Leatherique Interior Project Begins

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MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

More parts that need dying arrived in the mail today... I think I can live with the added work. I have felt the E24s look much better with the rear headrests. I will save all the original M6 pieces if I ever want to revert back to 100% stock as it left the factory.
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olympia57
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by olympia57 »

MSGGrunt wrote:I think my issue was that at a ratio of 25% distilled water the dye was still too thick to work properly in an airbrush. On top of that maybe 25 PSI wasn't enough. More to follow when I get time to try the 50% distilled water and 40 PSI.
Once you have amended the mix ratio try the AB again at 25 psi , don't just jump to 40 ,increase it in small increments . You're trying to get the correct balance between viscosity , distance and atomisation of the material .Too high and it may " bounce " .
Every spray painter will trial and adjust the gun for the material and conditions prior to using it be it large ,small or AB.
1981 635 series 1
MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

Good advice. This is why body work and painting and auto electrics are not my strongest areas. I like black and white, this tolerance, or this torque. With the dying process I'm having to take deep breaths and learn trial and error.
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

I was hoping to get back on this project this weekend but, I decided to buy a dedicated compressor for this job and other smaller jobs where a portable compressor will come in handy and now I am waiting on this to arrive from California.

The other thing I learned about Leatherique, and I'm not sure if it is accurate or not but it does sound reasonable, is that the dye should be used within a month of purchase. I guess I need to get my ass in gear and finish this all the while being patient with my light applications.

In the mean time I a painting all of the plastic pieces so they will all match. The original factory bits are tan but, have a pinkish hew to them if that makes any sense.. I have to paint other pieces as the pieces available at the dealer new were Natur, black, and lotus white. Painting them is the only way to have everything match.
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MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

Plastic trim pieces that will need to be painted so everything matches.
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MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

I have been searching for just the right color to paint the plastic trim parts so they match the dyed leather and have not found a match that pleases me.

In this picture the driver's side knee bolster has been dyed and is one piece that actually came out nice. The seat hinge cover is new from BMW in Natur and is lighter in color than the dyed leather and even lighter in color than the original leather. The side rail covers are two that I painted and one that I believe is maybe Lama?? The center cover is a khaki gloss and the top is a khaki satin. Even the satin is too shiny IMO. My search continues for just the right match. Restoring my black Mercedes interior was sooooo much easier.

When new was there a difference in color/shade between the leather and the plastic tri pieces?
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MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

Knee bolster and glove box actually came out nice before my AB started clogging up except for a few spots on the glove box cover. Not sure what caused these. I'll sand them a bit and give it another coat or two once I start dying again.
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MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

Swapped driver's seat that is now the passenger's seat with some cracks filled. My advice with the crack filler... only put it in the crack and be careful not to get it anywhere on the seat that it is not needed as this stuff does not sand easily. I'd recommend an artist spatula as the "perfect" tool for applying this. It is small and allows for precise placement of the filler.
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MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

I just had a thought..... Will the Leatherique dye effectively bond/stick to plastic?
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by rhanley 635csi89 »

In regards to your comment " the dye should be used within a month of purchase"; I believe this refers to the dye being returned for a color match issue at no charge. After 30 days a charge of $30 will be applied. As I returned the dye after 60 days for a better color match and no mention of "past expiration date".

I've been following your thread with great interest and I'm in the process of re-dyeing my interior. For the seats I've elected to follow the Ferrari Re-dye method as outlined on Leatherique web site, dip and blot method, starting with the rear seats, front seats are being repaired, new padding and re-enforced stitching of all areas. The photo below shows a seat with one coat of dye, Havana Brown. The other seat shown is after prep waiting for first dye application. A little over an hour to apply the dye per seat.
The plastic pieces will have to be prep for the dye or paint to adhere.
I'm considering sending the flat trim pieces out to be sprayed. My basement area is 72 degrees at 40% humidity as I installed a de-humidifier seams prefect!

