Lookin to have this made to look as good as possible
- Thread starter Benson2777
- Start date
Looks like you need a leather expert. I could go some distance with that, with some neatsfoot oil and some glue, but you've got torn-up areas, and areas that need dye. Maybe a cobbler? Or a horse tack repair person?
or maybe a book binder if they are still any
First glue the leather together where it has come apart. Any good contact cement or leather glue will work. Get the glue between the leather pieces with a bamboo toothpick and clamp. Use a flat wood caul, (popsicle sticks) so the clamps do not mar the leather.
Once the glue has dried thoroughly, begin to re-hydrate. Lightly dampen with a wet sponge, wait 15-20 minutes for the water to absorb, then paint on a lite coat of Neetsfoot or Olive oil. Put in the sun to warm up and penetrate deep into the leather, not on a blazing hot day.
The water will open up the pores and allow the oil to get deep in the leather. Wait about a week or more and add another lite coat of water and oil. The leather will darken but lighten up in color with time. The oil has penetrated when the color is uniform. Do not over oil or it will rot.
New stud straps will need to be made, glued and sewn on, as well as the corner re-stitched. Thread comes in a ton of colors so matching should not be a problem or you could tea or coffee dye white thread to match.
Go slow with rehydration, can take months to restore old leather. If the leather is brittle and rotted, there is not much you can do other than add oil and see what happens.
Once you have re-hydrated the leather, you can remove the liner/razor holders and block the case. Measure the interior carefully and cut wooden block that will fit tight. Dampen the leather with water to soften, squeeze the blocks into the top and bottom compartments and allow a day or two to dry.
Remove the blocks and glue the liner back in place. You may need to add another lite coat of oil if the water discolored the leather.
You can touch up the color with leather dye and a Qtip, but you will be amazed at what a little bit of oil will do to even out color and hide cracks.
Nice case.
Once the glue has dried thoroughly, begin to re-hydrate. Lightly dampen with a wet sponge, wait 15-20 minutes for the water to absorb, then paint on a lite coat of Neetsfoot or Olive oil. Put in the sun to warm up and penetrate deep into the leather, not on a blazing hot day.
The water will open up the pores and allow the oil to get deep in the leather. Wait about a week or more and add another lite coat of water and oil. The leather will darken but lighten up in color with time. The oil has penetrated when the color is uniform. Do not over oil or it will rot.
New stud straps will need to be made, glued and sewn on, as well as the corner re-stitched. Thread comes in a ton of colors so matching should not be a problem or you could tea or coffee dye white thread to match.
Go slow with rehydration, can take months to restore old leather. If the leather is brittle and rotted, there is not much you can do other than add oil and see what happens.
Once you have re-hydrated the leather, you can remove the liner/razor holders and block the case. Measure the interior carefully and cut wooden block that will fit tight. Dampen the leather with water to soften, squeeze the blocks into the top and bottom compartments and allow a day or two to dry.
Remove the blocks and glue the liner back in place. You may need to add another lite coat of oil if the water discolored the leather.
You can touch up the color with leather dye and a Qtip, but you will be amazed at what a little bit of oil will do to even out color and hide cracks.
Nice case.
