azrider Report post Posted May 22, 2009 I did a seat on my motorcycle that I finished in March. Have a few miles on it now, and have learned a few things for the next seat I do. 1) Fiebings spay sheen is not good for things (like seats) that flex a lot. 2) Skidmore's Leather cream will fill in and make the cracks from the spray on acrylic look better. 3) High gloss finishes look great, but with no sissy bar on the passenger pylon and a tendency to grab whole fist full of throttle coming off lights, they can be a little slick for the passenger... So one thing I have noticed is that the Fiebings antique I used for color has faded quite a bit. Is this just from sunlight? It isn't rubbing off on me, and in fact the worst fading is on the passenger pylon, which my wife has only been on twice. Has anyone else seen this? Is it from the sunlight? Any way to prevent it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Report post Posted May 22, 2009 Actually it IS rubbing off on you.... you just don't notice it that much if you used brown antique paste. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted May 22, 2009 Actually it IS rubbing off on you.... you just don't notice it that much if you used brown antique paste.Dave LOL funny! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azrider Report post Posted May 23, 2009 I will get a picture tomorrow of the seat. I thought it was rub off, but the areas where it is fading the most are not seating areas. Any idea of how to prevent it? Topcoat or dressing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Report post Posted May 23, 2009 (edited) I will get a picture tomorrow of the seat. I thought it was rub off, but the areas where it is fading the most are not seating areas. Any idea of how to prevent it? Topcoat or dressing? The rub-off (called crocking by many) happens with all the leather dyes to one extent or another.... black is the worst offender... the others are much less noticeable... my only suggestions are as follows.... deglaze the seat. try redyeing the seat and then after a couple days, rub in neat lac or saddle lac. This is a laquer top coat so apply it thinly and rub it in. It will help immensly in keeping the color where it belongs. The only SURE cure that I know of is to talk customers out of a black seat. David Edited May 23, 2009 by David Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MADMAX22 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 The rub-off (called crocking by many) happens with all the leather dyes to one extent or another.... black is the worst offender... the others are much less noticeable... my only suggestions are as follows.... deglaze the seat. try redyeing the seat and then after a couple days, rub in neat lac or saddle lac. This is a laquer top coat so apply it thinly and rub it in. It will help immensly in keeping the color where it belongs.The only SURE cure that I know of is to talk customers out of a black seat. David Hey David was wondering have you ever tried the Bicks 4 mixed with the black? I have heard of it being mentioned with dying, I think it was RDB that talked about it and said it worked really well to prevent the croaking. I was thinking about ordering some to try it out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Report post Posted May 23, 2009 Hey David was wondering have you ever tried the Bicks 4 mixed with the black? I have heard of it being mentioned with dying, I think it was RDB that talked about it and said it worked really well to prevent the croaking. I was thinking about ordering some to try it out. Max, I have not tried mixing Bicks 4 with the dye....Not sure what Bicks 4 is. I'm using a spirit dye not the new acrylic stuff. David Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hidepounder Report post Posted May 24, 2009 The rub-off (called crocking by many) happens with all the leather dyes to one extent or another.... black is the worst offender... the others are much less noticeable... my only suggestions are as follows.... deglaze the seat. try redyeing the seat and then after a couple days, rub in neat lac or saddle lac. This is a laquer top coat so apply it thinly and rub it in. It will help immensly in keeping the color where it belongs.The only SURE cure that I know of is to talk customers out of a black seat. David David, Ounce a black seat has been treated with Neat-Lac and wears a while....where the top coat essentially wears off...will the black then continue to bleed or rub off? Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MADMAX22 Report post Posted May 24, 2009 (edited) after all these years I've NEVER had an order for a black item. That is until my best customer(my wife) handed me a 1 1/4" belt and asked if I would make her a new one and black. I've been reading about vinegaroon here for what seems like years and wanted to let you all know what I found. With NO BLACK experience, I resorted to my old routine of mixing with Bicks #4. and guess what?I mixed Bick's with USMC black, 50-50, put it on with a paper towel, painted on straight USMC black with the same towel, then a coat of straight Bick's with the paper towel. Took about 3 minutes to complete the entire belt, (no waiting between treatments) and I got a great looking belt that stayed black(not purple), didn't rub off, and felt totally smooth . Hope this helps some of you in your quest for BLACK projects. pete This is how I heard about it was from Petes post. I beleive springfeild leather carries it, not sure if this would be applicable to seats as well. Max,I have not tried mixing Bicks 4 with the dye....Not sure what Bicks 4 is. I'm using a spirit dye not the new acrylic stuff. David Edited May 24, 2009 by MADMAX22 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Report post Posted May 24, 2009 David,Ounce a black seat has been treated with Neat-Lac and wears a while....where the top coat essentially wears off...will the black then continue to bleed or rub off? Bob Hidepounder, If the neatlac is applied correctly....rubbed in and not sprayed on..... it should be part of the leather and not allow the black to rub off. If it is put on too thick, it will wear off or crack off and then... who knows. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
