicle leather cleaner this week.

just wondering what type of steamer you use/reccomend because there are alot of different options on the market. Also what do you typically charge per job and how long does the work usually take you?