What is liquid leather - how to use it for repairing or reconstructing shoes and leather goods

The advantage of real leather is its long service life and relative durability. It will take more than a year for abrasions to appear on a jacket, shoes or seat, but they still appear. And sometimes it tears, bursts, and all this has to be either thrown away or somehow corrected.

Today, a truly unique product has appeared for the repair and restoration of such products - “Liquid leather”. This is a viscous composition that masks cracks, abrasions and joints during repairs. How the product works, what it contains and what consumer reviews say is in our article.

What is liquid skin

The substance that repairs damage to the leather covering is paint. It has a very high adhesive ability and easily penetrates the surface. After drying, a single integral coating is formed with the original material, so it returns to its previous appearance: it is elastic, durable to the touch. If we are talking about the restoration of a natural coating, then delamination with the surface is completely excluded. This guarantee does not apply to leatherette, leatherette and other artificial coverings.

The skin restorer is available in sets of 7 colors. One jar contains about 20 grams of paint, which is enough to repair 100 square centimeters if applied in a layer of 0.2 mm. Consumption depends on the size and depth of the damage: in some places you can limit yourself to applying one layer, in others you will have to cover it several times. On average, the entire set is enough to restore from 30 to 100 items.

Compound

The paint, which seamlessly seals holes in leather, is a heavy-duty polymer made from water and alcohol. In addition, liquid leather contains rubber resin, emulsifiers, and dyes. In appearance, the liquid resembles gouache, and after application it is completely absorbed into the surface and forms a single coating that does not peel off and is in no way inferior to natural in strength.

How to use

Repairing leather products begins with cleaning: it is necessary to remove all dirt and degrease the surface, and after that the color is selected. The color palette included in the set will help you create any desired shade. How to use liquid skin? It depends on the nature of the damage:

• Scuffs. They need to be painted over with a thin layer of paint, then leveled, lightly pressing with a dry sponge (this gives the new coating the same relief), and left to dry. Repeat if necessary.
• Cuts and cracks. To make them disappear, tightly connect the edges and apply the composition with a brush, then level. Leave it to dry a little and repeat the procedure.
• Deep cuts. If possible, it is better to turn the product inside out, then join the edges. You will have to fill the space with foam rubber on the furniture. Apply paint to the front side in small portions, using a brush and remembering to level the surface and blot it with a sponge. You can repeat the procedure several times.

It is important to remember that the substance begins to set very quickly, after 10-30 minutes, so the jars must be closed immediately. The paint can dry completely within 2-3 hours of being in an open container. After completion of the work, the composition is absolutely safe. During repairs, you must try to limit contact with the skin and especially with the eyes. If the dried coating needs to be removed from the surface, wipe the area with alcohol and everything will come off.

Application rules

Liquid leather is non-toxic, so you can work with it indoors and without a respirator. But you should wear disposable gloves, because it stains your hands like paint.

Tools

Liquid leather is most often applied with a sponge - this way the layer is not perfectly smooth, but porous and reminiscent of the texture of natural leather or eco-leather. In some cases (for example, when a special template stamp will be used to create a texture), the surface is covered with an artistic brush.

In addition to a sponge or brush you will need:

• degreaser (alcohol is best);
• lint-free fabric;
• tool for creating texture (stamp template);
• fine-grained sandpaper or sprayed nail file;
• a small spatula (you can use an unnecessary bank card or a thin ruler instead).

Product preparation

The connection of liquid leather with the base material occurs according to the principle of diffusion - the molecules of this product penetrate into the leather from which the product is made, mixing with its molecules. However, this process is hampered by fat accumulated on the surface of upholstery, clothing or shoes, so degreasing is indispensable. First, wipe the product with a lint-free cloth soaked in alcohol.

To make the molecules mix even more actively, the surface of the product must be sanded with sandpaper. Don't overdo it - the surface should be rough, not full of holes. At the end, be sure to remove all the smallest particles of material formed during sanding - blow them off with a hairdryer or brush them off with a soft brush.

Application of liquid skin

The procedure for applying the product depends on the defect that needs to be eliminated.

If there are only abrasions on the product, proceed as follows:

1. Apply a thin layer of liquid leather to the damaged area or to the entire surface of the product.
2. Trim the boundaries of the area being restored so that there are no bulges or thickenings.
3. If necessary, use a template stamp with a texture.
4. Leave the product to dry.

If you need to remove small cracks or cuts, follow these instructions:

1. Using the fingers of your left hand, connect the edges of the damaged material so that they are end to end.
2. Using a brush, apply a little liquid leather to the joint and wait until it dries, while continuing to fix the edges.
3. Apply a second layer of product, this time with a sponge, over a larger area.
4. If necessary, restore the original texture using a template stamp.
5. Wait until polymerization is complete.

In very difficult cases - when the product has deep and long cuts or tears - you should first fasten the edges of the holes, which requires fabric with an adhesive base (for example, non-woven fabric):

1. Glue the fabric on the wrong side by ironing it.
2. If it is not possible to turn the product inside out, take high-quality leather glue, lubricate the interlining with it and insert the fabric through the existing cut inside the product, so that the adhesive side is adjacent to the wrong side of the main material. Wait for the glue to dry (how long it will take should be written on the packaging).
3. On the outside, apply liquid leather in one or more layers, give it texture and leave until completely dry.

