Instructions Read
through the instructions completely before beginning so you are familiar with
the entire process. Color Kit Instructions Use these instructions to apply the color
coating to your leather. If you purchased the Leather Repair Kit, you will find
the instructions for repairing cracking, creases, holes, rips, and cuts further
down on this page. Gather Necessary Materials 1) The items from your order. This will include
the liquid or aerosol color, application brush (for brush-on kits), and
Triclean prep cleaner. 2) Additional items (not provided) that may be
needed: Paper towels,
cloth towels, or shop rags (preferably lint-free) Masking
tape, newspaper, drop cloth or cardboard to cover everything that is not
to be repaired or re-colored. (Carpet, kick panels, center consoles, seat
belts, hinges, etc.) Hair dryer (a must to speed
up drying time on the color and the repair products). 3) Wear latex gloves during the entire process. 4) Seats can be removed from the vehicle -
but it is not necessary. 5) Place work materials in close proximity to
work area and be sure to work in a well-ventilated location. Test the Color 1) If the proper color has been ordered, the
match with the original leather should be extremely close. However, we still
recommend that you ALWAYS check the color match before starting. 2) Apply a few coats to an inconspicuous
area and allow to dry completely. The color will look lighter when it is
wet than it will once it is dry. 3) Observe the color match in direct natural
sunlight if possible. 4) If there is a slight difference in color, you
can minimize the visual difference during application by applying it to a wider
area. (More details on this technique in the Applying Color step below) 5) Once you have checked the color, clean it
from the surface immediately (if desired) with the Triclean cleaner. The longer
the color coating is left on after drying, the more difficult it becomes to
remove. Cleaning and Prepping the Surface IMPORTANT NOTES: -A complete, thorough prep cleaning of the
area is the key to successful results in the repair and re-coloring process. -Proper preparation of the surface will ensure maximum adhesion and
durability of all products. -Nearly all
original surfaces are protected by coats of anti-adherent products that must be
removed before proceeding with the coloring process. -Always use clean lint-free
towels or paper towels if possible. 1) Pour the Triclean prep cleaner
provided in your kit liberally to a rag, paper towel, etc and
wipe vigorously on the surface to be re-colored. Some of the original
color may be removed during this process. This is normal, so don't be alarmed.
(Tip: A ScotchBrite pad can be used to help clean in creases and cracks) 2) With the surface still wet, use a clean rag
or paper towel to remove the dirt, silicone, body oils, conditioners and
other contaminants that were loosened with the Triclean and dry the area. 3) It's best to clean a complete panel (seam to
seam) to allow for proper blending of the color. 4) Repeat the Triclean prep cleaning over the
entire area again to remove any remaining residue. The long-term durability of
your repair is very dependent on the surface being free of contaminants. Applying the Color - Be sure to check the color match. - Cover the surrounding area with drop cloths,
newspaper, tape, or cardboard to prevent overspray or spills onto unintended
areas. -
Shake color well. - Color should be applied in several light
coats - NOT ONE THICK COAT! The least amount of
color used produces a much better finish and will last longer. This is a
situation where less is best. AEROSOL APPLICATION: 1) Follow directions on the back of the aerosol
color can. Practice spraying the color on a sheet of paper
or cardboard before attempting to spray on your intended target. Spraying
light color coats will yield better results than heavier color coats. The less amount of color applied, the better.
Always dry between coats. 2) Apply a thin color coat to
all worn or repaired areas first. Apply the color with smooth, overlapping
coats. Do not attempt to achieve good color coverage on the first coat. 3) Allow the color coat to completely dry to
touch (about 15-20 minutes) before applying a second coat, it should feel
smooth to the touch and not tacky when dry. Use a hair dryer to speed dry time.
Don't be alarmed if the color is streaked, additional color coats will even out
the color. 4) Apply additional color coats in the same
manner as the first extending the spray pattern as necessary to blend in the
surrounding area; thus making the repair less noticeable. FOAM BRUSH APPLICATION: 1) Carefully remove the cap from the bottle and
pour a small amount of color into a plastic cup. Replace the cap on the bottle
of color to avoid drying out of the remaining product. 2) Dip the foam brush into the color, wetting
only about the first 1/2 inch. Wipe off excess. Less color on foam brush will
provide better results. 3)
Apply a thin color coat to all repaired areas first, do not
attempt to achieve good color coverage on the first coat. Apply the color with
smooth, even strokes. If bubbles or runs appear in applied color, use the foam
brush to even out the color before drying. 4) Allow the color coat to completely dry to
touch (about 15-20 minutes) before applying a second coat, it should feel
smooth to the touch and not tacky when dry. Use a hair dryer to speed dry time.
