How to colour pigmented leather - For professionals
- The following instructions are for pigmented (top coated) Napa leather and not for Aniline, Nubuk or Suede leather (use special instructions for those leather types). Differentiation: Rub a drop of water on an undamaged area. If the water penetrates the surface and darkens the leather, its open pored Aniline. If water doesn't penetrate the leather, it's pigmented leather.
- Leather should only be coloured with experience in colouring with spray guns and the right equipment (airbrush, extraction system, breathing protection etc.).
- Changing colour of leather surfaces is more work than refreshing the original colour. You need far more paint and time and a helping hand to colour in all folds.
CLEANING
- De-assemble upholstery and covers as much as possible.
- Remove any dust from the leather with a vacuum cleaner or with compressed air. Compressed air is better for the cleaning of folds and piping edges. Remove any remaining dust with a soft brush.
- Clean visibly soiled leathers with COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner. Do not work too wet on damaged areas. Old leather shouldn't absorb water. Then treat older leathers (older than 15 years) with white vinegar (mixture 1:1 with water). Remove dirt in the grain with the COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Brush.
- Thoroughly clean and de-grease with COLOURLOCK Degreaser. Leather Colour should be seen on the cloth to make sure that any residues are removed and the surface is slightly dissolved. Carefully sand the surface with the COLOURLOCK Leather Sanding Pad and dedust without using cleaning liquids. The Solvent Cleaner and light sanding are important processes to ensure optimal colour adhesion!
REPAIRS
- Carefully smooth rough or cracking surfaces with the Leather Sanding Pad. Wipe off the dust using a moistened cloth.
- In case of cracks and rips, first smooth down sharp edges. Stick together the edges of rips with COLOURLOCK Leather Glue. Areas which have to be filled with COLOURLOCK Leather Filler must previously be treated with COLOURLOCK Primer.
Using the filler, spread a light film about five millimetres left and
right of the filled crack or rip. This strengthens the durability of the
repair. Let the filler dry and repeat the procedure where necessary.
Any unevenness can be removed with a Sanding Pad previously dipped in COLOURLOCK GLD Solvent ND.
Important: Extremely old, brittle and weak leather should be replaced entirely. They can be repaired cosmetically, but colour and filler can never replace the leather’s strength.
COLOURING
- Spray the leather gently wet with COLOURLOCK Primer at low pressure (approx. 2 bar/15-32 psi) until the surface becomes slightly sticky after drying. Avoid thick coats of primer.
- Filter the COLOURLOCK Leather Colour before filling it into the spraying pistol! Apply the colour at low pressure (approx. 2 bar/15-32 psi) evenly and not too thickly. Always apply several layers and dry with a heat gun before applying the next layer until the surface is evenly coloured. Apply the colour only as thinly as necessary: Thick layers of colour affect stability and grip of the colouration. Pull apart folds and piping edges and treat those first. Always wear breathing protection during spraying. Work only in a well-ventilated space.
- Mix COLOURLOCK Top Coat with 1 % of COLOURLOCK Crosslinker CD. Stir well and filter! Spray the mixture thinly over the dried colour and dry with a heat gun. Repeat if necessary. Mix only as much Top Coat with Crosslinker as you need in the following two hours. The Crosslinker is reactive and should not get in contact with water and humidity. Keep away from skin and eyes!
- Primer, Leather Colour and Top Coat can be dried with a heat gun and the steps should be performed successively to ensure that the fresh layers connect well.
- Smooth down rough areas with COLOURLOCK Polishing Pad 4000. Then, if necessary, again apply colour or only Top Coat.
- After 24 hours, rub a wet cloth on the colour to be sure that the surface has sufficiently been treated with Top Coat. In case of discolouration, the leather has to be treated with Top Coat again.
- Care the coloured leather with COLOURLOCK Leather Shield in order to protect it against wear and scratches.
- One week after colouring, apply COLOURLOCK Leather Protector. Regularly repeat this care two to four times a year.
Required quantities for a complete furniture
- COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner - foam spender bottle 200 ml
- COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Brush 1 unit
- COLOURLOCK Solvent Cleaner 1 litre
- COLOURLOCK Leather Sanding Pad 1 unit
- COLOURLOCK Leather Glue 20 ml
- COLOURLOCK Leather Filler 7 ml tube
- COLOURLOCK GLD Solvent ND 250 ml
- COLOURLOCK Polishing Pad 4000 1 unit
- COLOURLOCK Primer 1 litre
- COLOURLOCK Leather Colour 2 litres (price / litre!)
- Extra charge for colour matching according to sample
- COLOURLOCK Colour Filter 3 pieces (price per filter!) please ask for details
- COLOURLOCK Top Coat Car & Furniture 1 litre
- COLOURLOCK Crosslinker CD 50 ml
- COLOURLOCK Leather Shield 150 ml
- COLOURLOCK Leather Protector 150 ml
The quantities above are sufficient for a complete set of equipment. Minimum quantity for matched colours is 1 litre. Most other products are also available in 250 ml bottles. We will be happy to adjust the quantities to suit your individual requirements.