Liquid leather

One of the most popular products of this type is liquid leather made in Russia:

• General description: available in individual tubes of 125 ml or in sets (7 tubes of 20 ml), the range is represented by 7 main colors.
• Characteristics: the polymerization process begins in 20 minutes, complete drying is observed from 2 to 8 hours;
• Pros: easy to apply, hardens quickly; repairs through-hole damage.
• Cons: small color palette.

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Basic

There are many brands on the Russian market, but only some of them, judging by consumer reviews, deserve real attention.

Liquid Leather Repair

Made in Russia. Available in two packages:

• 7 multi-colored bottles of 20 ml;
• 1 tube of 125 ml of one color.

Polymerization occurs already in the 15th minute; the product can be used 6-8 hours after restoration, depending on the room temperature.

Leather Repair Kit

It is easy to apply, dries quickly, does not smell, the structure is dense, it can disguise even deep cracks and through cuts - these are advantages.

The downside is the minimal color palette, only 7 positions.

Leather Repair Item

Price 125 ml – 890 rubles, set of 7 tubes – 555 rubles.

Saphir Creme Renovatrice

Made in France. At a higher cost, it is much more popular than other products. This is due to the presence of fluorocarbon resins in the composition, which ensure 100% consistency in texture and durability. Even the patches on the seats and outerwear withstood more than 5 years of regular use.

Saphir Creme Renovatrice

Available in individual 25 ml tubes in 50 different colors. This is the largest color palette to date.

Color palette

The disadvantage is the high price - 465 rubles. for one tube.

Bradex

Made in Israel. The most convenient repair kit to use, which includes everything you need:

• tube of paint;
• putty knife,
• embossed kraft paper, which imitates the natural texture of the skin;
• a vinyl flap to level the layer;
• lining fabric for through cuts.

Available in sets of 7 tubes of 8 g. different colors.

Polymerization time is 45 minutes, complete drying time is up to 12 hours.

Long drying time and only 7 colors in the assortment prevent the Israeli restoration paste from becoming a worthy competitor to Saphir.

The price of the set is 555 rubles.

How to choose a restoration paste

The main recommendations concern color - all companies, with the exception of Saphir, produce liquid leather in only 7 basic colors, which is convenient, since it does not require “tone adjustment”. But if the leather item is of an unusual shade, it is better to buy a French repair kit, where you can choose the most suitable one among 50 colors.

Only abrasions, cracks and cuts can be repaired. Torn holes cannot be restored; you can try to make a patch, but the material must perfectly match the original.

Before you begin restoration, we recommend that you read the manufacturer’s instructions and first try on an inconspicuous area of ​​skin - on the back of the belt, under the collar, etc.

You can buy a product for working at home in online stores, construction and dealership centers.

Bradex liquid leather

Israeli liquid leather Bradex is a worthy competitor to other manufacturers, providing all the conditions for successful repairs:

• General description: available in sets of 7 pieces in different colors, the weight of the jar with the composition is 8 grams.
• Characteristics: drying time - from 8 to 12 hours.
• Pros: the repair kit includes all the necessary accessories (a spatula, embossed paper to imitate a leather surface, vinyl flap, lining fabric for holes).
• Cons: small selection of colors, takes a long time to dry.

Question answer

Storage of liquid skin

If the recommended storage conditions are observed - a temperature of about 0 degrees, the shelf life is 2 years. The natural service life of the used product for its intended purpose is about 35 years.

How to dilute liquid skin if it is dry?

If the paste thickens, it can be diluted with a small amount of alcohol or vodka.

How to wipe off loose skin?

You can carefully remove loose skin using alcohol-containing substances.

Liquid leather price

The product for restoring leather products is sold in sets of several colors, in individual tubes of the desired color, or as a spray. Black and beige colors are very popular. The price of liquid leather will depend on the brand, country of manufacture, and number of grams. The price range for the 3 most popular brands specializing in the production of the product ranges within 100 rubles:

Advice from Mobile Tailor

Liquid leather is a unique product that will help you correct small flaws in leather products, make them stronger, and improve the appearance of items that are no longer new. However, if the product requires more complex repairs and an integrated approach, we will be glad to see you among the regular clients of our studio who highly value our work, helping the Mobile Tailor create an impeccable image and maintain a high bar in the service market.

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How to choose liquid skin

Before purchasing a leather repair product, make sure that the damage to your item is small, as this material is only intended for minor cuts and scrapes. Otherwise, it is better to resort to gluing. Otherwise, the selection recommendations relate only to the color scheme. Most manufacturers specialize in producing the main 7 colors from the palette. With the help of the instructions you can get others. If the piece you are working with has an unusual color, you will find it in the Saphir catalog among 50 variations.

Repairing leather from a burnt cigarette

The simplest way to restore a surface damaged by a cigarette butt is to clean the face layer to eliminate unevenness. The putty is applied several times, allowing each layer to dry. Apply the final layer and remove excess composition with a soft material. The recipe for restoring the original appearance of a product is quite simple and accessible.

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Minor jacket repairs

The old method, used by people for many decades, does not lose relevance to this day. Knocked shoe socks or scratches on the sofa, a worn-out jacket or a favorite handbag that has lost its appearance can be repaired and updated with your own hands.

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