myyellowc4

Dyed the seats yesterday, very happy with the results, needs another coat today then leather conditioner goes on tomorrow.

Pics of the seats before, cracked, faded and graying.


After the first application of dye.

MyFirst90coupe

Looks good. What dye are you using?

mmercer

I'd like to know what you used also - as well as cost if you don't mind. Thanks, great results.

anciano

I'd like to know, too -- don't keep us in suspense.

In fact, a complete description of the process would be welcome. Or if you want to come over and do mine, that would be OK, too.

myyellowc4

lol, I know I am going to catch some slack for this one....

I used KIWI Leather Dye intended for Shoe Dying.

$3 with tax at wal-mart, enough to do 4 seats in total or in my case 2 applications on the drivers and passengers seat.

I read up on this ahead of time and many people have raved about the results.

Took me about 2 hours total to do both seats.

It is best to remove the seats so that you can get around the corners, I managed to do it with only removing the seat bottoms.

The Kiwi Leather Dye comes in a little bottle with a sponge applicator, simply press downward to get it flowing into the sponge and rub in a circle motion to work real good into the leather. I did the seams first real heavy the continued to the smooth surface.

Keep a lint free rag handy as the dye comes out like a faucet once in a while.

It dries to the touch within an hour, however they say to leave overnight before conditioning the leather.

I sat on the seat within 4 hours of application and it did not rub off on my clothes.

I am assuming it might not last as long as most dyes however if I have to do this once a year, I will be a happy camper.

Heres a pic of the exact dye bottle.

78pacer

Ayup, that's what I use on my wing tips.
Mike

mmercer

$3 is cheaper than most of the projects i've paid for with this car...

LKN M3

Started working on my seats also....

See page 2 of the thread
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...to-life-2.html

But here is a before and almost completed after. Still have to brush the seams once more and one more spray coating.

myyellowc4

Very Nice!

cv67

SEM makes some awesome interior paints that dry with just the right finish. It will not come off in hot weather sweaty hands etc..
$15 a can at your local auto paint supply.

Hope yours holds up keep us posted on it.

myyellowc4

I think that conditioning the leather is very important as the dye most likely has properties that will increase the speed of the leather aging process.

I like using Kiwi Saddle Soap on my leather every couple months, it makes it soft and supple.

Also sold at wal-mart.

anciano

You mean FLACK. Nobody gets any SLACK around here. It's against the rules.

Is the shoe dye sweat-proof? I'd hate to get out of my convertible one hot day and find myself dyed like a Berber nomad.

myyellowc4

From what I have read it holds up great in the hot steamy weather.

I will let you know in a couple months!

BTW steady rain predicted here on Wed should wash all the salt off the roads then 55 and sunny on Thursday!!

kimmer

I used the same stuff over a year ago and it's holding up great and that includes some hot track days. I also used it on the door panels to match it up.

turbotim23

Too bad I couldn't buy a few bottles of that to spray my faded carpet with? In past on cars I wasn't too worried about I have spray canned the carpet black and then gently wire brushed it to make the carpet back to looking good again. Carpet is a little hard afterwards but wire brushing helps that. It does look a lot better. I wonder if that stuff would work better, keep the carpet softer? I might try it on a small spot under the seats to see if it would work. Thanks Tim

PLRX

Few of you know me, I say whats on my chest and that is the best cheapest mod I've seen in my life.

Your seats look great now.

It is leather dye after all, no bashing for that.

johnnymo63

Great job on the seats. The original seats in my 94 look exactly like your's did in the before pic. I need to freshen them up a bit, too.

Not meaning to hi-jack the thread, but you can die the carpet with RIT dye for clothes. (Also, at Walmart for a couple of bucks)
I used the powder mixed with water, sprayed it on. Big improvement without the hard feel of the vinyl dies on carpet.

My 84 BEFORE:



AFTER:

vettebuyer6369

Don't wear white pants in the Summer. It won't end well.

Frizlefrak

Word.

From two straight shooters.

Frizlefrak

Who in God's name wears white pants? A milkman?