Leather Cleaning Brush normal
US$5.99*
The Leather Cleaning Brush is ideal for: Using with the Mild or Strong Leather Cleaner to remove ingrained dirt Using with the COLOURLOCK Cleaner for Artificial Leather to remove ingrained dirt from vinyl or plastics Brushing up nubuck and suede Polishing shoes and boots with COLOURLOCK Elephant Leather Preserver Amount: 1 piece. One brush is usually sufficient for cleaning a car interior or a set of furniture multiple times.With its durable bristles and high-quality wooden handle, the Colourlock Leather Cleaning Brush is great for removing dirt and stains effectively and gently from leather car seats, sofas, chairs, clothing and handbags. It can also be used to clean Alcantara and other Textile materials as long as it is used gently.
Tip
Leather Cleaner with sponge
US$27.73*
Ideal for cleaning leather car and furniture upholstery, bags, suitcases or garments.The Leather Cleaner is provided in a foam dispenser bottle. Foams clean the leather more efficiently than liquid agents, the consumption is considerably smaller, and the leather does not become wet, which could otherwise become hard after drying.Firstly, clean the leather thoroughly before refreshing the colour or applying care products. Use COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner against normal soiling. Cleaning before treatment prevents the dirt sticking to the leather's surface. Our COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Brush effectively removes ingrained dirt (use circular motions and work from seam to seam). After cleaning, it is always best to apply a care product to protect it against general wear and future staining.Amount: 200 ml Mild Leather Cleaner. This is usually sufficient for the cleaning of a whole car interior or set of furniture.Amount: 1 litre Application of Leather CleanerAlways test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour.Dispense some foam on a sponge or brush. Do not apply to the leather directly! Clean the leather from seam to seam using the foam; repeat several times, if necessary. Remove dirty foam residue with a slightly moistened piece of cloth, then allow to dry.On older leathers, stains might sink into the surface, or perceived dirt might actually be colour damage. Such stains cannot always be removed by cleaning, in which case, use COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh for refreshing the colour, or ask us for advice.These products are also suitable for "Cool Leather/SRT (SunReflective Technology) Leather"!
Leather Protector
From
US$22.69*
To maintain the surface, we recommend our Leather Protector. It contains antioxidants, which stops the leather's decay, and its UV filters protect the surfaces from colour fading and will make them supple once more.Amount: 150 ml. This is usually sufficient for the one-time treatment (minimum) of a complete car interior or a set of furniture.; 1litreApplication: Always test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour!Use COLOURLOCK Leather Protector when the leather has dried completely from cleaning or colour refreshment, ideally on the following day. Apply with a soft cloth and let dry without polishing. One application is sufficient. Strained surfaces (heavy use or in sunlit areas) should be treated every three months. Clean before use to prevent dirt sticking to the surface.These products are also suitable for "Cool Leather/SRT (SunReflective Technology) Leather"!
Leather Shield
From
US$22.69*
Leather Shield protects new leather from wear marks and dirt.Application area: New smooth leather, pigmented or surface-coloured leather in cars, furniture, jackets and handbags. Do not use on porous leathers, suede, or nubuck. Application Always test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour.Moisten a terry cloth slightly with COLOURLOCK Leather Shield, lightly wipe the moistend cloth over the leather and let dry. Do not buff or polish immediately after application. One application is sufficient. Repeat every three months on strained surfaces or heavily used areas. Prior to application, clean off any dirt with COLOURLOCK Mild or Strong Leather Cleaner.These products are also suitable for "Cool Leather/SRT (SunReflective Technology) Leather"!
Leather Sanding Pad
US$29.31*
The Leather Sanding Pad is ideal for: Smoothing rough areas before applying COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh or COLOURLOCK Liquid Leather. Cleaning greasy areas on nubuck and suede. Careful sanding during professional colouring in the workshop. Amount: Pack of 5 Application Rub the leather gently with the pad in a circular motion. Avoid gouging and deep scratches. Both faces of the pad can be used. It can be washed out with water. Before colouring nappa leather, the surfaces should be sanded carefully. Our Leather Sanding Pad is ideal for this step.
Variants from US$5.99*
Top Coat
US$48.53*
COLOURLOCK Top Coat is a clear transparent product which seals the colour coat. It gives the leather's surface a protective seal against water and dirt, making it insensitive against general wear and tear. The Top Coat is available in a "Dull", "Gloss", "High Gloss" and "Vehicle, Furniture, Vinyl" versions. All versions can be mixed with each other. Professionals usually use the "Matt" and "Gloss" version and mix the two to get the desired level of gloss.Companies that don't work with these products on a regular basis tend to stock the 'ready-to-use' satin Top Coat "Vehicle, Furniture and Vinyl". The Top Coat "High Gloss" is for surfaces where the "Top Coat Gloss" does not provide satisfactory results. The Top Coat always has to be applied with Crosslinker IC2. The Crosslinker provides the necessary stability for the Top Coat. Only on very soft Aniline, where the grip of the leather should be preserved as well as possible, very little Top Coat without Crosslinker may be applied.
Important: This product will need to be sprayed using a spray gun. It is suitable only for professionals who repair leather on a regular basis and have experience in spray work.Please consult us before buying this product if you have any doubts or questions.
