Aldens Treated With Brown Pecards . . .

Discuss technique for prolonging the life of your gear or giving it that aged look

Moderator: Dalexs

Post Reply
LeatherneckJones
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 274
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Aldens Treated With Brown Pecards . . .

Post by LeatherneckJones »

Image

Image

Here are my trusty Aldens, which I decided to treat with brown tinted Pecards. They are still covered with a heavy coat of Pecards, but they have really absorbed a lot of dressing, as they were a bit mistreated on a recent hike. Keep in mind that they are about seven years old, and have quite a bit of natural distressing to them, as they have been all over the world with me. If you look closely around the inside of the ankle, you can see what color they were before treatment. These were originally the lovely shade of pumpkin we all know so well. What do you all think? I'll post more pics after they are buffed off...
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

Can't wait for the follow-up pics. That's a nice shade, if it keeps it they'll look great! :tup:

J
User avatar
Ark Hunter
Expeditionary Hero
Expeditionary Hero
Posts: 1858
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:36 pm
Location: Northeast Tennessee
Contact:

Post by Ark Hunter »

Ditto. Wow really caked it on didn't you! :lol:
LeatherneckJones
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 274
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by LeatherneckJones »

Yep... they needed it! I'll let them soak overnight, and post pics tomorrow. :wink:
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Post by Michaelson »

I KNOW what they'll look like. Been there, done that.... :D

Regards! Michaelson
LeatherneckJones
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 274
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by LeatherneckJones »

Woo hoo! I KNOW I've done something right if Michaelson has already been down this path! Good times...! 8)
LeatherneckJones
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 274
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by LeatherneckJones »

Image

As promised, this is what my Aldens now look like. Not quite as brown as I'd hoped, but not bad!

Michaelson, if I continue to treat them with the brown tinted Pecard dressing, will they darken more?
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Post by Michaelson »

Yes, they will. As the leather continues to be used and flexed, the surface will allow more of the product to be absorbed, and they will get darker with the application over time.

Regards! Michaelson
LeatherneckJones
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 274
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by LeatherneckJones »

Once again, thank you for your knowledge of all things Indy (and beyond!!)... :wink:
User avatar
binkmeisterRick
Stealer of Wallets
Posts: 16926
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 3:22 pm
Location: Chattering with these old bones

Post by binkmeisterRick »

SWEET!!! I think I may have to invest in a container of the brown Pecards. Besides, I'm having a heck of a time finding Meltonian shoe cream around here and my 405's need a good polish!
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Post by Michaelson »

User avatar
binkmeisterRick
Stealer of Wallets
Posts: 16926
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 3:22 pm
Location: Chattering with these old bones

Post by binkmeisterRick »

Thank you! :wink:
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Post by Michaelson »

:tup:

Regards! Michaelson
User avatar
Ark Hunter
Expeditionary Hero
Expeditionary Hero
Posts: 1858
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:36 pm
Location: Northeast Tennessee
Contact:

Post by Ark Hunter »

I just received some Meltonian in the mail the other day. Will it darken or change the color of shoes/boots dramaticly? Faster or slower than brown pecards?
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Post by Michaelson »

A bit faster than Pecards.

Regards! Michaelson
LeatherneckJones
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 274
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by LeatherneckJones »

Okay, okay, I'll bite... what color Meltonian should I be looking for?
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Post by Michaelson »

Totally depends on what 'iteration' of 405's you own. I use 'brick' on mine, but mine are several years old, and about 3 different colored leathers ago. :? Yours appear to be 'brick' as well.

Regards! Michaelson
User avatar
Ark Hunter
Expeditionary Hero
Expeditionary Hero
Posts: 1858
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:36 pm
Location: Northeast Tennessee
Contact:

Post by Ark Hunter »

I'm going to try it on some pumpkin J. Crew deckers, so I got some dark brown and red mahogany hoping to get a kind of dark brown with some red to it. (and I've got leather dye too if all else fails. :lol:)
LeatherneckJones
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 274
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by LeatherneckJones »

Post pics, Doc, when they are done! I'm very interested to see what happens...

As always, thanks, Michaelson! Brick it is!
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Post by Michaelson »

Doc, the brown/mahogany Meltonian and brown Pecards will darken the pumpkin leather. It will take a few applications and wearing of the boots between treatments, but believe me, there are a LOT of examples all through the archives where folks did just that, and their boots turned out perfect.

Try not to use the dye. It's spotty at best, and not a practice I recommend myself....but then that's just me and what I do.

You're welcome, LNJ! :D

Regards! Michaelson
User avatar
Ark Hunter
Expeditionary Hero
Expeditionary Hero
Posts: 1858
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:36 pm
Location: Northeast Tennessee
Contact:

Post by Ark Hunter »

Ok, I'll certainly try those first. Thanks for the advice. :tup:
User avatar
Ark Hunter
Expeditionary Hero
Expeditionary Hero
Posts: 1858
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:36 pm
Location: Northeast Tennessee
Contact:

Post by Ark Hunter »

I just darkened my Deckers some with Meltonian cream (one coat Dark Brown and one coat Red Mahogany) and they are now darker than, but similar color to the Aldens I have. Look how similar they look! Best close enough boots IMO.
Image
Now if I do that to my Aldens they may turn out looking great!. I may still try another go at the Deckers to to get them even darker.

Is there a way to avoid coloring the stitching or is that just the price you pay for darkening/recoloring your boots?

Oh, BTW, the Deckers had the hooks added, they didn't come that way.
User avatar
Sergei
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 2047
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 11:44 am
Location: Off the grid, in from the cold - Jack's Canyon ~1119
Contact:

Post by Sergei »

I am going to poke my head in here and give a word of warning. A little Pecards goes a long way. I have seen several members here go way overboard on Pecarding their Aldens. Yes, after awhile the boots turn dark - almost black. At that point, there is so much Pecards absorbed into the leather, that the leather looses integrity and especially around the stiches. I have seen at least two sets of boots disentegrate. Like Michaelson mentioned, I would use the Meltonian Brick creme. That gets the pumpkin color out.
astroboy
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 123
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2006 1:09 am
Location: Melbourne
Contact:

Post by astroboy »

I know that is a nice shade ! Did the stitches turn that colour or are they still off white in color?? As well once finished will you get color cut through when the leather gets scratched ??
Post Reply