Despite the popularity of this product, many still do not know what liquid skin is. But it is with its help that you can save leather items that are quite suitable for use, but have lost their appearance - for example, a sofa scratched by a cat, a worn-out steering wheel in a car, shoes with “knocked down” toes.
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.
General recommendations:
- The most important thing in restoring leatherette is restoring the original pattern. For example, it is better to paint over a small damaged area with a brush or aerosol. Before starting work, it is advisable to degrease the surface for better adhesion of the artificial leather to the polymer.
- “Liquid skin” should be applied in two stages: first, on the damaged first layer, and two hours later, on the second.
- If the furniture has a large number of abrasions, cracks and cuts, then it will be impossible to restore it. You are unlikely to be able to restore the former appearance of a sofa with leatherette in a rare color (turquoise, light green, coral, purple), since the applied shade will differ from the factory color.
- It is impossible to recreate a complex leather pattern by using a napkin with a relief imprint, which is used only to imitate the fine structure of the leather covering.
- The aerosol coloring pigment should be sprayed at a distance of at least 20 cm. It is advisable to carry out painting work in a respirator or protective mask to reduce the risk of penetration of the product into the respiratory tract. Also, do not forget to wear plastic gloves on your hands, which are used by hairdressers when dyeing hair.
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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Leatherette sofa repair: it all depends on the scale of the problem
The first thing to do is to assess the scale and nature of the damage. Typically, people need to tidy up their sofa upholstery for the following reasons:
- spots appeared on it;
- cracks, scratches or tears have appeared on it in one or two places;
- it had completely fallen into disrepair - it was worn out, large holes formed on it.
It is quite easy to deal with stains, scratches and small tears on a sofa made of leather, both natural and artificial. But doing a complete re-upholstery yourself is more difficult.
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:
| Name | Qty | Price |
| Saphir (Sapphire) renovate | 25 ml | 350 - 400 rub. |
| Liquid leather | 125 ml | 650 rub. |
| Liquid leather | 7 jars of 20 ml | 650 - 750 rub. |
| Bradex | 7 jars of 20 ml | 330 - 486 rub. |
Manufacturing process
Eco-leather is a two-layer material , the bottom layer of which is made of fabric, and the top layer is a layer of polymers; they give the appropriate texture and the desired color. Cellulose, polyethylene, rubber, and protein substances are used to make the polymer layer. The United States was an innovator in the production of eco-leather, and soon Japanese specialists began to develop developments in this direction.
Most often, the following materials are used for the base :
- cotton is a natural fabric obtained from cotton;
- polyester is a synthetic fabric made from polyester fibers.
The top layer is best made from pouleritan, a rubber substitute. The bulk of it in industry is used for the production of shoe soles and car tires. This material is also used in the production of glue, sealant, paints and the like. The advantage of polyurethane is its high wear resistance and durability.
In its structure, this material has a porous structure and allows air to pass through , which improves the properties of eco-leather. In addition, polyurethane eco-leather is completely safe and free of chemical odor. The characteristic “leather” pattern on the surface of the material is obtained under high pressure. You can distinguish eco-leather from natural leather by the reverse side of the product. The woven base immediately reveals its artificial origin. In addition, eco-leather cannot be warmed up with the warmth of your hand; it always remains cold.
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.
Leatherette upholstery of an iron door
When insulating and soundproofing entrance doors, a leatherette layer is often used. It is the logical conclusion of the upholstery and a decorative part of the hallway. When working with a wooden door, everything is simple!
You can attach the layer using special nail holes. Glue is used for iron doors. This kind of work has many difficulties and features.
What should you pay attention to?
When choosing leatherette in a store, you need to pay attention to its quality and thickness. Thinner ones will hold less. When pulled on the door, it may become deformed. Don't forget about the sizes! The width of the roll should be 10-15 cm larger than the door.
You start by completely clearing the door of any bulges. Remove the lock, peephole and other items, and begin wiping with a water-containing substance (solvent). Depending on the required functions, glue the required number of layers. If you need serious insulation and sound insulation, use foam rubber and a special high-density fabric. The foam rubber is glued with glue, and the soundproofing blocks have a device - a sticky side. Lastly, the leatherette layer is adjusted. Attaching from top to bottom, stretch along the length and sides.
Before cutting out the holes for the lock and peephole, set the layers as correctly as possible without making any mistakes in size! Otherwise you will have to buy a new roll.
Types of glue
The choice of glue, in this case, is the most crucial moment of all cases. The service life depends on it. When considering the required glue, pay attention to the following characteristics:
- heat resistance;
- elasticity;
- viscosity.
Moment and contact adhesive 88 have these properties. In some cases, PVA is used.
Attention! When choosing PVA, do not forget about its variety. There are stationery, household and universal (construction) ones. The durability and effectiveness of the latter is suitable for application to the door.
How and with what to clean a leather sofa at home - 12 ways
Leather furniture looks impressive and is a decoration for any room. There is only one problem - not everyone knows how to wash this furniture correctly so as not to spoil the appearance. It is worth considering all the nuances of cleaning a leather sofa and the rules for caring for it.
Sources
- Puzakov S. Ya. Personnel Directory, in 2 volumes. T. 2; Prometheus - M., 2022. - 448 p.
- Daria Mikhailovna Moshkova Educational and scientific organizations as subjects of financial law; Prospect - M., 2012. - 450 p.
- Irina Anatolyevna Alabastrova Constitutionalism as a legal basis for social solidarity. Monograph; Prospect - M., 2009. - 815 p.
- Citizen and Law No. 08/2011; Gostekhizdat - Moscow, 2011. - 510 p.
- Lovtsov Dmitry Systemology of legal regulation of information relations in the infosphere; Gostekhizdat - Moscow, 2022. - 394 p.
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:
- Apply a thin layer of liquid leather to the damaged area or to the entire surface of the product.
- Trim the boundaries of the area being restored so that there are no bulges or thickenings.
- If necessary, use a template stamp with a texture.
- Leave the product to dry.
