Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: derek west on April 21, 2009, 12:43:10 pm

Title: my first leather auto
Post by: derek west on April 21, 2009, 12:43:10 pm
just done my first leather job on a nice BMW.
what dya think guys, go easy, its my first auto and only my 3rd colour mix so i'm still new to the game.

anyway i'm happy but unfortunately the custy hasn't seen it yet so i'll find out tonigfht if he's pleased or not.
flingers clossed.
derek
Title: Re: my first leatheer auto
Post by: daysdeepclean on April 21, 2009, 12:46:21 pm
I'd be happy with that as a custy mate :)

A vast improvement by any measures.....
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on April 21, 2009, 01:14:03 pm
I think that's good, leather work is is satisfying go on then Mr.West how much?

Shaun
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: derek west on April 21, 2009, 01:32:12 pm
one'r.
took 3 hours minus 3 brews, 4 ciggies and a 20 min chat with the custys dad.
i'm happy with that.
derek
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: kinder clean on April 21, 2009, 01:36:37 pm
Nice job Derek

Did you do your training with furniture clinic? What was the cost of the training and the kit including your colours etc ?

Paul - Kinder Clean
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: clinton on April 21, 2009, 01:42:13 pm
Thats a good job done derek :)

I would be pleased if that was my car.
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: derek west on April 21, 2009, 02:03:00 pm
paul
did my training with LTT in harrogate. did all 4 days and loved every minute of it,
prices for the courses are on there website, www.lttsolutions.net (i think!) and the kit varies in price depending on what you need, i all ready had my cleaning stuff and lacquers so didn't need to buy them again.
all in all, worth every penny.

and like shaun said, the satisfaction you get from repairing leather beats carpet cleaning hands down, if i could get enough work from leather cleaning and repairing alone, there'd be a top notch TM for sale straight away, either that or i'd get my mate to run that side of the biz.
derek
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Joe H on April 21, 2009, 02:08:57 pm
Looks a nice job Derek.
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Mike Osbourne on April 21, 2009, 02:18:39 pm
Well done Derek, that should 'bolster' your confidence with leather. ;)
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Doctor Carpet (Ret'd) on April 21, 2009, 03:01:40 pm
Fantastic job Derek. That'll give you confidence for the next one.

Good on yer!
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: clinton on April 21, 2009, 04:39:16 pm
Roger

Did you get the site sorted ???
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on April 21, 2009, 05:00:54 pm
Very impressive!!
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: CarPete Cleaning on April 21, 2009, 05:18:19 pm
Well Done Derek - looks like a great result to me !!

Good to see that you are putting skills we learnt to good use.

cheers,
Pete
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on April 21, 2009, 05:24:43 pm
I think that the hardest bit is mixing the colour after that it's quite easy, oh and finding the work regularly, Furniture Clinic do a franchise where they pass you work on from their website.

Shaun
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: LTT Leathercare on April 21, 2009, 05:35:09 pm
LTT do a referral service without having to pay for a franchise!!
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: derek west on April 21, 2009, 05:38:26 pm
pete
you done any yet? thats my second colour mix out side of ltt, + the one me and you did. must admit i'm enjoying it but i could do with a lot more leather work. its amazing how, once youve done the restoration training the cleaning improves dramatically, main reason being, if you scrub a bit to hard you can always rectify the problem, ive cleaned 2 suites since our course and noticed paint transfer on my cloth, so i always lacquer afterwards to seal it in.

think i need to pull my finger out and start pushing this side of the business.

"RICKYYYYYYYYYYY" ;D any news?

derek
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on April 21, 2009, 05:42:05 pm
Don't forget the £90 fee though Judy ;D

I do get some from FC but prefer to source my own work but FC's come FOC.

Shaun
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: LTT Leathercare on April 21, 2009, 05:46:01 pm
What £90.00 fee is that Shaun????? ???
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on April 21, 2009, 05:49:25 pm
The one you wanted to take off me to add you to your website when we spoke last time.

