Leather repair
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,457
Likes: 144
From: NC
Leather repair
I noticed that my Vette has a little tear in on the drivers seat. Didn't notice it when i bought it 3 weeks ago but it may have in fact been there. It is only 14 to 1/2 inch wide and it is on the drivers seat towards the outside. On the part of the cushion that you tend to slid across as you are getting in the car. Does any one know how or if you can repair that area sucessfully. The interior WAS mint and I would like to keep it as close to that as possible (obviously). Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
:cry
Thanks
:cry
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 48
From: Lakeport CA
Re: Leather repair (cerino2000)
Believe it or not a little dot of superglue on the underside will close small tears like that. Mine had those develop a few years ago & are only now starting to re-appear.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 972
Likes: 0
From: Springdale AR
Re: Leather repair (cerino2000)
Have not used this stuff myself, but I have heard it works really well.
http://www.leathermagic.com/default.asp
http://www.leathermagic.com/default.asp
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,212
Likes: 10
From: Sun City West Az
Re: Leather repair (cerino2000)
There was a post about a year ago by one of the forum members on this subject. He made a large repair on one of his leather seats and it came out well. I even think he posted pictures. I don't recall what product he used but you might want to do search on the topic.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,457
Likes: 144
From: NC
Re: Leather repair (ittlfly)
I had this car in the shop the other day having the reverse lights fixed. Making me wonder if they did it there. I thought I looked it over pretty darn good when I bought this car and I don't remember seeing this tear. Either way, I happened to have had some gel type super glue and believe it or not, i think it may have worked. It takes it about a minute to stick which gave me some time to hold it together. I also used a black magic marker to blacken any of the fibers inside it and it looks pretty darn good. It is actually on the side of the seat not on the face of it like I thought so hopefully it will hold. Still open to ideas in the event that this doesn't in fact hold.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Plains Ga.
Re: Leather repair (cerino2000)
I wanted to see if the seat covers I had would help you, but mine are beige. The type of seats I was referring to is "sport" seats or "standard" seats. If super is the ticket for this repair, then you might want to use "black" super glue.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 972
Likes: 0
From: Springdale AR
Re: Leather repair (ittlfly)
There was a post about a year ago by one of the forum members on this subject. He made a large repair on one of his leather seats and it came out well. I even think he posted pictures. I don't recall what product he used but you might want to do search on the topic.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 824
Likes: 2
From: Camden SC
Re: Leather repair (vette92_1)
Hear is what I did.
First, head for a used car dealer selling high end used cars, the ones with leather cup holders, leather radios, and leather turn signal levers. They ususally have some "specialists" dropping by weekly doing in-car seat repairs. Repairs may not be perfect, or you can just recover. An alternative is locating a good furniture repair service and bring them the seat. Leather is leather. Somebody skilled in repairing $2000 recliners should be able to help.
After the seat is fixed, move the right seat over to the left, and the left seat over to the right. This takes about 45 minutes. If it is just the seat portion, you could just swap those. I elected to swap seats.
Once you remove the both seats, allow youself about 30 minutes for vacuum and cleaning work. You will likely find speeding tickets, roach clips, alimony receipts, ladies clothing. Whatever.
The folks repairing my seat used some type of sealing compound and leather dye. Did a good job. Seemed like it cost around $75. Ballpark.
Good luck with your repair.
dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3 speed shocks
[Modified by dlmeyers, 11:47 AM 1/1/2004]
First, head for a used car dealer selling high end used cars, the ones with leather cup holders, leather radios, and leather turn signal levers. They ususally have some "specialists" dropping by weekly doing in-car seat repairs. Repairs may not be perfect, or you can just recover. An alternative is locating a good furniture repair service and bring them the seat. Leather is leather. Somebody skilled in repairing $2000 recliners should be able to help.
After the seat is fixed, move the right seat over to the left, and the left seat over to the right. This takes about 45 minutes. If it is just the seat portion, you could just swap those. I elected to swap seats.
Once you remove the both seats, allow youself about 30 minutes for vacuum and cleaning work. You will likely find speeding tickets, roach clips, alimony receipts, ladies clothing. Whatever.
The folks repairing my seat used some type of sealing compound and leather dye. Did a good job. Seemed like it cost around $75. Ballpark.
Good luck with your repair.
dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3 speed shocks
[Modified by dlmeyers, 11:47 AM 1/1/2004]
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: Leather repair (dlmeyers)
I had a panel of leather replaced with vinyl... you cannot tell the difference. and vinyl will last longer on the wings than will leather.
the leather US and Japanese automakers use is this nasty cheap junk. it's spray dyed. ick. the europeans use dip dyed. The leather is literally dunked in a tank of dye and is allowed to saturate the leather. it creates a colour that goes right to the core.
hence, small cracks and such don't show as obviously.
the leather US and Japanese automakers use is this nasty cheap junk. it's spray dyed. ick. the europeans use dip dyed. The leather is literally dunked in a tank of dye and is allowed to saturate the leather. it creates a colour that goes right to the core.
hence, small cracks and such don't show as obviously.
