How to Cover Scratches in Leather Furniture

 Often, the difference between an amateur repair and a professional repair is having access to professional supplies and knowing the tricks of the trade. This is especially true in leather repair, where having the wrong supplies can result in making an absolute mess of your leather upholstery. Home remedies like olive oil, milk, and shoe polish will eventually cause your leather to rot and smell. Attempting to "eyeball" a color match using the repair products available at the hardware store will make a scratch look worse, not better.

My intention in this article is to share with you where to find the right products to repair scuffs and scratches in your leather, and a few tips to ensure a successful repair.

First, Identify the Leather

Upholstery leather comes in many different types and finishes. If you are repairing furniture upholstery, lift up the seat cushions and locate the tag that lists the cleaning code. The code will be "A" for Aniline leather, "P" for Protected leather, and "N" for Nubuck leather. If you are repairing auto upholstery, the leather will always be "P", Protected leather. The repair techniques will be different for each type of leather.

Second, Identify the Damage

Leather is finished in a manner similar to wooden furniture: the unfinished material is stained or colored and then a top coat is applied. A scuff is damage to the topcoat; no color is removed. A scratch goes through the topcoat and removes color. Cuts, burns, tears and rips are more serious damage and require more serious repair than scuffs and scratches; those repairs are beyond the scope of this article.

How to Repair Scuffs in Leather Upholstery

Soft, natural Aniline leathers are finished with wax. To repair a scuff in Aniline leather, all you need to do is redistribute the wax. This is done by warming the leather with a hair dryer and rubbing your hand over the scuffed area.

Most upholstery leather is "P", or protected leather. Protected leather is essentially painted; sometimes it is dyed through and then painted, and then topped with a clear coat of water-based lacquer. Scuffs occur when the lacquer top coat is damaged. Sometimes, scuffs can be buffed out using a quality leather cream and a rag. If that doesn't work, it will be necessary to re-apply lacquer to the topcoat. Re-apply lacquer by misting the damaged area with nitrocellulose or acrylic lacquer, which can be purchased in a spray can at your local hardware store. Test the spray in an inconspicuous area to make sure the sheen is correct. Spray in short bursts; do not soak the area. It's best to apply the lacquer in thin layers. Be sure the leather surface is clean and allow the lacquer to dry thoroughly between applications.Shop for Biker Jackets

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