Shaun

PS was it £90? thinking about it may have been more.
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: LTT Leathercare on April 21, 2009, 05:56:33 pm
The referral scheme does not work like that Shaun. 
You are referring to the advertising on the website which we no longer do
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on April 21, 2009, 06:01:10 pm
Ok not wanting to argue, quick comments can make the worst out of us on here, sure you agree.

Shaun
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus) on April 21, 2009, 06:47:53 pm
Judy

How does the referral scheme differ to what I paid for last October ?

Steve
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on April 21, 2009, 07:17:59 pm
Derek why who do you know who has a top notch TM  ;D ;D ;D ;D :-*
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: derek west on April 21, 2009, 08:51:24 pm
thanks for the compliments colin shaun clinton mike paul roger pete sky.
just have to see if it lasts and doesn't start peeling off.
only time will tell
derek
ps... sorry tony, can't be ar**d.
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Peter Blackburn on April 21, 2009, 10:43:41 pm
I have put a halt on all leather repair jobs and let potential customers know this.

The product supplier I dealt with listened to my concerns and seemed to act almost immediately by appointing a product development manager who in turn modified some old products.

Once I have been convinced 100% that products have improved drastically, and customers are left with a lasting repair I will start repairing again. Until this time, no chance.

Peter
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: derek west on April 21, 2009, 10:46:19 pm
who's products do you use peter?
derek
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on April 21, 2009, 10:47:21 pm
Peter would you email me the supplier please?

shaun_ashmore@lineine.net

Shaun
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Peter Blackburn on April 21, 2009, 11:20:34 pm
Shaun, Derek,

I'm not mentioning any names. The supplier is forward thinking and very professional, I've been impressed with them always.

I’m told the issues I had with products have been delt with now, and I’m sure if you were to buy now they should be good. I think December 2008 was I the turn around, prior to this date a small number of essential products needed to change in my opinion.
Once I have seen some practical evidence I will restart this side of things again and have much more confidence.


Pete
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: derek west on April 21, 2009, 11:36:49 pm
no names is fine, but how about north south east west or mid uk, just so we know who it might not be. ;D

derek
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on April 22, 2009, 06:38:02 am
What's the point of making us worry then?

Shaun
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Ricky M on April 22, 2009, 06:56:44 am
Peter , doing the I know but im not saying crap , get a grip man

Derek nice ,good price , thats the right side of the game to tap are you using only LTT products or looking at the whole market for your supplies ?

Mums the word and you promised rem at least for a few months  8)
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: robert meldrum on April 22, 2009, 08:01:28 am


O K Pete

You've got us worried about potential disasters.  Most of us use either or both of the well known suppliers who visit this forum and from your comments someone should be telling us something.

Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: derek west on April 22, 2009, 08:12:31 am
i only use ltt products, feel confident with them.
derek

ps... hope its his local B&Q ;D
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Mike Halliday on April 22, 2009, 12:14:46 pm
lets says its Furniture Clinic or LLT shall we, but we all know which one he's talking  about, but don't have the bottles to say it ::) ::)

the way I see it is.... something was'nt right, and they took action to rectify the problem. whats the problem with saying who it is?

Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: derek west on April 22, 2009, 01:06:35 pm
i don't mike, i have no idea which one he's on about.
email me the answer derek@affordablecleaners.co.uk
still got my fingeers crossed its B&Q ;D
derek
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: clinton on April 22, 2009, 01:10:03 pm
Il go for the b and q :)
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Neil Mc Anulty on April 22, 2009, 01:51:04 pm
Well I got a letter recently from furniture clinic, cant find it at the minute, but the general idea was that there had been a change to some products and if i needed any further info to contact them. This could be someting to do with it.
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: derek west on April 22, 2009, 02:07:49 pm
phew!

derek
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Peter Blackburn on April 22, 2009, 09:27:21 pm
Shaun, didn’t mean to worry you, was thinking whilst typing. I didn’t want to mention names just in case they didn’t want me too.

