Need advice on reducing puckering on vintage leather jacket

• Aug 20, 2017

• #1

Jägernaut

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I took my 40-50's Californian jacket to a local tailor for relining, loose stitch repair and a hole repair. When I got the jacket back after about 2 months, the leather was noticeably drier. When trying it on at home, my wife noticed puckering near the hole repair. Don't know what would have caused such a big difference on such a large area. The hole repair is horrible to boot. I would have asked her to redo it if I trusted her but it's already worse off from being in her possession.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions to get the leather smooth again.

This is a pic of what it looked like before. The damage is on the rear yoke btw.

And here is a couple of shots of the horror.

 

• Aug 20, 2017

• #2

Jägernaut

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This area in particular is stiff now.

 

• Aug 21, 2017

• #3

Monitor

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She ironed it with a steam iron.

 

• Aug 21, 2017

• #4

Seb Lucas

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I would work on giving the leather some conditioning to soften it. Generally if you want to flatten out wrinkles you wet the area in question and then flatten it under some heavy hard back books on a flat surface. I'e had good results doing this.

 

• Aug 21, 2017

• #5

Jägernaut

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Will give that a try. Thanks.

 

• Aug 21, 2017

• #6

Plumbline

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Have to agree with Monitor ... looks like it's been ironed. This may be recoverable with conditioning and stretching ..... sadly it may not

 

• Aug 21, 2017

• #7

jacketjunkie

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Looking at this, I get seriously scared about bringing the recently bought vtg Vanson to the local tailor...

 

• Aug 21, 2017

• #8

Monitor

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Yeah, soak it with leather conditioner and work the wrinkly part in with your fingers.

This is why I dread taking a leather jacket to a tailor. . .

 

• Aug 21, 2017

• #9

Big J

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Yeah, Monitor has NAILED IT.
It's caused by the application of heat shrinking protein chains (think of how your bacon shrinks when you put it in a hot pan).
The tailor did this because ironing other fabrics is SOP after a repair to remove creases, but they did it on leather demonstrating that they have no experience in this field.
You could try a huge application of Ph neutral Vaseline and a flat heavy weight as Seb suggests, but this is a change in the leather proteins molecular structure, so I think you're screwed.
My condolences.

 

• Aug 21, 2017

• #10

Jägernaut

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Well that's depressing.

 

• Aug 21, 2017

• #11

handymike

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You could try steaming it from the inside. It might need some conditioner afterwards if it dries out.

 

• Aug 21, 2017

• #12

Monitor

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I'd avoid steam. Simply ironing it over a towel or something might help a bit - can't hurt the jacket at least, not at this point - but steam might only make it worse or spread the wrinkling, if not done properly.
If she had just ironed the stitched bit, it'd be okay but that part of the jacket was well soaked. You can tell she was ironing the stitches with the tip of the iron while the rest was steaming underneath... So lousy. I just don't get, isn't it like common knowledge you don't iron leather???

 

• Aug 21, 2017

• #13

Jägernaut

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The hole wasn't bad at all. I wish I didn't have her mess with it. It was more of an afterthought.

 

• Aug 21, 2017

• #14

photo2u

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I feel for you friend. Most tailors do not have experience with leather. I always take my leather repair to a trusted leather tailor in Tijuana. I have been taking my items to him for a long time. This type of tailors are a dying breed. It is sad, but in my area this NO ONE who can do this type of work.

It is a shame but your jacket looks so cool. I have use regular beef lard to repair horsehide leather. However, I do not think is a good idea because the lard treatment will make leather darker.

 

• Aug 27, 2017

• #15

Jägernaut

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Just wanted to thank you guys for your suggestions and Seb Lucas in particular. Not only did the leather soften and relax, but it also flattened enough that it looks more natural.

 

• Aug 27, 2017

• #16

Seb Lucas

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Great news. Show us a pic.

 

• Aug 27, 2017

• #17

seres

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Yes, good news! It's always refreshing to hear of successful outcomes for problems.

 

• Aug 27, 2017

• #18

Dumpster Diver

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With Repair Jobs like this, You'd be better off sending your Jackets to ME for repair!!! AUGH!!! I could do %100 percent better job than these turkeys!!! I'd charge ya next to nothing! Let me get this straight...you actually PAID to have your Jacket totally screwed by someone else!

It's Just like home wreck-0-vations.

I suggest living with, nay, FLAUNTING the imperfection as a reminder that sometimes two wrongs don't make a right.

Looks like good fortune that it wore back in *Phew* that was close.

 

Last edited: Aug 27, 2017