Junebug
JAFO
Mystery solved - I just hope Judy comes back with some product choices.
"Protected" Leather recommendations
- Thread starter reggie11
- Start date
Could it be....???
Leather Upholstery CareCobblestone Cottage, Bishop Monkton,
Harrogate, HG3 3QN
01765 676906
About Us: Specialist cleaning and restoration for furniture and car upholstery.
Specialist Services: We only work with leather.
Services Offered: We provide a specialist cleaning and restoration service for leather furniture and car upholstery.A full range of work is carried out from routine clean/protection through to full colour restoration of older leather.We work with all leather types - aniline , pigmented , antique finishes, waxed and pull-up.
Leather Upholstery CareCobblestone Cottage, Bishop Monkton,
Harrogate, HG3 3QN
01765 676906
About Us: Specialist cleaning and restoration for furniture and car upholstery.
Specialist Services: We only work with leather.
Services Offered: We provide a specialist cleaning and restoration service for leather furniture and car upholstery.A full range of work is carried out from routine clean/protection through to full colour restoration of older leather.We work with all leather types - aniline , pigmented , antique finishes, waxed and pull-up.
judyb
New member
No although we know Nick well.
jayjacque
You WILL like my work!
You guys who are so impressed by the perceived knowledge...
Sorry I'm still not impressed. It's something about the "all conditioners do nothing, but there are products out there that do" quotes (by implication "ours") because we call it by another name (leather protection). One of the biggest tip-offs for me was her putting Leatherique in the same "doesn't do anything for leather and may even damage it" category. So many have proved that false it isn't funny anymore. This is an old subject that still gets under my skin once in awhile because there's always ones who believe this c _ _ p. Well I won't say the word, you can fill in the blank.
Sorry I'm still not impressed. It's something about the "all conditioners do nothing, but there are products out there that do" quotes (by implication "ours") because we call it by another name (leather protection). One of the biggest tip-offs for me was her putting Leatherique in the same "doesn't do anything for leather and may even damage it" category. So many have proved that false it isn't funny anymore. This is an old subject that still gets under my skin once in awhile because there's always ones who believe this c _ _ p. Well I won't say the word, you can fill in the blank.
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
jayjacque said:
Can you or ANYONE disprove 1 thing judyb has written? I think people get annoyed with her because they can't find a hole in her statements. So what if she's not posting/spamming products. Would you rather have her do that? I don't think there's another person on this (or any other detailing forum) that adds nothing but knowledgeable information about 1 thing (leather care) for us to digest. She's done nothing but give great, professional advise. And, I don't think she's trying to come off to impress anyone either; just educate in a down to earth fashion.
imported_Grouse
New member
David Fermani said:
Exactly even with having done LM's training back in the 90's and IICRC training this last year. For the most part Judy is giving correct and valid information. She (IMHO) is leaving out why and what a lot though. That might be because of who she works for, or because of trying to keep it simple and concise.
LM is the most prevalent quality product line in NA, It will make little sense for anyone to try and order Frachisi (sp) or The UK line and import it to here. The gains versus the costs will be minimal. Outside the US, UK/new zealand/Aus or mainland Eruope The cost would not be so prohibitive.
I have been harping on the bad leather care practices used by detailers for 3 years now. Finally Leather is getting some of the attention it deserves.
imported_Grouse
New member
jayjacque said:
Not to be rude, but how much training and understanding do you have in modern day leathers that are used for auto, boat, and home upholstery. For that matter what do you know about the vinyls that are often used in conjunction with modern day leathers. What trainings have you attended. What are you basing your statements on? Simply put you are quoting anecdotal evidence that is countered by the scientific Fact of what the leather tanneries have put together for Cleaning and Repair specialists. before you give Judyb a hard time and start defending a product line, please take the time to educate yourself about modern leathers, modern cleaning processes, and Product and Process that were built around tack leather, Solvent based protected leather, wax/oil pull ups, suede and nubuck, water based protected, By-cast /tri cast, Aniline, and Semi aniline (protected). Then please tell me what leatherique was originally meant to clean.
The fact of the matter is, while i may disagree on choice of product lines with Judyb for the majority of NA under the majority of the situations seen by detailers. She as far as I can tell not lied, given false information, or lead people astray by insinuation. Simply put she has done her best to give accurate and factual information about modern day leathers.
jayjacque
You WILL like my work!
I'm not a chemist, but have worked with vinyl and leather for nearly 30 yrs. now. I do repair / re-dye for a living. As for the research, we've done a fair amount of that especially in the last several yrs, just trying to study it out, not scientific tests. It's quite overwhelming and many companies are biased about "their product" being the best. Sorry if I got some riled up. I'm not trying to be an expert, just saying many of the conditioners on the market, if you don't expect them to work miracles, accomplish just a basic hydration and slight protection for a period of time. As for the premise that none get through finished leather is just not true. I've seen it with my own eyes, usually not dramatically, but nonetheless it does get through to a degree. Some leather techs use conditioners for softening and hydration (with heat) as a preparation before dyeing.
