Some tips on how I saved my leather seats

[Cursed Yukon]

Not sure if this has been covered or not but I figured I'd put up what I did to save my seat in my yukon. I had splits/cracks, fading, discoloration everything but a full blown rip. The products you need are color free lint free towels (trust me color free!) laquer thinner, spray nine cleaner, 600 grit sandpaper(if your rough spots warrant it) and matching color spray paint.

First thing your gonna have to do is clean the crap outta your seat one panel at a time. Do not spray the spray nine directly on the seat (it'll be harder to dye and leaves streaks trust me). After you clean the seat identify the rough areas if you have any and in one direction gently smooth it out with 600 grit sand paper (one direction! No circles!). Now the scary part but you'll make it. Use your color free towel spray a spot of spray paint that matches your leather on your towel now pour laquer thinner on the paint spot (please for obvious do this step out the car). With your spray painted towel cut with laquer thinner gently rub into one panel at a time on your seat. Once it's done and dry use your favorite leather conditioner liberally apply it allow it to dry and admire your handy work and great looking leather seat in your 10+ year old ride.

I'll post some photos as soon as I can on what I used. Hope this helps you save those seats! Feel free to ask me questions on what is needed and why.

 

[treehan77]

Does this actually fix the cracking? Or just color the cracks?

 

[Cursed Yukon]

Does this actually fix the cracking? Or just color the cracks?

Depending on how big the crack is. If they are small creased cracks kinda, you can help fill them in with a bit more spray paint on the rag still using thinner. Several passes may be required, it won't make the seat like new but the small cracks will blend much better and look more like natural creases. This process will make the leather soft again. I'll try to post my pictures up

 

[treehan77]

i watched a youtube guy does this with some red leather, it looked good. but i'd be scared my spray paint wouldn't match or something. what did you use? i have the pewter color seats. may have already been redyed, i don't know.

 

[Cursed Yukon]

i watched a youtube guy does this with some red leather, it looked good. but i'd be scared my spray paint wouldn't match or something. what did you use? i have the pewter color seats. may have already been redyed, i don't know.

You can pull the dye pretty easy if your curious on original color, just use a dab of laquer thinner in a inconspicuous spot and rub it in and it'll pull the dye out if still looks the same it hasn't been dyed. It definitely is unnerving to use spray paint on something like a leather chair but it works. If you don't like the color you picked first you can find another and try again till you get the right color. But a color free towel is key first time I ever did this I used neon green harbor freight towels and it put the green in my seat easily corrected but still a mistake lol. If your worried about pulling dye from the towel soak it in the thinner and touch with blue nitril gloves and see if it came off

 

[Tonyrodz]

Just a heads up: Paint isn't really flexible enough for leather, so it'll eventually crack and flake off. Even if it's on there lightly. Better to use some sort of dye, especially ones that are formulated for leather. Good luck.

 

[Cursed Yukon]

You are not spay painting the seat just using the paint to dye it. The leather will remain flexible. Definitely don't ever spray the seat directly it'll look like garbage and ruin it. The thinner lifts the dye and mixes the dyes in the seat with the dye in the paint. I have not had it crack on any seat nor lift when wet

 

[Dan Acosta]

This is the video from the guy on Youtube:

He has a bunch of really good videos. He has a hack for just about everything. He is a big advocate for 303 Protectant. I am too, the stuff is awesome.

 

[Tonyrodz]

This is the video from the guy on Youtube:

He has a bunch of really good videos. He has a hack for just about everything. He is a big advocate for 303 Protectant. I am too, the stuff is awesome.

I wonder how that'll hold up, say in 6 months.

 

[Dan Acosta]

I think he is just loosening the existing dye coating with the solvent and a little color and smearing it back into the cracks. Might last for a little while if it is properly conditioned. It would definitely work if you were trying to sell your truck.