Removing ink stains

[LatigoAmigo]

"nuff said.

[Silverd]

Id like to see an example of an ink stain in leather (vegtan) removed successfully.   I would be very impressed.

 

Silverd

[sbrownn]

It seems like it would take some airbrush/dye blending.

 

[RobP]

How about adding something like this to both corners. maybe cut from  distressed leather?

[afssfA]

It seems like it would take some airbrush/dye blending.

[JohnnyLongpants]

On 5/28/2021 at 7:16 PM, Silverd said:

Id like to see an example of an ink stain in leather (vegtan) removed successfully.   I would be very impressed.

 

Silverd

On finished leather (i.e. any commercial good), you can get respectable results.  Attached is a piece of veg tan  that I wrote two Sharpie permanent marker squiggles on, then removed one.  I had to adjust the light so you can see that there is still a bit of a shadow where the first one was.  I actually had to write the second squiggle again because I got a little to eager with the spot remover.  The arrow points to where the first squiggle was.

This leather was not pre-finished from the tannery.  I haven't touched it in months but all it had was some Lexol and one of the Fiebing's products we all use.  Tan-Kote, maybe?

On unfinished veg tan, I agree with you it is so porous and dry, it absorbs very easily and won't let go.  Heck, even water can stain it.  Of course, not all inks are the same, either.  The best I have seen on plain veg tan is taking the ink from black to gray, but the marks were still visible at a distance.  (Hopefully, no one here is trying to sell finished leather goods made out of unfinished veg tan).

I don't want to overstate it, so I'll be clear: this wouldn't work if someone spilled quality fountain pen ink on a brand new side of unfinished veg tan, but it can help someone who gets a mark on a saddle, briefcase, wallet, or shoe.  I think OP wouldn't do terrible to invest a few dollars and try a quality spot remover.

If spot remover doesn't lighten it adequately (hopefully this is not one of those Uni-ball pens with the anti-check washing ink), plan B is going to be live with it, and plan C could be to sew on a patch. :-)

Cheers,

-JohnnyLongpants

Edited June 5, 2021 by JohnnyLongpants

[toxo]

On 5/10/2021 at 11:39 PM, americandreaming said:

Does anybody please have advice as to removing or at least lightening the super strong ink stains in the attached photograph?

Many thanks

 

My first thought was the old cigarette burn on the carpet trick of taking the burn out with a hole punch (A sharpened piece of plumbing pipe for non leatherworkers) and replacing it with an identicle piece from behind the sofa. Wouldn't work here unless you had another piece of leather with the same patina.

It looks like it might be a dopp bag. If so maybe a couple of antique brass air holes (grommets) with the same in the corresponding corner.

[JohnnyLongpants]

6 hours ago, toxo said:

My first thought was the old cigarette burn on the carpet trick of taking the burn out with a hole punch (A sharpened piece of plumbing pipe for non leatherworkers) and replacing it with an identicle piece from behind the sofa. Wouldn't work here unless you had another piece of leather with the same patina.

It looks like it might be a dopp bag. If so maybe a couple of antique brass air holes (grommets) with the same in the corresponding corner.

That 'cigarette burn' trick is a pretty slick idea.

I agree that putting a couple of grommets (and possibly, matching ones on the right side) could be a pretty elegant solution.  No one but the original owner would know anything had been repaired.

Edited June 5, 2021 by JohnnyLongpants