A leather jacket has long been a basic element of men's and women's wardrobe, along with a white shirt or jeans. Such a thing is practical, versatile, elegant, comfortable. But despite the durability and wear resistance of natural material, over time, scuffs appear on the sleeves and collar of outerwear, the pocket area becomes covered with microcracks and scratches. To return the product to a presentable appearance, it is not necessary to resort to expensive help from specialists. High-quality paint for a leather jacket and careful study of the instructions for its use will help to cope with the task. The range of paints today is unusually wide, it is worth choosing a suitable option with an eye on the degree of wear of the clothes, the expected working conditions, the availability of auxiliary tools.
Varieties
There are several types of paint for leather jackets. They differ in the main base substance, form of release, color palette. Each type has strengths and weaknesses that should be taken into account before choosing.
| Variety | Peculiarities | Advantages | Flaws |
| Aerosol | Spread evenly. Two to three thin layers are required. Dries in a few hours, depending on the composition (in some cases - in 1-3, in others - in 5-6 hours) | Excellent absorption, large selection of colors. Convenient to use. No need for additional materials such as brushes, sponges | Mandatory use of a respirator mask, gloves, the need to protect the environment from paint splashes using polyethylene film or work outdoors |
| Liquid | The best leather paint for home use. Apply the composition in a thin layer | Dries in 2 hours | It is essential to have a soft sponge and protective gloves. |
| Powder | Dissolve in water, according to the instructions, then heat the mixture to 95 degrees. After it cools to 45°, the jacket is completely immersed in the liquid and kept in it for a certain period of time. | Uniformity of coloring | Requires preliminary preparation of the paint composition. Less durability compared to the aerosol type |
| Creamy | They come in tubes and look like a thick paste. | Fast absorption, deep penetration | It is not always convenient to squeeze out the product, especially when it runs out |
In order to refresh the color in places, eliminate existing minor defects, you can paint the product with a liquid composition, using a tube with a foam tip. This is the best option for spot local treatment. It is worth understanding that it is quite difficult to choose a color that will be identical to the tone on the jacket. To get rid of scuffs, remove scratches, you can use a creamy product based on oil or water. The first will make the surface of the jacket denser and harder, and the second, in turn, will soften the texture of the leather and preserve its natural properties. To remove scratches and scuffs, it is enough to carry out the treatment 2 times. If you need to completely paint the outerwear, it is better to use aerosol or powder compositions.
Methods of coloring
How to dye a leather jacket so that its color becomes rich again is a question that many owners of this versatile outerwear ask themselves. There are 2 options for coloring - superficial and deep. The first involves applying the composition only to the outer side, when the leather is partially wetted. For surface painting, any suitable agent is used, depending on the general condition of the natural material.
Surface painting of leather items consists of the following mandatory stages:
- degreasing with acetone;
- applying dye in two or three layers;
- drying.
When using the deep dyeing method for leather jackets, the surface of the item must be completely saturated with the composition. The item must be soaked in a basin with a coloring pigment for the period of time recommended by the manufacturer, and then fixed to a wooden furniture board for drying. Sometimes it is necessary to use compositions that help fix the paint and fat impregnation.
When using the deep method, it is important to constantly turn the jacket over in the water to avoid the appearance of lighter, weakly colored areas.
How to prepare the product for processing
Before you start painting, you need to prepare the leather jacket - remove dirt, degrease the surface. If the leather is just dusty, you can wipe it with a damp cloth. Using glycerin-based soap mixed with water, you can get rid of a greasy stain on a sleeve or collar. In the case of hardened dirt, a warm soap solution made from ordinary laundry soap will help. It is important to follow certain conditions:
- do not wet the skin too much, it is better to use a well-wrung out cloth;
- clean the surface thoroughly, making sure that not a single fold is missed;
- rinse off the soap with a clean sponge and water;
- For drying, choose places away from sunlight and radiators, otherwise the clothes will dry too quickly, take on the wrong shape, and become rough.
