Help with darkening distressed cowhide

darkon · Post by **darkon** » Sat Feb 08, 2003 12:47 pm

I am not sure if this should be here or in the leather jacket part, but here it goes.

I have 2 Aeropostale Bomber jackets. They both are brown distressed cowhide and are the heavier type of leather. One is darker than the other and that is the way I like the look. Is there a way to darken up the other one? What would you use , brown polish? Saddle soap?

I have never touched up or done anything to my dark brown one, have had that one for about 15 years now. Just got another one, same exact one, but one size larger, this is the one I want to darken up.

When I finally get my Indy jacket hopefully that is the way I would like it - Dark Brown, distressed.

Darrell

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Mon Feb 10, 2003 7:14 am

I have 2 Aeropostale Bomber jackets. They both are brown distressed cowhide and are the heavier type of leather. One is darker than the other and that is the way I like the look. Is there a way to darken up the other one? What would you use , brown polish? Saddle soap?

It is difficult to say what will happen without knowing more about the jacket. Pictures can help, but the color can be deceiving in a picture as well.

Pecard's regular dressing as well as the boot oil can substantially darken a jacket. I have a Wested Pre-distressed and a Wested New-Finish. After treating the Pre-Distressed with Pecards (both oil & paste) the finish is exactly the same color as the New-Finish.

As Michaelson will no doubt tell you, Pecard's offers a Brown Weatherproof Dressing that may help achieve the desired color.

I have used Meltonians dark brown shoe polish on a jacket, followed by a treatment with Pecard's and have had excellent results.

How would you describe the current color of the jacket?

If I understand the application of saddle soap correctly, it is used for cleaning the leather. You are supposed to apply it lightly with a brush to create a foaming action and then some level of protectant must be applied as soon as the leather dries. I have never used it though.

Good Luck!

Cooler King · Post by **Cooler King** » Mon Feb 10, 2003 9:08 am

Pecards did the trick with my jacket. I have a US Wings Vintage Cow and it was lighter than I wanted, I put some pecards on it and it was perfect, looks just like Indy's plus it didn't take away the worn look so it still looked beautifully destressed!

I think it says somewhere on the Pecards website that Saddle soap is harmfull to leather, and that it will destroy it because it's cut down with kerosine...

Maybe I'm mistaken...

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Feb 10, 2003 12:14 pm

I have read that too, but only in regards to keeping saddle soap as the main cleaner/polisher. By applying a leather dressing AFTER cleaning with saddle soap will negate the negatives of the saddle soap application. (wow, look at all the big words on a Monday no less!

) Sounds to me like the standard dressing is all you'll need on your jacket. The brown dressing is great for really bad leather or color changing, but for what you have, a couple of applications of standard or the jell is what the doctor ordered. You're going to shocked at how good your jacket will look once the treatment is finished. High regards. Michaelson

Indiana Texas-girl · Post by **Indiana Texas-girl** » Mon Feb 10, 2003 5:37 pm

DrJones56 wrote:Pecards did the trick with my jacket. I have a US Wings Vintage Cow and it was lighter than I wanted, I put some pecards on it and it was perfect, looks just like Indy's plus it didn't take away the worn look so it still looked beautifully destressed!

I did that to my Predistressed Wested. After a while, it will lighten back up and not be as dark. Just slap some more Pecards on it. I'm guessing it'll take 3 months or so to lighten back up to original color. But you're right; the predistressed/vintage cow looks great with Pecards on...highlights the worn look.

darkon · Post by **darkon** » Mon Feb 10, 2003 7:48 pm

Both jackets are distressed cow. They are the same exact jacket. I am sorry I have no pics on them.

One is a Dark Brown distressed. Had 15 years , only cleaned once with leather cleaner. Still has the new leather smell after all these years..

The other one is a brown, approx 2-3 shades lighter. Just got recently, but around the same age as the other, definately worn a lot, one size bigger than my old one. Feels a bit tacky, maybe cleaned or conditioned with something. Not sure about that.

What type of Pecard's do you recommend? I have thought about the shoe polish also. I want to try something.

Also, should I get it professionally cleaned to get the tackiness out of it? I know the leather shop also does redying also, which maybe an option, but only after everything else is tried.

This is going to be worse when I fianlly get my Indy jacket...LOL......

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Feb 10, 2003 7:56 pm

Sounds to me like your 'tacky' one is already treated with the standard Pecards dressing. Take a hair dryer and apply low heat on a section of the leather and see if anything starts to 'sweat' out of the leather. If becomes 'wet', you have standard Pecards on the leather. Keep 'sweating' the jacket, wiping off the excess dressing with a clean, dry old tee shirt, and you'll find the tacky finish will be removed. Apply standard Pecards dressing in light coats, allowing each coat to soak in completely before adding the next. It usually takes a day or so for this to occur for each application, depending on the warmth of the room the jacket is hanging in. After a few days, you'll be good to go. Regards. Michaelson

IndianaJames · Post by **IndianaJames** » Sun Mar 02, 2003 12:58 pm

Hey ITG -
I had my newest wested made in the old style pre distressed, like yours, would happen to have those close ups you took of them? Ive been debating on whether or not to use pecards, because I dont want it too dark,....

Thanks!
I J

Indiana Texas-girl · Post by **Indiana Texas-girl** » Sun Mar 02, 2003 1:02 pm

IndianaJames wrote:Hey ITG -
I had my newest wested made in the old style pre distressed, like yours, would happen to have those close ups you took of them? Ive been debating on whether or not to use pecards, because I dont want it too dark,....

Thanks!
I J

Email me so I can send you pics.