Upcycle
Your old leather goods can be modified and updated for modern day use
Oakside Saddlery
Leather Restorations
Don't replace your leather have it professional restored at Oakside Saddlery.
Vintage bags and cases can all be restored back to an as new and useable condition. Replacement parts can be made that are in keeping with the original item.
Restore
Damaged and worn leather goods can be restored, repaired, and recoloured
Vintage
Vintage handbags and other leather goods can be restored to a usable and as new condition.
Oakside Saddlery
Leather Restoration
Below are a couple of before and after photos of a vintage leather sword case. The stitching had come apart, the leather was hard, cracked and crazed. To solve this the leather was cleaned, conditioned, softened, repaired and re-coated to make this sword case as good as new.
Initial inspection
The first thing that needs doing is for me to assess the actual work that that needs completing. Not all restoration is the same. Your leather item may need to be restored to an 'as new' condition or they may need to be updated to a usable condition. This will make a difference to what needs replacing and what can be reconditioned.
There are obviously limitations as to what can be economically restored and just how much of the original item will actually be left after restoration.
As can be seen on this old cartridge bag the flap is damaged and would need either entirely replacing or a replacement hinge would need to be stitched in to place keeping the buckle strap.
Damage assessment - cracks and scuffs
As can be seen in this photo the leather is not only dry and hard, but there are also a lot of cracks and scuffed leather. There is also some unwanted text that has been written on the back of the leather case.
These are all repairable. The leather can be softened and conditioned and the ink can be removed and cleaned.
Damage assessment - crazing
Crazing on leather is when there are multiple cracks all close together. These need to be stabilised and sanded before the surface can be repaired.
Once the surface is stabilised a flexible filler can be smoothed over bonding the leather surface together.
Leather Repair - filling
I use a flexible filler to repair small cracks and crazing. This is the same filler that I would use on furniture and car seat repairs. Flexible fillers do as their name suggests, fill the cracks in the leather. This then needs to be sanded down prior to re-colouring the leather.
Leather Repair - Ink removal
Ink can be removed from leather. There are a couple of options. The simplest is to use a specialist ink remover. The other way involves removing the ink, preparing the surface and recolouring the leather.
As can be seen in the picture there is no sign of the unwanted text anywhere to be seen.
Leather Repair - Replacement parts
The advantage that I have over many other leather refurbishers is that I can actually make replacement parts. In this case the handle had snapped off. I crafted a completely new handle that was in keeping with the original.
Leather Repair - Recolouring
I can completely recolour your leather. this can be a match to the original colour or a totally different colour. The choice is down to you.
I use a colouring system that is actually designed for car interiors and furniture. This is flexible and hard wearing. Perfect for all of your vintage leather items.