Before you paint a leather jacket at home, you need to make sure that it is completely dry after pre-treatment.
Coloring algorithm
First, you should put the jacket on a mannequin or hangers. To prevent the leather from hanging in folds, you can place old towels under the shoulders, back, and collar. Painting on a horizontal plane is also acceptable, but it is not always convenient.
How to dye a black or any other jacket step by step:
- soak a cotton swab in acetone mixed with water or alcohol and wipe the surface of the product - this will help remove the protective wax;
- Using a brush, lubricate the skin with a gelatin solution: dilute a tablespoon of powder in 250 ml of cold water, heat to dissolve the crystals;
- leave for 30 minutes, in the meantime preparing the paint mixture;
- Apply paint first to the most worn areas, and then to the entire surface.
It is important to carefully paint the seams on the sleeves, collar, and around the fasteners.
It is better if the painting of a leather jacket takes place at +16–20 degrees and normal air humidity – no more than 75%. It is recommended to open the windows in the room, the lighting should be bright.
Each type of leather jacket paint, black, brown or white, has its own nuances of use.
| Means | How to apply correctly |
| Sprays | Hang the product on a hanger, spray the composition over the entire surface of the leather in one even layer from a distance of 28–32 cm. Let the paint soak in. Then wipe the surface of the jacket with a soft cloth. |
| Liquid compositions | Dilute the mixture with water in a basin. Dip the product into the coloring pigment, make sure it is evenly saturated with it on each side. After coloring, treat the surface of the jacket with a solution of warm water, vinegar and table salt |
| Creamy substances | Squeeze the paint onto the sponge and treat the entire jacket. Wait until the substance is completely absorbed and the surface of the leather becomes dry. |
| Powder dye | Before work, dilute the substance in water at 35-40 degrees, transfer to a large container, add 2 liters of water and boil. When the composition cools to a temperature of 40-45 degrees, lower the jacket into the container. To paint it black (or any other color), be sure to turn the product over several times. After the required time has passed, remove the jacket from the solution, squeeze out the moisture and rinse with clean water. |
Drying time is individual, approximately it is indicated in the instructions compiled by the paint manufacturer. It is forbidden to use a hair dryer or any other electric heating devices to speed up the process. Drying should take place in natural conditions.
Useful tips
It is quite difficult to repaint a leather product in a different color at home; it is better to use the services of specialists. But it is quite possible to restore the previous shade of the jacket yourself. Alternatively, you can use tinting. In any case, before painting a jacket at home, it is important not to forget about the need to test the selected composition on a small, inconspicuous piece of leather, for example, under the armpit.
Synthetic fibers do not lend themselves well to tinting.
If paint gets on a person's skin during work, it should be washed off immediately with warm water and soap. If the product gets into the eyes or mucous membranes, it is necessary to wash the affected areas with plenty of water as quickly as possible, and to avoid negative consequences, consult a doctor.
To minimize harm to health, work must be carried out with nitrile gloves and a protective mask. It is equally important to monitor the ventilation of the room. It should not be forgotten that many degreasing agents are flammable, so when using them, it is forbidden to smoke or be near fire sources.
Top producers
Among the well-established brands are:
- Saphir — paint is efficient, economical, safe for the skin and health of the user. Forms of release are varied — sprays, liquid compositions, bottles with an applicator.
- Le Tech — paint is suitable for both minor damage repair and complete jacket restoration. It is wear-resistant and easy to apply by hand or spray.
- Salamander — any composition is characterized by high durability, color saturation, and tone correspondence to the description. A pleasant bonus is the affordable cost of coloring pigments.
- Sitil — the product will easily dye a leather jacket at home, restore its color and shine. Suitable for all types of leather.
- Fiebing's - paints from this company are made with alcohol, are easily absorbed, and are available in 29 colors.
When choosing a product of any brand, you need to make sure that it is intended specifically for dyeing leather. When using the substance, it is important to strictly follow the instructions, taking into account all recommendations and warnings from the manufacturer.
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