Accumulator
Well-known member
John U- I love it that you and I are on the same page about discussing, let alone *asking* about, what somebody`s [something] cost!
What does everyone use to protect leather ?
- Thread starter Striker
- Start date
John U
Member
It`s even on websites.... I got a few Rolls Royce owners twisted up on that site. Inconsiderate posters being forward about their need to know. Many are car flippers and do you expect them to tell you exactly what they paid for a car they are reselling..... dumb.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Gee, RR owners asking about the cost of...somebody else`s anything?!? Sounds like the wrong demographic for those cars but eh...elitist ol` me
John U
Member
Gee, RR owners asking about the cost of...somebody else`s anything?!? Sounds like the wrong demographic for those cars but eh...elitist ol` me
You can buy nice RR`s for $20K. Less if you want a "mess". Their forum consists of hands on owners who turn their own wrenches...very interesting information is found out, just like here!
The cost of membership is made up for quickly by the complimentary tickets I get for the Scottsdale car auctions in January and Mecum in March. The monthly magazine is a very nice "read".
Accumulator
Well-known member
John U- Heh heh, if they weren`t so problematic, I`d probably have had an older one by now..but for somebody who`s not gonna DIY much and who has zero local experts, well...nah 
I found out about this product line from Kano Laboratories, Inc. located in Nashville, TN. They had an advertisement in a trade magazine (what`s that?)"Design News" I received as a CAD Technician in Mechanical Design in the early 80`s. Used a lot of their products for my "shade tree" mechanics. Not cheap, but their fore-mentioned Kroil are one of the few penetrating oils rust-busters that actually "work" when "other" products fail. It is one of those products that every mechanic should have in their tool box, especially up here in the upper Midwest where salt corrosion rusts all external fasteners and nuts. They are invaluable for removing rusted-on lug nuts on axle studs and rims on disc brake hubs.
They also make a very good cleaner/degreaser called Floway and its claim-to-fame is does not affect electrical devices or eat plastic.
Another product they make is Prevox Rust Preventative and Lubricant. This is what a paper converting machine company I worked for would spray on replacement/spare parts or machines that were being shipped overseas to humid climates to prevent rust. Easy to remove with mineral spirits and did not interfere with paint or plastics integrity. Not sure if this would work in cars driven in salty winter climates.
Thanks to those, Guz in particular, who responded about using Colourlock leather-care products Not sure if this a hidden gem in leather-care and we all just need more experiences and information about this leather-care line.
The Guz
Mike
I haven`t used the sonax conditionr but you should be fine continuing to use it. You may want to check out the colourlock system. I have been using them for a few months and they are really nice.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Striker- It wouldn`t surprise me if you simply have to try something on the leather in question to find out whether/not that something softens it.
While I`ve softened up stiff-as-cardboard (coated) leather with "conditioner" products, that doesn`t convince me that it`d work for *everybody*. But since it *has* worked so well for me, trying various things until you (with any luck) find something that works might be worthwhile, and I wouldn`t necessarily give up if the first [however many] don`t work.
While I`ve softened up stiff-as-cardboard (coated) leather with "conditioner" products, that doesn`t convince me that it`d work for *everybody*. But since it *has* worked so well for me, trying various things until you (with any luck) find something that works might be worthwhile, and I wouldn`t necessarily give up if the first [however many] don`t work.
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
Leather care....the most widely overthought and incorrectly executed practice in the car care world. Keep things simple by keeping things clean. Unless you’re dealing with the hide itself, you really only should be using a mild leather safe cleaner to periodically deep clean the surface and giving it a regular damp towel wipe down to maintain its cleanliness. The biggest errors in leather care is not flushing away the residual chemicals and loosened soiling left behind on the surface after cleaning. The other is the use of a conditioner and/or oil.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Gee, you`re lucky! While I absolutely agree with David Fermani about "just keep it clean", when leather goes from stiff-as-cardboard to soft/supple it can really make ya feel like you`ve accomplished something. At least that`s one upside to buying vehicles with issues, most any improvement is pretty satisfying. Spending forever doing that stuff to the good cars that didn`t really *need* it? Eh, not so much satisfaction there...
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
I agree with you too. I love and use conditioners. Especially Zaino Z9 & 10. I actually use them on my client’s private Porsche collection as well as my wife’s Cayenne. The smell
softness/feel and darkening effect is really awesome (satisfying). But (and that’s a huge BUT!) it requires constant upkeep so that it doesn’t become counterproductive by attracting resoiling. As long as you’re constantly cleaning and refreshing the surface with more light cleaning/protecting it can be a wonderful outcome.
The Guz
Mike
They make it feel like how leather should feel if that makes sense. The guys at colourlock have done their homework and I would take the word of them given that leather is their specialty.
The Guz
Mike
I have not.
Accumulator
Well-known member
David Fermani- Hey, that`s interesting! My experience with the ones I use was, luckily, different in that I didn`t have to constantly redo `em. I "condition" (couldn`t resist those scare-quotes since people say it can`t happen on coated stuff 
) the leather in the Tahoe and `93 Audi maybe every four/five *years* and often think "that didn`t need doing".
No, I don`t expect others to have that experience too, just another case of where I`ll count my lucky stars and figure that YMMV.
Oh, and heh heh...I make this Leather Care stuff hard enough on myself already in that I simply can`t *stand* my vehicles smelling like luggage shops/leather care products (I want them to smell like they did when new...yeah, even after so many years and all that dog-hauling ).
) the leather in the Tahoe and `93 Audi maybe every four/five *years* and often think "that didn`t need doing".No, I don`t expect others to have that experience too, just another case of where I`ll count my lucky stars and figure that YMMV.
Oh, and heh heh...I make this Leather Care stuff hard enough on myself already in that I simply can`t *stand* my vehicles smelling like luggage shops/leather care products (I want them to smell like they did when new...yeah, even after so many years and all that dog-hauling
).