Variants from US$23.00*
Leather Glue solvent free
US$16.70*
The Leather Glue is suitable to permanently glue all forms of leather and remains flexible. It's perfect for repairing small rips and tears in general repair work like sticking backlining cloths. Easy to glue hems on suede and leather clothing.Application
Remove the pointed cap from the tube and apply a thin layer of glue. If required, spread with a spatula. Wait for a short while, then let the rips dry edge to edge, or glue the back lining - if possible - using pressure.
Those larger rips and holes in leather which are still repairable must be stabilized by back lining them with cloth. Cut the cloth into the required shape and mark the centre with a felt tip pen or a small sticker. The marking helps you to recognize the centre in order to ensure consistent overlapping. Fix the centre with a needle and spread the edges evenly under the leather with a spatula. Then stick with glue.
Garment leather is often very delicate. Apply the product especially thinly in order to avoid the glue coming through and showing as a dark spot on the leather's surface.
Leather Filler
US$205.15*
Leather Filler is perfect for repairing scuffs, cracked
leather, tears, rips and holes on leather car seats, furniture, sofas,
settees, handbags, leather jackets, etc. The surface of COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather is smooth and matt once dry. To hide the repair, a colouration
with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh dye in the
respective colour is necessary. Lightly dab the COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh
several times with a sponge on the repair and dry with a hair dryer in
between the layers until the desired covering is achieved. Smooth rough
areas and scratches with the COLOURLOCK Leather Sanding Pad before
starting any repairs with COLOURLOCK Leather Filler.The Leather Filler
has a removable cap. Remove the cap and fill the damaged areas. Evenly
spread the filler with a Spatula. Let the repair dry according to the
amount used - max 1-2 hours. Repeat the procedure until the repaired
area is as full and smooth as possible. Use COLOURLOCK GLD Pen to make
the surface smooth. Finally, repairs with COLOURLOCK Leather Filler must
be recoloured with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh to balance differences in
colour and gloss. In order to cover the COLOURLOCK Leather Filler
sufficiently, the COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh should be dabbed onto the
area several times and dried in between the layers with a hair dryer.
For purposes of care, the leather should be treated with COLOURLOCK Leather Protector a day later.Please Note: COLOURLOCK Leather Filler is
only recommended for damage where a filling is necessary. Scratches and
general wear and tear on the colour surface do not require a treatment
with COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather. In such cases, we recommend to smooth the
surface with the COLOURLOCK Leather Sanding Pad and to refresh the
colour with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh dye.
Variants from US$26.47*
Polishing Pad
US$72.48*
Very fine sanding surface for retouching and finishing repairs
Comes as a sponge pad to soften the pressure when sanding
Soft padding allows it to sand different shapes
Can be washed and reused
Made in Germany
Application areas: Car Leather, Furniture Leather, Shoes, Bags & Accessories, Leather ClothingThe COLOURLOCK Sanding Pad 4000 is used to sand newly applied dyes and top coats. Its extremely fine grain helps achieve a perfect smooth surface after the spraying process denibbing any imperfections trapped on the paint layer. The pad can be washed with water for reuse.
Variants from US$10.00*
Primer
US$45.69*
COLOURLOCK Primer ensures good adhesion between the leather surface and the leather colour. It is sticky, and sinks into the leather binding the colour to the surface. It has a very soft binder and reduces the use of colour considerably, which increases the softness of the leather.
Before priming, the leather should be prepared (cleaned and sanded) according to the instructions provided. The amount used must be according to the kind of leather it is being used on. The more porous a leather is, the more primer should be used. For extremely porous leather we recommend 'Primer PLUS' which is a concentrated product and only recommended on porous leather. Pre-treating repair areas (scratches, tears, holes, etc) with Primer improves the adhesion of the leather filler and makes the repair more durable. In case of rips and cracks, the primer can also be applied with a sponge or a brush. The Primer can also be used as a thinner for the Leather Colour (max. 30%), so it is ideal if aniline leather needs minor recolouring and a soft grip (like for garments).
This product will need to be sprayed using a spray gun. It is suitable only for professionals who repair leather on a regular basis and have experience in spray work.
Variants from US$18.28*
Leather Colour
US$53.57*
COLOURLOCK Leather Colour is the best choice for recolouring or changing the colour of pigmented Napa leather, vinyl and plastic. Leather Colour is applied with a spray gun or an airbrush. The leather colour has a high covering power but still maintains the features of the leather. It can also be used for converting nubuck to napa and aniline leather to pigmented leather. The Leather Colour is a water based formula that gives extremely high adhesion values if used correctly. It is fully approved for use by leading manufacturers in the automotive , furniture and the aircraft industry. The COLOURLOCK repair method requires that you use Primer, Top Coat and Crosslinker for best and long lasting results. Available in 22 primary colours. Additionally, we offer a pallet of five luminous colours that can be mixed with the 22 primary colours.Note - This product will need to be sprayed using a spray gun. It is suitable only for professionals who repair leather on a regular basis and have experience in spray work.
Variants from US$33.40*