Re-dying Sport Seats
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,566
Likes: 4
From: Mt Laurel NJ
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Re-dying Sport Seats
I recently picked up a set of ’94 Sport seats for my ’90 Coupe. The problem is that they are saddle, and my interior is gray, so they are the wrong color. Has anyone here re-dyed their seats? I read a procedure on Leatherique’s web site that involves sanding down the leather and then painting it w/ their dye.
http://www.leatherique.com/dyeinst.htm
Has anyone ever done this? I could not find anything in a search.
Thanks for your comments.
Randy
http://www.leatherique.com/dyeinst.htm
Has anyone ever done this? I could not find anything in a search.
Thanks for your comments.
Randy
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 735
From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Yup, I re-dyed my seats. I didn't change colors, but I redyed them back the same as original. Follow their instructions it will come out just fine.
I bought a small air brush/detail gun from Harbor Freight and sprayed on two thin coats.
Not the best pictures but here are a couple after the re-dye.
I bought a small air brush/detail gun from Harbor Freight and sprayed on two thin coats.
Not the best pictures but here are a couple after the re-dye.
Last edited by teebee; Jul 8, 2008 at 02:50 PM. Reason: Added pictures
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 735
From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Just follow the directions, it's not that difficult. Here's the gun I bought to do that job.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92126
I think I bought it in the store and it was 13.99 at that time.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92126
I think I bought it in the store and it was 13.99 at that time.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 635
Likes: 1
Hi I did it years ago. A common trick when your drivers side bucket seat was worn out was to find a good pass. seat and swap the seat brackets. Dye does wear out from rubbing on it as you slide in and out. So what I did was spray it with color then a coat of clear dye, thinking that it would take longer to wear out. Also do it with a regular paint gun it will turn out much better than spray cans.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
First of all, I'm not an expert on this subject. But, I have an interest in the subject.
I have lt. gray interior parts that I want black. So, I've also considered dyeing. In my case, I only need to do the door panels because I've found replacement (used) parts for everything else.
I'm still trying to decide between dyeing and my other option which I'll suggest to you. Consider selling your saddle seats on the web and buy the correct color -- used. At least you won't need to worry about the final hue.
Consider the old color could alter the final color of the dye. And, if not right away -- when it wears!!!!
If you do decide to dye, the biggest thing I will stress is cleaning. Every post I've read on the subject says the lack of good cleaning can/will lead to poor results. Human sweat, leather oils, leather seat treatments, etc... all soak into the leather. They can prevent a dye from pentrating evenly. And, the final result could be "blotchy", multi-hued (in your case), and then possibly "unrepairable".
And, this is a risk that is minimized if you start with the correct base color before dyeing.
BTW: Thanks for posting your original link! I may refer to it -- if I decide to dye my door panels black.
I have lt. gray interior parts that I want black. So, I've also considered dyeing. In my case, I only need to do the door panels because I've found replacement (used) parts for everything else.
I'm still trying to decide between dyeing and my other option which I'll suggest to you. Consider selling your saddle seats on the web and buy the correct color -- used. At least you won't need to worry about the final hue.
Consider the old color could alter the final color of the dye. And, if not right away -- when it wears!!!!
If you do decide to dye, the biggest thing I will stress is cleaning. Every post I've read on the subject says the lack of good cleaning can/will lead to poor results. Human sweat, leather oils, leather seat treatments, etc... all soak into the leather. They can prevent a dye from pentrating evenly. And, the final result could be "blotchy", multi-hued (in your case), and then possibly "unrepairable".
And, this is a risk that is minimized if you start with the correct base color before dyeing.
BTW: Thanks for posting your original link! I may refer to it -- if I decide to dye my door panels black.
Last edited by GREGGPENN; Jul 8, 2008 at 10:45 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,566
Likes: 4
From: Mt Laurel NJ
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
First of all, I'm not an expert on this subject. But, I have an interest in the subject.
I have lt. gray interior parts that I want black. So, I've also considered dyeing. In my case, I only need to do the door panels because I've found replacement (used) parts for everything else.
I'm still trying to decide between dyeing and my other option which I'll suggest to you. Consider selling your saddle seats on the web and buy the correct color -- used. At least you won't need to worry about the final hue.
Consider the old color could alter the final color of the dye. And, if not right away -- when it wears!!!!
If you do decide to dye, the biggest thing I will stress is cleaning. Every post I've read on the subject says the lack of good cleaning can/will lead to poor results. Human sweat, leather oils, leather seat treatments, etc... all soak into the leather. They can prevent a dye from pentrating evenly. And, the final result could be "blotchy", multi-hued (in your case), and then possibly "unrepairable".
And, this is a risk that is minimized if you start with the correct base color before dyeing.
BTW: Thanks for posting your original link! I may refer to it -- if I decide to dye my door panels black.
I have lt. gray interior parts that I want black. So, I've also considered dyeing. In my case, I only need to do the door panels because I've found replacement (used) parts for everything else.
I'm still trying to decide between dyeing and my other option which I'll suggest to you. Consider selling your saddle seats on the web and buy the correct color -- used. At least you won't need to worry about the final hue.
Consider the old color could alter the final color of the dye. And, if not right away -- when it wears!!!!
If you do decide to dye, the biggest thing I will stress is cleaning. Every post I've read on the subject says the lack of good cleaning can/will lead to poor results. Human sweat, leather oils, leather seat treatments, etc... all soak into the leather. They can prevent a dye from pentrating evenly. And, the final result could be "blotchy", multi-hued (in your case), and then possibly "unrepairable".
And, this is a risk that is minimized if you start with the correct base color before dyeing.
BTW: Thanks for posting your original link! I may refer to it -- if I decide to dye my door panels black.
Plus some drunk broad in a pickup backed into my vette last night.
BTW, you are welcome for the link, if you need more info, let me know, I have been researching this for a while. One thing I would say about dyeing the door panels is that, because they do not see much "friction", they should be easier to dye, and are the door panels really leather, or vinal?
Last edited by RandyJ75; Jul 8, 2008 at 11:47 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Houston Tx
dye sport seats
Yup, I re-dyed my seats. I didn't change colors, but I redyed them back the same as original. Follow their instructions it will come out just fine.
I bought a small air brush/detail gun from Harbor Freight and sprayed on two thin coats.
Not the best pictures but here are a couple after the re-dye.
I bought a small air brush/detail gun from Harbor Freight and sprayed on two thin coats.
Not the best pictures but here are a couple after the re-dye.
Did you had to restore the foam or any of the stitches?
where did you buy all the supply? Did you had to use the clear coat on top of it? I started to restore my seats.....but I started it with a small kit that I got form "AUTO ZONE" I will need something more pro'.
I would be happy to get advices from any one who have some tricks how to deal with cracked,faded, open stitches seat restoration.
I really need all the help I can get from you guys! I am on low budget and I have the RED collectors edition-sport seats ,which are really hard to find.
You guys are really amazing!!!!!!!!!!
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 735
From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
I didn't have any loose stitches, so I didn't have to do any of that kind of repair. My foam was also OK, all I had to do was prep and re-dye. Bought all my materials from leatherique.com
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 347
From: SC
I did mine using spray cans from Corvette America. Original colors are available. No problem, just make sure you do a thorough cleaning. I used Simple green to removeall the protectants on the seat. Then a tack cloth with a small amount of laquer thinner. Finally a coat of leather prep before dying.