Sunlight

Dr. Jones Jr. · Post by **Dr. Jones Jr.** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 9:18 am

Ive been browsing over these threads for quite some time now, and i never found one that touched upon whether Sunlight does anything to leather, such as leaving a wested in a car, or by a window. Is leather affected by light or heat at all? Just wonderin!

-Chris

Farnham54 · Post by **Farnham54** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 9:57 am

I would think not with the proper treatment; leather interior of Cars can last for ages as long as you keep it treated.

Over time, though, I would imagine that sunlight would eventually dry out the leather. A dose of treatment or five would re-hydrate (??) it I'm sure.

JAN · Post by **JAN** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 10:43 am

DONT DO THAT!!!!

The sunlight will bleach the color!

best regards

JAN

Dr. Jones Jr. · Post by **Dr. Jones Jr.** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 10:54 am

Im not gonna, its just a hypothetical question, if i have a wested it will be on my body and never less than 10 feet from me at all times lol

-Chris

Farnham54 · Post by **Farnham54** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 10:58 am

New distressing technique, anyone....??

Henry Jones Sr. · Post by **Henry Jones Sr.** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 12:02 am

Farnham54 wrote:I would think not with the proper treatment; leather interior of Cars can last for ages as long as you keep it treated.

Over time, though, I would imagine that sunlight would eventually dry out the leather. A dose of treatment or five would re-hydrate (??) it I'm sure.

I'm not a scientist or anything (nor a lion tamer...), but my thought is that UV light is probably just as harmful to leather as our own skin.... Not that you see many sunburned cows (although they still have a pretty good coat of hair to block it out). Mybe they just use lots of SPF 50 lotion when we're not looking...

.

Regards,

Henry Jones, Sr.

MaryonRavenwood · Post by **MaryonRavenwood** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 3:24 am

Farnham54 wrote:leather interior of Cars can last for ages as long as you keep it treated.

I should use Pecard's on the seats in my new car!!
Regards--Maryon

Henry Jones Sr. · Post by **Henry Jones Sr.** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 11:52 pm

Recommended Leather Care For Different Leather Types
A list of leather types and which product to use for the conditioning and care or your leather products.

"Leather Upholstery for auto and home use Pecard Leather Lotion for items made after 1990 and use Pecard Leather Dressing for items made before 1990."

--The Pecard Leather Care Products Primer
(issued with our little Michaelson-arranged
Pecard sampler bags from the Queen Mary)

Did I get it right, Professor Michaelson?

Do I need to notate that quote?

I don't want to be accused of plagiarism!

Regards,

Henry Jones, Sr.

Indiana Joe · Post by **Indiana Joe** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 5:58 am

Farnham54 wrote:I would think not with the proper treatment; leather interior of Cars can last for ages as long as you keep it treated.

Over time, though, I would imagine that sunlight would eventually dry out the leather. A dose of treatment or five would re-hydrate (??) it I'm sure.

Wouldn't a treatment with Lexol, every now and then, prevent that "creased" look that can be seen after several years? I realize the crease is a result of not just sunlight but also sitting. But I think if the leather remained supple, it wouldn't have as much a tendency to do that.

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 11:09 am

ALWAYS site your source, Dr. Henry!

(grins) Lexol was specifically formulated for car interiors for UV protection, and if you're absolutely dead in the water in terms of obtaining Pecards or Letap, it works wonders on lambskin or other fine leather jackets. I think Lexol is a fine product for use if you plan on a LOT of outdoor exposure in sunlight. I've used it quite a bit myself, and have found it very suitable for our purposes, but best on lambskin. Regards. Michaelson

Farnham54 · Post by **Farnham54** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 11:14 am

Certainly, car leather does get old and DOES dry out (I've seen many-a beutiful interior totally messed up by age!) if one keeps it treated every once in a while (once a year) they will last ages. Certainly, they do crease, but I think that is mostly because of constantly being sat on. Treatment does help prevent that, as the leather will have more of a tendancy to stretch and less of a tendancy to crack.

So, my reasoning, is if you treat a jacket every once in a while as you do with car leather (and their respective treatments) then sunlight shouldn't do too much to it.

Regards,

Farn

Henry Jones Sr. · Post by **Henry Jones Sr.** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 1:44 pm

Michaelson wrote:ALWAYS site your source, Dr. Henry! (grins)

Yes, sir!

Michaelson wrote:I think Lexol is a fine product for use if you plan on a LOT of outdoor exposure in sunlight. I've used it quite a bit myself, and have found it very suitable for our purposes, but best on lambskin. Regards. Michaelson

This has been my experience with Lexol as well (my pre-Pecards days...it wasn't available anywhere in the last town I lived in. My Wested lamb arrived, and I needed to treat it stat with something, so Lexol to the temporary rescue!). And no, I'm not trying to earn points with Professor Michaelson!

Regards,

Henry Jones, Sr.

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 2:33 pm

As for sunlight, I put this in another thread within the last day or so...after a trip to Africa, where my A-2 hung in a closet for a month, it was quite mildewed. I cleaned it up rather well, but it took putting it out in sunlight to "kill" the last of the mildew. Now, it did not hurt my A-2, but then, it is nearly "bulletproof" anyway! I do not know how other leather jackets would fare.

Indiana Joe · Post by **Indiana Joe** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 12:08 am

JAN wrote:DONT DO THAT!!!!

The sunlight will bleach the color!

best regards

JAN

But it will darken the whip, right?

Indiana Cojones · Post by **Indiana Cojones** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 10:02 am

Henry Jones Sr. wrote:I'm not a scientist or anything (nor a lion tamer...), but my thought is that UV light is probably just as harmful to leather as our own skin....

UV is harmful to skin because it causes cellular breakdown. This is also why it destroys mildew and such.. strong UV light will literally break up DNA. This is why it's such a potential risk for cancer. However since the leather isn't a living thing, I believe the only risks are from "cooking" of the leather, which would cause fading, brittleness, etc.