| Author | Message | ||
| Michael Klein (Malibumk)
Junior Member Username: Malibumk Post Number: 80 Registered: 5-2002 |
Long ago some concours guys told me that the secret ingredient in any leather treatment is Glycerin (sp ??). The product I've used for over 20 years is called "Bentley's" saddle soap and glycerin...about $5/qt in saddle shops and feed stores around CA. Better/equal to pristine clean at a fraction of the price...and much better than lexol...although I do use the lexol cleaner in the orange bottle to address body sweat soaked areas like the lower seat back and base. I have also been successful at bringing dryed/shrunken leather back or nearly back from the dead with repeated and/or plastic wrap over heavy applications of Leatherique Rejuvenator. My 2cents. | ||
| Brian W (Jetx)
New member Username: Jetx Post Number: 26 Registered: 6-2003 |
Most leather cleaners have a water base to them. Hell, 99% of hardwood floor cleaners have water as the base! The water in a damp cloth is to work the leather cleaner up into a lather. However, that doesn't mean a cloth dripping with water, nor does it mean let it 'air dry' which is very bad. Air dry = soak into the leather and cause all kinds of problems. Additionally, every leather is different and must be treated accordingly. Where you have to be *really* careful is untreated leather (suede is a good example). Untreated leather requires special soaps and cleaners. I have seen many newer Ferraris using suede or untreated leather on the dashboard and side panels. That stuff is a ••••• to keep clean. Most leather in Ferraris is treated leather. But like all directions say, test an area with the cleaner you're going to treat to make sure no problems crop up. Even leather cleaner can be misused and damage leather. My previous Ferrari had cream colored interior and I used AutoGlym leather care cream and Lexol leather cleaner. The AutoGlym leather cleaner required to much elbow grease and while Lexol did the same job with less pressure. This is just my experience. I've been dirtying up my T Cab, and while it may get a quick bath before next weeks event, it won't be until the next week that I give her the full detailing she needs. | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Advanced Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 4073 Registered: 9-2001 |
can you not put any water on the leather? I though leatherique pristine clean process calls for a damp rag? | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 646 Registered: 2-2003 |
Try driving 25k miles a year with a metallic black paint job. hehe ;) Sunny | ||
| Dom Vitarella (Dom)
Member Username: Dom Post Number: 283 Registered: 11-2002 |
I do also, but lately, the lack of time has been the biggest issue. Also, since I have two mistresses (GT4 and Alfa), it's double the work. I just bought a Porter Cable Random Orbit buffer and did my GT4 a couple of weeks ago. Of course, it's already starting to swirl again  The biggest issue I have with detailing is that it is tough to drive your car and keep it immaculate. Dom | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 643 Registered: 2-2003 |
Bart, sorry to hear of your misfortune. Brian, I do. Sick pseudo hobby strikes the right chord with my obsession with having a clean car all the time. | ||
| Brian W (Jetx)
New member Username: Jetx Post Number: 25 Registered: 6-2003 |
Ugh...Bart, when I see your car I'm going to go right up and say "Hey, what the hell happened to the dash?!?!" I detail my own cars (well, daily driver goes to the car wash which should be a no-no, but time...). I never use Armour All in the interior. Especially one covered in so much leather. Armour All is relegated to tire dressing and some engine hose (black rubber) detailing, and occasionally exterior black parts. For interior I use Autoglym Leather care and occasionally use Lexol for really stubborn dirt. In fact, I generally use 90% of Autoglym products, the best I've worked with. Does anyone detail their own cars here? No, I'm not knocking those that don't as I understand time is an issue. But for some reason, at least on my Ferrari (past and current) as well as past sports cars, I enjoy detailing. I like making my car look like it just got off the factory line. Plus, when washing the car, you can really "feel" the Pininfarina design. Maybe I get a little too excited by this, but there's something rewarding about detailing. It is time consuming. When I "clean" my car, usually takes about 2 1/2-3 hours ('light detail') while heavy "I want her to look purdy for Monterey" has taken me up to 5 + hours in the past. Hey Bart, if interested, next time you want to detail your car, bring it down my way and I'll help you. And I mean help (not me doing all the work while you watch). And no, I don't do this for a living (just a kind of sick psuedo hobby). | ||
| Ron Shirley (Easy_rider)
Member Username: Easy_rider Post Number: 572 Registered: 12-2002 |
I know the upholstery shop in No Ho if you want to deal with them directly. They are really good. | ||
| "The Don" (The_don)
Senior Member Username: The_don Post Number: 5814 Registered: 8-2002 |
I agree with Byron. Detailer needs to pay. With his cash and reputation. | ||
| Byron (Bmyth)
Member Username: Bmyth Post Number: 880 Registered: 10-2002 |
Bart... that really is unfortunate. I hope the detailer is picking up the tab on that one - it'll be the last time HE does the interior of a F-car again! | ||
| Bart Duesler (The_bart)
Junior Member Username: The_bart Post Number: 188 Registered: 1-2003 |
My desk overlooks the parking lot of my office. A few weeks ago I saw a detailer working on a black Lexus owned by John, a guy down the hall. After talking to John, I decided to use the detailer on my car. Big MISTAKE. Why was it a mistake? Well, let me tell you. The guy used a water based leather cleaner on my dash, something like Amour-All. Water on leather makes it shrink. The beautiful leather has now pulled back from the seams. Did you know the padding is yellow? I do because I can see it. The answer per my local dealer is to have him removed the dash, send it to a guy in North Hollywood to repair, and then have it put back into the car. Gee, sounds like fun. No car for a few weeks and the dealer and the upholsterer are doing this on the cheap. This Saturday when I parked my car in Pasadena, I must put a towel on the dash as I do not want anyone there to see my problem. Of course, nobody who reads this will be there and no one will try to see the problem. Yipes! |