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How 2 Crack Fill
Leather Restoration, Preservation, Cleaning & Customizing

 

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How to repair leather tears and deep cracks

Some leather tears or cracks are so severe, that the best repair is to replace the panel of leather with good quality leather, and then redye the panel to match.  It will also help with the form and future wear of the seat to have the upholstery shop check the padding under the upholstery.  Many times, the padding will remember the wear pattern of the user, and even with a mechanical repair, the crack will continue to reappear. 

If you with to proceed with a mechanical repair, don’t begin until after the leather has been thoroughly conditioned with Rejuvenator, is nourished and supple. 

Start by preparing the surface around the tear: Make sure it's supple, sanded as smooth as possible, very clean and dry.  A good wipe with ISP alcohol will ensure the area is clean.

To do the repair you’ll need:

A patch of thin leather or heavy canvas, we suggest the patch be about two inches  larger and wider than the tear.  We also suggest the patch be cut with curved corners, more of a circle, as that will be easier to maneuver, and you won’t have hard edges that can curl.  A narrow crack will require a patch about 4 inches wide, and then 2 inches longer on each end of the crack.

Contact adhesive formulated for leather that you can purchase at any Hobby Shop, like Hobby Lobby, or our customers have used liquid nails construction adhesive and have been pleased with the results. 

Wooden craft sticks or Popsicle sticks and toothpicks, these will be used to pop the patch in the crack, to center the patch, and to smooth the adhesive between the layers.

Paper towels and ISP alcohol, to clean up any errors.

  1. Lay the patch over the tear and ensure that the two coated sides are touching, and the fuzzy raw leather side is facing up towards you.  Use the craft stick to press it through the crack or tear to the underside of the leather.  Center the patch directly under the crack or tear.  Press and smooth it carefully and make sure there are no lurking air bubbles. 
  2. Apply a large drop of adhesive to the craft stick, and carefully apply it to the underside of the leather you are repairing.   Continue to apply until all the under surface is coated, and press again with a clean craft stick to make sure your patch is smooth.
  3. Apply another drop of the adhesive into the center of the crack or tear and use the craft stick to make sure that the area is sealed.  You’ll be putting crack filler or dye into the remaining scar, and you don’t want it to ooze out into the padding. 
  4. Use the paper towels and alcohol to clean any excess adhesive from the area. Smooth it out to eliminate air bubbles and press down edges.
  5. Use a butterfly bandage or some blue painters tape to hold the repair in place if necessary.  Let it dry and cure overnight.
  6. The next day, fill the remaining scar with crack filler if necessary, a little at a time, and allow to dry thoroughly before you apply more.  Don’t over fill.
  7. Complete your redye.  Because leather is a natural, imperfect surface, your repair will look like a natural barb wire tear, or insect bite that occurred when the hide was still on the animal. 

Extreme case using crack filler

 

 

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Last modified: 06/16/08