Club Obi Wan

Is acetone reqired or can you just spend more time to age your jacket with sand paper? I was thinking about it and acetone though it may produce effects that are desired seems so artiicial.

Side note: I actually love my Wested so much that I had to buy another one prior to messing with it so I will have one nice new one to spare. Crazy huh? But really they are less expensive then some good jackets in the states so I saw it as a value.

Paul

Paul;

Acetone is definitely not required and each leather reacts differently to it. I have always used sandpaper and have achieved the results I was hoping to with no damage to the jackets (I have three and a fourth on the way). An added bonus with sandpaper is you do not have to wait for the jacket to dry to see the results as you do with acetone.

The trick is to use a very fine sandpaper in the 200-400 grit range and go lightly at first. Mind the seams as it is easy to sand through a stitch or two with sandpaper. Pay particular attention to the backs of the elbows, the cuff area and the shoulder blade area as these are what usually gets hit the hardest with rough wear and tear.

I have seen some jackets where it is obvious that people just sanded the seams and it looks artificial and sort of like striping, rather than wear and tear. This is how I have distressed the seams:



I will let nature do the rest, but I had to get it started! Good Luck!

I would have to echo Rick5150. Careful of the stiching! Esp. the areas around the cargo pockets. However, it's easy to get really close to it on both sides to make it look like you hit it with one stroke.

I need to double check but I remember in the making of Raiders, you can see HF snapping his fingers while waiting around for the next shoot. He reaches up to adjust his hat and there is an obvious hole on his sleeve elbow side. Probably due to over distressing. I will see if I can get some video pics.


Pyro.

Thanks guys. I will do it that way. Much appreciated. Thanks for the pic too. That looks just like what I want.

Paul

Very good advice, guys. I think most people here want a distressed jacket, but are afraid to go all the way with it. You mentioned that one can look at a jacket where only the seams have been sanded and tell that it looks fake, the same can be said of one that is under-distressed. You can tell that it's unfinished, as if the artist was too timid to complete what they started. When this happens, watch Last Crusade. If you're anything like me (obsessive, perfectionistic), it will give you all the motivation that you need. )

This was from another post....

Captain D wrote:I'm right there with you Pyro!!!

I "LOVE" how the jacket looks during the Last Crusade motorcycle chase! I have a Wested Goatskin, but I heard that, like the Cowhide, it can be difficult to distress naturally. However, what did you use on your jacket? Fuller's Earth? Kitty Litter dust I heard someone here say makes for a good "fuller's earth" dust.....And I too applaud the look of your jacket!!

Regards!
Captain D

I used acetone and rainshowers to get the sheen off.

I used sandpaper for the seams and swiss army knife for the precision work.

An interesting note. Sometimes I will distress it and the distressing will go away. It's like the jacket "heals" itself when it's in good condition.

Pyr.

I have let my Jacket age on its own but in the process it had a little help from work hicking climbing caving and so forth.But what ever you do do put an electrical sander to it cuz thats just not right I mean that happened to me by accident.Getting draged up against a brick wall works to but not if you dont want uneven scratches.But Im like you I bought another one just to keep in nice condition.Remember wear in good health copper.

It's like the jacket "heals" itself when it's in good condition.

Too bad that doesn't happen with rips and tears A little Neosporin and it is as good as new in a few days!

The sand paper method always looks too fake for me, I have tried to live with it twice but always had to put leather conditioner on it a day later. I distressed it heavily this time with sandpaper then gave a HEAVY coat of conditioner, it looks good but you can barely see the distressing, but in time it will distress more, as always I will continue to condition it!

I have found if you use a fine grade sandpaper and use circular motions, you cannot see the scratches as you would with a heavy grade paper. Keep in mind the original jackets were distressed with sandpaper, wire brushes and pocket knives if I remember correctly.

I too have the same problem with conditioners. Once you get the jacket looking perfect and treat it, it no longer looks as distressed. Just resist the urge to go crazy with the sandpaper, because the jacket will actually lighten again as the conditioner soaks in or evaporates, then it may look too distressed.