To someone's question about which ones I recommend, I guess it just goes to whatever seems to work for you for your situation. To be honest I have probably only used about 6 or 7, maybe 8 if you count the oddball brand and found a few that work for me in my situations, one called Soffener put out by Color Plus (a rejuvenator) and I've got some Griot's, mostly to sell to customers and I think some leftover Meguiar's just for general stuff. Most of what I've used was close to the same, except some have a little easier application and a few have a little more shine.
To someone's question about which ones I recommend, I guess it just goes to whatever seems to work for you for your situation. To be honest I have probably only used about 6 or 7, maybe 8 if you count the oddball brand and found a few that work for me in my situations, one called Soffener put out by Color Plus (a rejuvenator) and I've got some Griot's, mostly to sell to customers and I think some leftover Meguiar's just for general stuff. Most of what I've used was close to the same, except some have a little easier application and a few have a little more shine.
wannafbody
wannafbody
Well, it may be because my TA has cheap leather but it has shrunk a bit over the years. How do I know-easy-the sides of the seats are vinyl and they are puckered where they are stitched to the leather. So some auto leather does shrink and harden over time. IMO some leather conditions soften the leather slightly but it seems to be short lived.
stiffdogg06
New member
David Fermani said:
Agreed. I love the information she provides. If and when I do have leather in my vehicle I want to have the best regiment to provide the leather with the utmost care possible.
* When thinking of leather, I always think about the scene in Bad Boyz II where Marcus goes. "You ever just rub your leather?" When he is drugged up on Ecstasy. At least I think he talks about the leather.
The solution then is both simple and complex 
We just need to do a leather "protectant/conditioner" product test that can be published. In another post, it was recommended to use something called "scratch" leather. Maybe just go to the junk yard, pick up some leather seat, cut it up, sand paper off the coating, and go from there. A control would be important. I'm traveling a lot for work through the end of the year, but 2009 should free up for me, might give it a try then.
We just need to do a leather "protectant/conditioner" product test that can be published. In another post, it was recommended to use something called "scratch" leather. Maybe just go to the junk yard, pick up some leather seat, cut it up, sand paper off the coating, and go from there. A control would be important. I'm traveling a lot for work through the end of the year, but 2009 should free up for me, might give it a try then.
judyb
New member
Removing coating from a used leather will not give the correct results as it has already been finished. It is important to use 'crust' leather. This is the leather that has been through the tanning process has been retanned and generally dyed with aniline dye. It is at this stage that they would decide the finishing process to use on the leather so at this stage the leather all has a fairly uniform surface which can be used for testing. Crust leather will 'scratch' easily so maybe that is where the confussion comes from. Crust leather can be identified by its ability to absorb moisture, scratch and if examined under a microscope you would be able to see the hair follicles in the leather.
Products that prove to work on crust leather will work the same on finished leather as it is the product you are testing not the leather.
Magnified image of crust leather
Products that prove to work on crust leather will work the same on finished leather as it is the product you are testing not the leather.
Magnified image of crust leather
judyb said:
Judy
Do you know where one can get a sample of crust leather to sample? If I read the above correctly you are saying if a conditioner works on crust leather it will work on protected leather? If that is the case I am confused because I thought it was the clearcoat that is affected by the conditioner and not the leather?
So....what's wrong with using Sonus Conditioner? I used it yesterday and it looks great/felt great on my Infinity G37. It's water based so, can someone please tell me if it is, in fact, detrimental in any way to use and why? I'm an noo, just trying to figure it all out...yhanks!
siperwrx said:
You have seen good results from Sonus on your G? I have an 03 so maybe the leather is different. All I know is it seems my leather is drier and more wrinkled then it was before I used Sous.
How are you apply it to the leather and how frequently? I have applied it twice in the last 4 months.
judyb
New member
We use crust leather to test protection values because crust leather has no other surface finish applied therfore the only thing that can afffect the degree of penetration into the leather is the product that has been applied to it. The reason we do our tests on crust leather is that it is impossible to verify any finish that may have been applied to a finished leather, this factor would introduce inconsistencies into our testing.
For the pendantic out there, there will be a slight discrepency between crust hides but it is the closest to a consistent leather sample that we are able to obtain.
If a protector inhibits oils from absorbing into a crust leather then it will protect the finsh on a leather in the same way.
For the pendantic out there, there will be a slight discrepency between crust hides but it is the closest to a consistent leather sample that we are able to obtain.
If a protector inhibits oils from absorbing into a crust leather then it will protect the finsh on a leather in the same way.