How does the Lambtouch Cowhide distress?

JohnNdy · Post by **JohnNdy** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 4:06 am

Thinking of going with Lambtouch for my new Wested...does this distress nicely with age or with the acetone method? Anyone had any success?

-John

prettybigguy · Post by **prettybigguy** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 2:50 pm

I'm curious about this too. I was going to let my new Lambtouch age naturally, but I wouldn't mind roughing up the edges of the pockets and seams a little.

I've heard a lot of people talking about how hard it is to distress their newer jackets but they were usually talking about FS goats. Has anyone tried to distress a Wested Lambtouch?
PBG

Post by **Mike** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 3:08 pm

I would think it'd artificially distress quite nicely.

I took some Isopropyl Alcohol to my new one, to try and reduce the shine. It was 70% alcohol and worked pretty good. There was pigment on the cotton after a few swipes, and this was with the 70% stuff, so I'm sure higher concentrations or acetone would work well.... But I've been too nervous to try this myself.

Mike

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 4:09 pm

I used a very light grade sandpaper to rough the jacket up a little. I think it is funny how we all think that "the other guys" methods are too extreme. I like using sandpaper as opposed to substances that kill brain cells (I don't have too many of those left). This works on ALL jackets.

The jackets are bound to get scratched up a little naturally and this helps them look older faster. Use a very fine sandpaper and stay away from the thread whenever possible, otherwise you will sand through the stitching. If you overdo it, a little Pecard's brings the color back like magic.

The problem I have with using acetone is that the leather appears darker when it is wet with acetone than it will actually dry, so it is easy to overdo it and not realize you have done so until it dries. This is just my opinion, having used both methods...

Renderking Fisk · Post by **Renderking Fisk** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 9:41 pm

As the New Hampshire official advocate for "Natural Distressing", I've observed that the Lambstouch does vary well. Holds up, looks awesome with only a few scratches and scrapes so far.

Indiana Texas-girl · Post by **Indiana Texas-girl** » Tue Dec 03, 2002 12:08 am

Renderking Fisk wrote:As the New Hampshire official advocate for "Natural Distressing", I've observed that the Lambstouch does vary well. Holds up, looks awesome with only a few scratches and scrapes so far.

RF, you have a lambtouch? I had thought for some reason you had a goatskin Wested.

Dr._J · Post by **Dr._J** » Tue Dec 03, 2002 1:35 am

Fisk,

Just how dark is the lambtouch compared to the lambskin or regular cowhide?

Regards,

Dr. J

Indiana Joe · Post by **Indiana Joe** » Tue Dec 03, 2002 5:27 am

rick5150 wrote:I used a very light grade sandpaper to rough the jacket up a little. I like using sandpaper as opposed to substances that kill brain cells (I don't have too many of those left). This works on ALL jackets

Rick,

What grade of sandpaper do you find works best?

I.J.

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Tue Dec 03, 2002 6:12 am

Rick,

What grade of sandpaper do you find works best?

I.J.

That depends on the jacket, the skin and the finish of the jacket.

The goatskin was too shiny and new-looking for me. My goal, in this case, was to remove the finish from the entire jacket. I used 150-grit emery cloth and it took several weeks intil I finished it, since it was done carefully. If I started rushing to get it finished, I would put it down for another day. Once the finish was removed, I applied Meltonians dark brown boot & shoe cream polish and then Pecard's shoe oil. The final touch was to apply Fuller's Earth. Again, this was PERFECT for the look I wanted. It is difficult to make out, but the pocket facing was the original color and shinyness. The rest of the jacket has been distreesed..

My new-finish cowhide was the jacket I had custom-ordered from Peter. I wanted a newer, less-distressed look, so I used 220-grit sandpaper and only lightly on the seams, collar, front panels and upper back. Once treated with Pecards, the distressing is barely noticable - very natural look to it.

My disclaimer in this case, is that I ordered a pre-distressed jacket on ebay and the goatskin from the classifieds on this forum. Now, I already had two jackets that I experimented on by the time I received the new-finish cowhide and knew which look I wanted.

If you are undecided about what to do (but plan on doing something anyways) always start with a finer grade sandpaper. If it is not what you are looking for, you can increase the grit incremently. Just remember, once you get it exactly the way you want it, if you apply Pecards to protect it, it will darken the jacket removing a good portion of your work, and you may find yourself sanding the jacket again.

Work slowly and wisely! Any questions, you can always ask.

Indiana Texas-girl · Post by **Indiana Texas-girl** » Tue Dec 03, 2002 8:10 am

This is probably a question most men would know the answer to, but since I'm not a tool time type girl, I'm gonna ask it. Is the finer grit sandpaper higher or lower in number?

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Tue Dec 03, 2002 9:09 am

The higher the number, the finer the sandpaper. I believe the sandpaper I use is equivalent to the type used in auto body repair for "roughing up the area" prior to applying Bondo.

The higher numbers 500-1000 are used for wet-sanding the finish coat and the gloss coat. This is done using "wet" sandpaper, which gives a smoother finish, keeps the sandpaper from plugging up and reduces heat while sanding. You literally dunk the sandpaper in water and keep it wet while working. (Hint: add a squirt of dishwashing liquid to keep the wet sandpaper from clogging at all).

I was toying with the idea of using wet sanding to distress the jacket as it should blend the color as acetone does, but as I stated, I didn't want to wet the leather so there would be no surprises when it dries... Somebody braver will need to try this!

Renderking Fisk · Post by **Renderking Fisk** » Tue Dec 03, 2002 8:32 pm

Indiana Texas-girl wrote: RF, you have a lambtouch? I had thought for some reason you had a goatskin Wested.

Nope, it's a Lambstouch. I've seen a goatskin... maybe for my son someday. I'm pretty hung up on the Lambstouch.

Dr._J wrote:Fisk, Just how dark is the lambtouch compared to the lambskin or regular cowhide?

Not too sure, but the Lambtouch's touch is a vary dark burgundy brown. Does that help?

copper · Post by **copper** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 10:52 pm

Lambtouch Is the way to go I have one myself & I have let it aged on its own and it does age nicely.Its also easy to distress if you cant wait to let it age on its own.I have a wested goat as well to and its ageing nicely too,but Im in the process of ordering another Jacket and Im going with lambtouch cuz it ages well and is tough too.I mean I have turned myself as white as a sheet

from some of the stuff Iv done in my jacket.Tough I tell ya tough.
Ok well anyways wear in good health,Copper.

MK · Post by MK » Sat Dec 07, 2002 11:51 am

Be careful you don't distress you cow too much. I hear it can make her milk turn sour.

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Sat Dec 07, 2002 12:31 pm

Be careful you don't distress you cow too much. I hear it can make her milk turn sour.

Ha! I just mentioned something similar on a private message recently.

I was speaking about the belief that there are predistressed cows wandering around waiting for us to slaughter them for the ultimate jacket.
Talk about PRE-distressing (or is this pre-pre-distressing?).

Personally, I want the black and white "Holstein" Indy jacket, with the optional udders (you can fill these with whiskey).