Replacement or having
someone do a rewrap at an upholstery shop would be an expensive option.
Be cognizant that unless you
have a temporary replacement wheel you won’t be able to use your vehicle for at
least three days while your applying pigmentation and refinishing the wheel, so
plan accordingly
The leather
covering on a steering wheel is a very high wear area and is given an OEM clear
top coat urethane protective covering. Often the colour can wear through fairly
quickly as they are exposed to ultra violet (UV-B) radiation and heat which
causes them to lose moisture and dry out becoming brittle and subject to
cracking.
As the skin of your hands are in contact with bare leather,
perspiration and body oils are both acidic , which along with any dirt and
grime will become absorbed. Besides staining your leather, it will also make it
shiny and can also can weaken and break down the stitching as well as the
leather, degrading the finished leather leading to ultimate failure.
A few days before commencing
the actual leather renovation, clean the finished leather surfaces and then use
Leather Master™ Leather Degreaser to remove any body
oils and then apply Leather Master™ Soft, this is not a conditioner
per se but it will soften the finished leather and make it easier to work with.
Remove the Steering Wheel
Disconnect the negative battery terminal, and remove the steering
wheel. Once the wheel has been removed, remove all of the electronics and trim
plates.
Light Surface Scratches
Finished (urethane) leather
surface scratches (usually from jewellery (rings) or fingernails - for light
slightly scuffed surfaces use 2500 grit
finishing paper, with light pressure sand the area until the marks have faded.
For deeper scratches - Then
use a very thin application of Leather Master’s Leather Filler,
water- based acrylic paste that fills out scratches in leather or any part of
that grain that is missing.
All the steps
for preparation and pigmentation application are the same, although it’s a good
idea to use a mild degreaser to remove any oil or grease from the surface and then
proceed by removing the manufactured finish from the leather with leather
solvent; (Leather Masters™
Leather Degreaser) this
allows the pigmentation colorants to adhere and penetrate the leather, giving a
sound base covering, uniformity and to will ensure an original equipment
manufacturers (OEM) finish.
Use painter’s tape and/or masking paper around anything that
doesn’t require pigmentation applied (i.e. interior of the wheel and the rear
vinyl etc.
Urethane
Surface Cracks
As the leather hide loses moisture and
becomes dehydrated, it begins to shrink and stiffen. This leaves a miniscule
gap between the leather hide and the pigmented (colour) urethane coating on top
of it. The urethane coating is no longer supported by the hide; without proper
support, it starts to crack.
Pigmentation (Colour)
Renovation
Certain areas of your
vehicles leather interior like seats, upholstery, side mouldings and steering
wheels inevitably start to show signs of wear, even if well taken care of, that
spoil its overall impression. Often these imperfections are not serious and are
simply colour that has worn off or light scratches in the leather surface which
can be removed and will disappear with the right application technique and
leather pigmentation. Swisswax
Leather Refurbishing Pigmentation
Steering
wheels typically have a matte clear coat to protect them from ultra violet
(UV-B) light, so it’s important to replace this finish as it protects
and enhances the leather and preserves its durability. Leather World Technologies Top Coat is a water-based clear coating for
finished (pigmented) leather. This product provides a clear finish designed to
give abrasion protection and better durability for finished leather.
Allow the
pigmentation to cure for 24 hours before the application of the clear coat.
Apply with a clean lint free 100% cotton micro fibre towel, being careful to
apply a two thin uniform coats (allow each coat to thoroughly dry) to reduce
build-up and streaks, allow to dry for 24 -36 hours; dependent upon temperature
and humidity. This type of clear paint can be 'heat cured' with infra-red heat,
a heat gun or a hair dryer
Finally apply a surface a protection product Leather
Masters Protection Cream with a dry micro fibre towel and allow to thoroughly
dry and then lightly buff. This provides a Scotchgard™ type protection
specifically formulated for leather
Note: the same methodology and
products can be used on leather shift stick (gear knob) covers
Leather Stitching
If the stitching and
finished leather surfaces are different colours try to avoid allowing any
pigmentation to dry on the stitching; to remove wipe with a water-based solvent
cleaner. Leather stitching is usually cotton and nylon mix, nylon is attacked
by harsh petroleum distillate solvents, they melt it and weaken the threads,
which may cause the stitching to fail over time
Stitching is somewhat
friable if subjected to excessive abrasion, bearing this in mind the cleaner
needs to ‘do the work’ without relying on friction.
To renovate / clean stitching using a medium / hard horse hair
brush, a toothbrush or a sponge
Its greatest enemies are;
sun, heat, oil (including body oils) perspiration (that contains urea as well
as organic salts and acids) and Try to avoid getting leather chemicals on the
stitching or in the seams as it can discolour some threads. If the chemical
gets in between panels, it may be difficult to get it out. This may even weaken
the backing at the seams.
Leather stitching is usually
cotton and nylon mix, nylon is attacked by solvents, they melt it and weaken
the threads. An oil-based product will attract abrasive dirt / grit and
permeated the leather via the stitching, the oil will soften the leather, and
the abrasive dirt plus friction may cause the leather to tear and / or the
stitching to fail. Do not use harsh solvent-based cleaners as this may cause
the stitching to fail over time
Stitching is somewhat
friable if subjected to excessive abrasion. Bearing this in mind the cleaner
and applicator (a semi-soft toothbrush is ideal) needs to ‘do the work’ without
relying on excess friction
a)
Clean stitching using a medium / hard horse hair brush, a toothbrush or a
sponge, spray and work the aqueous (water- based) cleaner (Leather
Masters™ Cleaner ) don't spray on directly
on to the surfaces , spray on the brush, constantly rinse the brush in clean
water, remove cleaner by rinsing with clean water.
b)
Use an aqueous (water- based) foaming cleaner;
Leather Masters™ Foam Cleaner, shake aerosol thoroughly
and then lightly rub surface
and immediately wipe with a terry towel to remove excess moisture. You may need
to repeat this process.
Once the stitching and the seating surfaces are clean
apply Leather Masters™ Leather Protection this will help to keep the
stitching clean and inhibit the ingress of dirt and soil
Do not use solvent or solvent –based
cleaners as the surface colour mwy run and stain/dye the stitching (see
Leather Master™ Leather
Degreaser
Is an aerosol product for
cleaning oily stains; it dissolves and removes oil and grease from finished
leather surfaces. This cleaner can be applied for cleaning all types of leather
(check for colour fastness) this aerosol product is ideal for cleaning this type
of stain as it dissolves the oils and transforms them into a powder that is
more absorbent than the leather.
This powder is what is wiped off, cleaning and
degreasing the leather.
Allow the white powder to dry fully. If the powder
is drying to a yellow colour, it means that there are still a lot of oils in
the leather.
I
would like to think that these articles become an asset to anyone who is new to
detailing and to professional’s alike, as well as industry experts who seek to
advance their knowledge.
I hope the
above article was informative. By having some understanding of the ‘What’ and
‘Why’ as well as the ‘How’ along with a little science to help you understand
how the chemicals we use react, you can achieve the results you desire.
I would appreciate it if you would share
this article as it helps other detailers further their knowledge.
Questions and/ or constructive comments
are always appreciated.
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