Don't be alarmed if the color is streaked, additional color coats will even out
the color. 5) Apply additional color coats in the same
manner as the first extending the color as necessary to blend in the
surrounding area; thus making the repair less noticeable. Important Information on
Color Application - Do not let foam brush dry out with the color
on it. Continuously clean brush with water and dry with towel to insure
softness and flexibility. - When applying color in cold conditions, always
warm the leather or vinyl before applying first color coat. Use a hair dryer to
dry the color between coats. - When applying color in hot conditions, always
cool the leather or vinyl before applying first color coat. Otherwise the color
may dry too fast and streak when applied. Cool the leather to a moderate
temperature using the automobile air conditioning system and/or a clean, damp
cloth. - Color completely cures in 24 hours,
though it will be dry enough to sit on within 2 hours. Just be extremely
careful with it during the first 24 hours. Wrapping up Over-spray: If there is over-spray on anything, simply wipe
it off before drying. If it has already dried, use the Triclean to remove
it. Again, the longer the color coat dries, the harder it becomes to
remove. Clean Up: The color used in this kit is water based and may be cleaned
from your skin by means of soap and water. Triclean or rubbing alcohol (not
supplied) may also be used for cleaning application equipment. For the first
couple of hours, clean-up will be relatively easy. After 24 hours clean-up may be extremely difficult. Wash foam brushes
in warm water and liquid soap. Leather Repair Instructions Use these instructions for repairing holes,
cuts, and deep cracking in your leather prior to applying the color coat. Gather Necessary Materials 1) The repair items from your Leather Repair Kit order. This
will include Triclean prep cleaner, leather repair compound, compound
applicator tool, leather adhesive, sub-patch material, and sandpaper. 2) Additional items (not provided) that may be needed: Paper towels, cloth towels,
or shop rags (preferably lint-free) Masking tape, newspaper, drop
cloth or cardboard to cover everything that is not to be repaired or
re-colored. (Carpet, kick panels, center consoles, seat belts, hinges, etc.) Hair dryer (a must to speed
up drying time on the color and the repair products). Nail clippers, scissors, or razor blade. 3) Wear latex gloves during the entire process. 4) Seats can be removed from the vehicle - but it
is not necessary. 5) Place work materials in
close proximity to work area and be sure to work in a well-ventilated location.
Repairing Surface Cracks or Creases Since most surface cracking is in the original color coat and not the leather itself, sanding (smoothing) the surface with fine grit sand paper is sometimes all that is necessary before re-coloring. 
1) Wet the sandpaper provided in your kit with the Triclean prep cleaner and lightly wet sand the cracked or creased area. This
will smooth any rough or jagged edges. You will notice some of the original color coat coming off during this step. Continue sanding down to bare leather if
needed. DO NOT SAND THE
SEAMS (where the stitching is showing). You will end up with frayed threads if
you do. 2) Use the Triclean prep cleaner and a paper
towel or rag to clean the entire sanded area to remove excess sanding residue. Allow the surface
to dry before proceeding. Drying time may be accelerated with a hair dryer.
If the surface is now smooth with no cracks, you may proceed to the top of the page and follow the directions for Prepping and Applying the Color Coat. If there are still noticeable cracks or other damage, continue to the next section on Applying Leather Repair Compound. 
Applying Leather Repair Compound After sanding, if the leather
surface still has slight cracking, nicks or imperfections that go into the
surface but do not go all the way through, then the Leather Repair Compound is
required to fill the damage and level it with the surrounding surface. 1) Carefully remove any frayed
edges with nail clippers, scissors, or a razor blade. 2) When spreading the repair
compound with the application tool, keep the blade at a 45-degree angle. Begin
the stroke slightly before the area that you wish to repair. With light even
pressure, drag the repair compound over the damaged area. Too much pressure on
the blade will cause the compound to be pushed out; too little pressure will
create distinctive edges where the compound stops. 3) Apply the repair compound first
just in the damaged area with the application tool. DO NOT TRY TO FILL THE
DAMAGED AREA IN ONE LAYER! Several thin layers make a stronger repair and it takes
less time to dry. Use the hair dryer to speed drying between layers. (Air
drying will take at least 20 minutes). 4) Apply additional thin layers of
repair compound extending just beyond the edges of the previous layer. Use a hair dryer to dry
between layers as needed. When the repair area is level with the surrounding
surface and is completely dry, you may proceed to the top of the Instruction page and follow the directions for Prepping and Applying the Color Coat. 
Important Information on Applying Repair Compound - The repair compound should only be applied to an area not to
exceed approx. 1 inch beyond the damaged area. - Keep the hair dryer approx. 12 inches
from the surface to avoid over-heating and damaging the leather surface or
repair compound.
-To blend the repair compound edges, lightly wet
your finger with water and smooth the edges before the compound dries. After
the repair compound dries, use the Triclean to smooth the repair compound. Light
sanding is also an option, but care must be taken not to accidentally catch an
edge with the sand paper.
Repairing Holes, Rips, or Cuts When the damage consists of a hole, rip or cut in the leather, a sub-patch is glued underneath the surface to reinforce and add strength to the repaired area. 1) Use sharp scissors to cut any jagged edges from inside the repair. Avoid making the hole or cut and larger than necessary.  2) Cut a piece of sub-patch material (provided) at least 1/2” diameter larger than the hole. 3) If a small amount of foam under the damaged area is missing, replace with small foam pieces (cotton balls can also be used) to level out the repair area before patching. 4) Using the spatula or a pair of tweezers, push the sub-patch material that you already cut to size under the leather. Be certain that the sub-patch is between the leather and the foam padding underneath. Center the sub-patch material so that it is centered in all directions under the hole. 5) Open the bottle of Leather Adhesive provided, place the nozzle between the sub-patch material and the underside of the leather and squeeze out small amounts of adhesive. Be certain that all areas of the sub-patch material are glued to the underside of the leather. The spatula can be used to spread out the adhesive. Be sure to clean the spatula with the Triclean after using. 6) Dry completely to ensure maximum sub-patch adhesion (15 to 20 minutes) or use hair dryer to accelerate dry time. TIP: Use light pressure with your hand, a phone book or masking tape; to hold the two pieces together until the edges are dry and bonded. Check adhesion by lightly pulling on the edges. TIP: Remove any Adhesive from the top of the leather or vinyl with the Triclean. The repair is now ready for the application of Leather Repair Compound as instructed just above.
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