Oh well, it was Furniture Clinic. I found there water based lacquers didn’t have lasting adhesion. The balms were transferred to customers clothing no matter how much they were buffed off. and a few other issues.
It was mainly adhesion problems.

Its all sorted now though, an additive that I think is made by 3M that makes there lacquer the best available and almost impossible to remove once cured, this seals the pigment for good.
I think but I’m not sure that they have removed the balms and replaced with proper aniline dye.
There has been a few other changes that I’m not sure of. I will look forward to trying the new products. 

So please don’t have nightmares Shaun, do sleep well!

Pete

Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on April 22, 2009, 09:33:28 pm
Sounds like crime watch ;D thanks Pete and thanks for taking it in the right way.

Shaun
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Mike Osbourne on April 22, 2009, 10:44:52 pm
Someones going to dine out on this one. ::)

So when were these products released, is it very recent?
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: clinton on April 22, 2009, 10:50:44 pm
Think someone already is ::)
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Mike Osbourne on April 22, 2009, 10:53:38 pm
Just another brick in the wall.  ;D
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Peter Blackburn on April 22, 2009, 11:07:04 pm
-------------------------------------------------------------------The End----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 ;D
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Ben Staerck on April 24, 2009, 09:25:15 am
I thought I would just clarify what has happened here.

On some leathers, when you apply the Leather Colourant - PU, it can go slightly tacky. This is due to reactions with plasticiser, grease, oil or whatever else could be in the leather.

The original PU finish we had didn't always take this tackiness away. About 6 months ago we increased the strength of the finish so that it 100% sealed this in.

About 3 months ago we put a new additive (not from 3M), into the finish. This really toughened the finish up, making it almost impossible to remove once applied and cured. The new additive offers great scuffs and scratch resistance.

So, if you have any finish older than 6 months, I would advise replacing it. Other than that, its all good to use. All new finish is being supplied with the additive in. It also grealty improves the testure and of leather.

As for the balms, we still sell these, but we have also added leather dyes to the range. Peter, I am unsure how the balm would rub off onto peoples clothes, as once it is applied it really is colour fast. The only thing I can think of is, if it is applied to a pigmented leather, it will only soak into the exposed leather and not through the paint. So, it can require a lot of buffing if over applied.

If on aniline or pull up, if you put too much on, it will sit on the surface and not soak in (the leather can only absorb so much) so will require buffed off. It is always best to coat the leather with protection cream after.

Other additions to our range are;

1. New Glue. Once applied, this is tougher than the leather. We have tested this and if you fix a tear, and try and rip it open again, the leather rips before the tear.
2. New prep. Stronger than the old and not as smelly!
3. Degreaser, but this has been out a while now.
4. Matting agent. To kill the shine on the colours.

hope this clears things up
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Mike Halliday on April 24, 2009, 10:27:07 am
so  the 900mls of matt pu finish & 800ml of gloss finish I have needs to be chucked away?

or should I still use it the colourant shows no signs of tackiness?


Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Ben Staerck on April 24, 2009, 02:05:27 pm
so  the 900mls of matt pu finish & 800ml of gloss finish I have needs to be chucked away?

Yeah, I checked your order history and it was a while ago when you ordered finish.  I'll send you out a litre of each today to replace them.

If anyone else needs finish replaced I am happy to do so, but I will need to be able to check your last order dates to make sure you do have the oldest stuff. So please, no funny business  ;D
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Mike Halliday on April 25, 2009, 03:09:56 pm
bye eck, you must had done it straight away! got the new stuff this morning

thanks

I remember you saying that if I require a matt finish I should put a coat of gloss on first to give added strength then over coat it with the matt, is this still the case with this new stuff?
Title: Re: my first leather auto
Post by: Ben Staerck on April 26, 2009, 12:11:00 pm
No, its not really that necessary. The matt is vert strong. I would still imagine that the gloss is ever so slightly stronger is it is more pure, so if you were ever unsure about a job, it could always be worthwhile putting a coat of gloss down first.

However, just so you know, all the jobs we do in our workshop are just finished with 3 coats of either matt, satin or gloss.