Handbag finish

[NewbieHobbyist]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and recently started learning to renovate vintage leather handbags, mostly just learning to redye and fix minor cracks and scratches.  

A friend gave me her old handbag to restore. I was able to get it looking almost like new by using Fiebings deglazer and then a coat of Saphir deep black Teinture Francaise, followed by a coat of Saphir black Juvacuir, followed by a coat of Saphir Canadian (black).

I'm not sure what to do now. It looks great but there is still ruboff even though I buffed. I'd like to give it some kind of really durable top coat that would seal everything in and prevent any ruboff, especially on the handles.

I have some black Fiebings resolene, would that help? I'm afraid of how it would mix with the previous layers. I've used it before but not on top of all these waxy products and don't want to ruin her bag (or have to start over!).

I also have some Baranne clear waterproofing spray, would that be enough to seal in the color? 

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Edited October 22 by NewbieHobbyist

[NewbieHobbyist]

Update in case it can help someone else:

I tried the Baranne waterproofing spray on the underside of the bag and it was a disaster. Stripped off the underlying Saphir layer and dug into scratches I had concealed. I have to do the whole underside again now.

I'm so glad I only did this on the underside and not the whole bag. Clearly, this was NOT the answer. Still not sure what to do but definitely not this.

[toxo]

18 hours ago, NewbieHobbyist said:

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and recently started learning to renovate vintage leather handbags, mostly just learning to redye and fix minor cracks and scratches.  

A friend gave me her old handbag to restore. I was able to get it looking almost like new by using Fiebings deglazer and then a coat of Saphir deep black Teinture Francaise, followed by a coat of Saphir black Juvacuir, followed by a coat of Saphir Canadian (black).

I'm not sure what to do now. It looks great but there is still ruboff even though I buffed. I'd like to give it some kind of really durable top coat that would seal everything in and prevent any ruboff, especially on the handles.

I have some black Fiebings resolene, would that help? I'm afraid of how it would mix with the previous layers. I've used it before but not on top of all these waxy products and don't want to ruin her bag (or have to start over!).

I also have some Baranne clear waterproofing spray, would that be enough to seal in the color? 

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

I haven't used any of these products except Resolene which I find works very well. Diluted 50/50 with water looks terrible when applying but magically evens out and leaves a glossy shine (I use white Resolene). Two coats is even better.  No idea how it would react with the products you mention. But as you already have some I would be inclined to give it another go. Maybe there's a difference between the white and the brown? Didn't know they did it in brown, every day is a school day, the white dries clear anyway, IIRC Ian Atkinson (Leodis) has a video on waterproof coatings and Resolene came out on top.

Edited October 23 by toxo

[Dwight]

I mix white resolene with water 50/50 . . . and put it on with a 1 inch . . . cheap . . . bristle brush.  I put on enough so that as I scrub the brush around it creates a little bubbly lather . . . then I just keep brushing . . . left right up down etc . . . until the bubbles are all gone.

For just getting it "rub off proof" . . . one coat is plenty.

Successive coats will make the product stiff . . . but 2 to 3 coats makes it darn near waterproof . . . 

I  use it on holsters . . . and belts . . . have never had a "ruboff" complaint.

Just be a tad careful going over any antiquing . . . make sure it is 100% fully and positively dry . . . then use a bit of care like I said.  It can dissolve some antiquing . . . but won't if you are careful.

May God bless,

Dwight

[NewbieHobbyist]

Thanks so much to both of you!

I just reapplied the Juvacuir and am waiting for that to dry down completely, then I'll try the 50/50 resolene following your advice. I hope it'll do the trick!

I'll have a look at the Leodis video as well! I have so much to learn... Thanks again!

[Mablung]

Do you have some scrap leather of similar composition to the bag's leather (i.e., chrome tan, veg tan, etc.)?  You could try using the various creams and different topcoats on scrap to see what will work, without having to redo portions of the bag.