How to Seal Leather

[XKE]

First, let me state that I know nothing about leather, except real leather is derived from animals (I think).  Second, I have tried to get this question answered with Google searches, no joy.

My question involves a factory off white/egg shell colored leather covered auto steering wheel.  A couple of areas have appreciably darkened, in areas that get the most hand contact,.  I have cleaned the wheel with commonly recommended methods, but the dark areas remain.  The non darkened areas feel smooth and are some what shiny, the dark areas feel somewhat "fuzzy"  and appear dull.  I conjecture that the leather was was protected with a sealant of some sort, and long term handling has worn through the sealant.  I have been able to return the dark areas to the off white color by lightly sanding, and tried applying a sealant (Resolene) which immediately darkened the leather.

My questions are is my conjecture regarding sealant correct, and if so can the leather be resealed with out altering the color?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Rod

[chrisash]

I imagine most car makers apart from maybe the top end, use chrome leather which will bend around the wheel nice and easy, The trouble is that once the grease from your hands sink in it turns darker and sandpaper will just rub the surface skin off and leave the furry body of the leather showing. No treatment will rectify that

In England you can buy new leather coverings which comes with the leather and also half the sewing in place so you just follow the instructions and basically lop the thread through the hoops supplied and pull tight. hard to explain but imagine a row of stitches already sewn. you then just put the new thread under the old threads on each side and pull together

Lot cheaper than a replacement wheel

Edited August 22, 2018 by chrisash

[johnv474]

The dark areas are probably just oils and dirt from your hands.  The sanding removed that, and some of the materials, and took smooth leather and made it fuzzier.  Surely it had some sort of sealant or coating originally.

Save yourself the fuss and just buy one of those kits that are used for changing the color of shoes.  Find a shoe repair shop and ask.  You want a surface coating type of dye (think: paint), not a soak-in type of dye.  Pick the color that is closest, and follow the instructions.  Then buy a clearcoat such as acrylic resolene.

Angelus is one brand that makes these types of paint products and Tarrago Self Shone Shoe Dye kits are the ones I had in mind.  Wood-n-Stuff also makes a product called Leather Refinish that works well.  Any of these are easy enough to touch up if they get dirty in the future.