Looking forward to your success.
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Mark Shutt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by Mark Shutt »

I'm itching to have a go at my seats now but not sure if Leatherique sell in the UK or not, they have the rejuvenater and cream on UK ebay but no dye or filler..
1988 635csi Auto Highline, Royal blue with Lotus white.
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MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

That Havana brown is a nice color. I know different ways of applying the dye work and I'm sure I will solve my clogging spray gun problem by diluting the dye at a 50/50 ration. Or at least I hope that cures the issue.

I'd shoot the company and Email. I bet they sell it in the UK or could have it shipped. I know they have a distributor in Australia.
MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

Today marked a turning point. Everything in the interior that needs to be removed for re-dying has been removed. I even removed the dash and I have to say the E24 dash is much easier to remove than a W201 or W126 chassis Mercedes. Now it's just a matter of putting everything back in. I'll wrap all the wires while I have access to them.

What is the data plate on the body under the dash and what do the numbers mean?
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MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

Today was a very successful day with this project. I got the gun dialed in and the 50/50 ratio seemed to work much better. I found the best spray pattern was with the 0.8mm tip with 30 psi. As others have said, lots of almost dry coats, let dry between coats and be very patient.

Now that I am confident with my set-up I am feeling much better about the project.
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MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

More progress.

The seats are really coming out nicely as are the Euro Headrests, especially given that these were a color change of sorts.

One observations... I can see a very, very minute, almost indiscernible difference in the shade/color between some of the pieces I sprayed last weekend to the ones I just sprayed. Time will tell if the newly sprayed pieces will dry to the color of the pieces that have had more time to dry.

One thing that I could do is save enough dye to mix up a batch that will allow a final light spraying of ALL the parts at once.
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

Euro Rear Headrests and clamshells. Still need maybe 3 or 4 more coats but, they are coming out nicely.
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

Rear seats. They still need a couple more coats but, waiting for them to dry to avoid putting on too much dye at once. I am very happy with the results.
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hornhospital
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by hornhospital »

The parts are looking great! I have to ask, since I've never successfully dyed seats before, but isn't what you're actually doing is painting the leather and not dyeing it? I mean, it's not soaking in (much), but sitting ON the surface, correct? Whatever works, but the leather I've seen dyed by an upholstery shop actually soaked in. It was very thin , and appeared (and smelled) like it was alcohol based. There was no residue on the surface when the dye dried.

My one time trying to change a seat color was a miserable failure. It was an upholstery PAINT that flaked off shortly after I began using the car again, in spite of extensive cleaning and prep of the surface according to directions prior to painting.
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olympia57
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by olympia57 »

The seats and panels look absolutely great and I can't wait to see the finished interior, I'm so pleased you persevered with the AB.
I only did my front seats but to do the whole interior gets my respect.
I applaud you Sir ..... =D>
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MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

It is a lot to do all at once, especially where it takes so many light coats with the airbrush to see any appreciable difference. It would be easier for me if it wasn't Winter in New England and I could lay out more pieces in my garage. And if I could lay out more pieces a larger dye reservoir would save time and aggravation.

The progressive is steady if not slow.
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by Bimmers4life »

I am glad to see that you have figured out the correct settings for the quantity and air pressure. Your dye work is looking good. :P
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by rhanley 635csi89 »

Your project is coming along beautifully!
The clam shells are made of a rubber material, did you prime these prior to the application of of the dye?
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MSGGrunt
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

Oops, I did not prime them. I prepped them as per Leatherique's instructions though. Supposedly the dye will work on vinyl so hopefully it will adhere to the clam shells.
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by rhanley 635csi89 »

I also completed my speaker pods without priming first, the adhesion is quite good, time will tell if we made the correct decision.

Another Ops to be aware of, when I cleaned the speaker covers, the solvent removed the white lettering "BMW SOUND SYSTEM" I should have know better. Also, the speaker covers should be "Primed" as these are metal and the dye will not adhered well (these will need to be redone, as I did not prime these) I used the "dry brush" method to finish the speaker covers, worked well going from Natur to Havana without clogging the holes.
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Re: Leatherique Interior Project Begins

Post by MSGGrunt »

What did you use to prime the metal speaker covers? Just a normal self etching primer?
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