Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

How to age (or destroy?) a CXL FQHH Highwayman (pic heavy)

Jejupe

Practically Family
Messages
957
Location
Finland
I disagree. This CAL is less than 50 and has similar wear.
View attachment 117527 View attachment 117528
View attachment 117529

I think willyto is right when he says that real wear and aging doesn't look as even as my work. When looking at this CAL its evident that for example some of the seams are still black while others are worn through.

However, my goal was not to create a replica of a real 50 year old jacket. Otherwise I would have also rubbed it with oil, road grime, food, beer and all possible bodily fluids and excrements.
 

marmalademan

Banned
Messages
373
As it is now it's still mostly black, but with lots of worn bits where the colour is gone. I think were this reversed it would be an improvement. Would make the '''nipples' less prominent too
 

kronos77

One of the Regulars
Messages
257
Location
Pennsylvania
Did the dryer remove the shiny coating from the leather completely. It is hard to tell from pictures. It looks like it may have dulled it but not removed it like alcohol would.
 

Jejupe

Practically Family
Messages
957
Location
Finland
Did the dryer remove the shiny coating from the leather completely. It is hard to tell from pictures. It looks like it may have dulled it but not removed it like alcohol would.

I have never experimented alcohol with jackets so I cannot tell the difference. It definately dulled the coating and removed it completely from certain places.
 

Jejupe

Practically Family
Messages
957
Location
Finland
11289421_1229531010396976_2911510911800907448_o.jpg
Here's an example how real aging of 25 years looks on a BLACK FQHH Highwayman. Maybe I should just sand some more?

11329938_1229531150396962_2022462454231983759_n.jpg
 

Dickie Teenie

A-List Customer
Messages
367
Location
Iowa now Athens Gr.
I'd stay away from the steel wool, it looks to me like you really got some deep scratches most noticeably the close up pic of the bottom zip area. Maybe with a little time it will mellow out and blend better but I'd go with various grades of Sandpaper with several go overs.
 
Messages
15,563
Location
East Central Indiana
11289421_1229531010396976_2911510911800907448_o.jpg
Here's an example how real aging of 25 years looks on a BLACK FQHH Highwayman. Maybe I should just sand some more?

11329938_1229531150396962_2022462454231983759_n.jpg
I can't imagine that this is a 'naturally' aged black CXL jacket of 25 years. Most of the black finish shouldn't be worn off like that unless the owner rode a motorcycle to work each day in a light sand storm. Just doesn't make sense. I would say that was done with an alcohol rub of some sort.
BTW I have at least one or two inside pockets in each of my Aero jackets. Some with snaps and some without. None show through..but I don't sand or rub my chest against walls. However, I have seen some pockets that show through. I don't know why unless the owner stuffs them full with items all the time.
 
Last edited:

Jejupe

Practically Family
Messages
957
Location
Finland
I can't imagine that is a 'naturally' aged black CXL jacket of 25 years. Most of the black finish shouldn't be worn off like that unless the owner rode a motorcycle to work each day in a light sand storm. Just doesn't make sense. I would say that was done with an alcohol rub of some sort.
BTW I have at least one or two inside pockets in each of my Aero jackets. Some with snaps and some without. None show through..but I don't sand or rub my chest against walls. However, I have seen some pockets that show through. I don't know why unless the owner stuffs them full with items all the time.

Source of that photo and age of the jacket is Aero’s Facebook post.
 

Jejupe

Practically Family
Messages
957
Location
Finland
I'd stay away from the steel wool, it looks to me like you really got some deep scratches most noticeably the close up pic of the bottom zip area. Maybe with a little time it will mellow out and blend better but I'd go with various grades of Sandpaper with several go overs.

That might lead to better result, but I wouldn’t have patience nor time for such operation. The coating doesn’t actually come off easily.
 

Guppy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,339
Location
Cleveland, OH
Here's my most worn Cal Leather, showing what I believe to be natural wear. I'm not the original owner, nor am I an expert. The leather on this jacket is supple and soft, unlike my other Cal jackets, which are all stiff. This one has seen some miles.

It's gorgeous, and I love it.
5d10f2b1bb143779dc155ce7ded4e818.jpg
5b0dbf64999ea04ee120befd021a0a68.jpg
760cc252746c1ef214ee9dfe1bce5244.jpg
d7f6edac4cf29ca0ac00b2c416b1727f.jpg
bd107913ce8d350bdfd493f467d07acc.jpg
3c4b7c373e37b292bf839f1359d2e84f.jpg
b7dc4021da2af960d5f2cd332191062a.jpg
d74237b6dc9e724c295ffe86e553ffd2.jpg
456379cdf83322618be6e3ae6a32d0ae.jpg

26ca4a49819c7a2a410229ca25ae6e91.jpg


You'll notice:

+ The finish of the leather wears off, leaving the grain beneath intact. Sanding ablates away the grain.
+ The wear is only in the places where the leather is prone to rubbing: the sleeves mainly on the elbows and forearms, the leather around the edges of the pocket zippers, the left shoulder, where the original owner probably carried a bag frequently, and other high points and edges. You can tell the original owner used the zipper on the left pocket much more than the right. Which makes sense if the right hand was on the throttle most of the time.
+ Despite this, the leather probably retains 90% or so of its finish. Where the finish remains, it's even still shiny.
 
Last edited:

Jejupe

Practically Family
Messages
957
Location
Finland
Here's my most worn Cal Leather, showing what I believe to be natural wear. I'm not the original owner, nor am I an expert. The leather on this jacket is supple and soft, unlike my other Cal jackets, which are all stiff. This one has seen some miles.

It's gorgeous, and I love it.

Lovely jacket!

Real patina really does look more... umm... real?
 

Guppy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,339
Location
Cleveland, OH
It would be interesting to see what effects a less harsh method of rubbing would have on leather, such as burnishing it with a buffing wheel and some shoe polish. But I'd test it out on a belt or scrap of leather before ever trying it on a jacket that I cared about.

J, I think yours was fine after the tumbling with the tennis balls, but I would have stopped there.
 

Jejupe

Practically Family
Messages
957
Location
Finland
It would be interesting to see what effects a less harsh method of rubbing would have on leather, such as burnishing it with a buffing wheel and some shoe polish. But I'd test it out on a belt or scrap of leather before ever trying it on a jacket that I cared about.

J, I think yours was fine after the tumbling with the tennis balls, but I would have stopped there.

Well, maybe my next experiment re-dying that jacket!

Anyway, this experiment made my day a lot more interesting. Life would be boring without trying out new things and taking small risks!

I hope that this bit of information I could share with my fellow loungers gave also other people some ideas what they could or should not do.
 

Mark Ricketts

One of the Regulars
Messages
113
Location
ontario
I have never tried it with leather, but one thing that works excellently with wood is to burnish it with raw, unwashed sheep's wool. It takes forever, but the lanolin gives it a special texture and sheen.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
109,356
Messages
3,079,511
Members
54,288
Latest member
HerbertClark
Top