Zymol/leather care question.

[Martin]

I just used some leather conditioner from Zymol on the 91 Esprit and it seems like it works pretty well. The leather has cracked beyond repair in one or 2 spots but what was dry is now looking better. I'm thinking about doing another application, you can't really over do it can you?

[WayneB]

Martin, I have had satisfactory results using the Connolly products on my Esprits original 24 year old Connolly leather seats and the Dinos 34 year old Connolly leather seats. I would not over apply any leather conditioner, you have to give it time to permiate the pores of the leather so it will regain its suppleness.Too much will make a greasy deposit on the surface of the leather which may remove some of the tanning (and ruin your clothes) The cracks will never dissapear, but you can make them less noticable with a colour wash product made by Gliptone that you rub into the cracks (or spray on) , which will colour match the exposed cracks to the seat colour.

http://images.autoanything.com/images/products/large/car_care_products/connolly_leather_care_kit.jpg

http://www.liquidleather.com/scuffs.htm

[Kylie]

Hi guys I bought this product for my Esprit when i first got it. http://www.leatherique.com/
It came in a kit of a light cleaner and rejuvinator oil. It really was nice to use in the Esprit. Although since we moved house two yrs ago I flamin well lost it. Its pricey, but I felt its a small price to pay for keeping your leather in tip top shape. It seems similar to what Wayne uses. Since then I was using some other Meguires products which are not as good.

[Martin]

Good info. I've heard many good things about leatherique. I'll have to try another brand yo compare it to the Zymol.

[bdboyle]

Good info. I've heard many good things about leatherique. I'll have to try another brand yo compare it to the Zymol.

I used their product when I redid my 86 turbo's interior about 10 years ago (including redying RED OEM seat covers to match the blue interior. Saw the car in a dealer a couple months ago, and the subsequent owner kept up the treatment...and the seats were just as supple as I imagine Catherine Zeta-Jones' tush must be.

OK, maybe not that good. But, the leather was still flexible and hand-soft, so, I guess it does well.

[Autocross7]

I stopped using all that fancy stuff and now use Turtle Wax Leather Cleaner and Conditioner. It has by far and away out performed Zymol and even Zano Brothers. I was very impressed. The color actually came back to looking new after the second application. The leather in my car is as soft as the leather on my Avirex A2 lamb skin flight jacket and even some of the old cracks on the seat bolster have disappeared. I would highly recomend it... and... no, according to the museum resto folks here in town and other resto places I have spoken to, you cannot put to much on.

http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,4,15

Cameron

[Andy B]

Butt Clenching!

That's the best conditioner for leather a regular application of Butt Clenching.
Best applied by a loving owner on winding country roads with a large Ragged Edge of Adhesion.

Ah yes, it can even refresh the driver:steeringwheel:

[Autocross7]

Butt Clenching!

That's the best conditioner for leather a regular application of Butt Clenching.
Best applied by a loving owner on winding country roads with a large Ragged Edge of Adhesion.

Ah yes, it can even refresh the driver:steeringwheel:

It has been known to cause some 'dirty issues' in the passenger seat however... so be warned!:huh::ohmy: Hahahaha!

Cameron

[Martin]

eeewwww. :)

On that note sort of.....I always wondered, does sweat add, subtract, or do nothing to the leather?

[Autocross7]

eeewwww. :)

On that note sort of.....I always wondered, does sweat add, subtract, or do nothing to the leather?

Subtract. Sweat has an alkali content (and trace amounts of other oily stuff) that will serve to dry out the leather. Think of it like rubbing the seats down with salt water. UV is a real killer too...

Cameron

[Kylie]

OMG cripes, useful info but yeah I would have thought human muck would be pretty bad :yes:

[WayneB]

I was talking to one expert in trimming cars a while ago and he commented that the worst thing for leather seats is If the owner of the car wears denim jeans(as I do).

Every time you get in and out and move around in the seat the fabric sands down and scuffs the leather.:(

The sun is very bad for the leather also (as already pointed out by Cameron), and limiting exposure will definately prolong its life.

It reminds me of some of the women I have seen in California and Florida.:ohmy:
http://static.pyzam.com/img/funnypics/people/sunburn.jpg

[Autocross7]

That photo reminds me of that lady in Somthing About Mary (the movie)...

Back on topic... whatever you personally decide is your favorite leather seat care product, be sure it has a fair amount ov UV protectant. It will act much like sun tan lotion on your skin and block UV rays. Here in hot sunny Alabama I use the stuff I like once a week.


Cameron

[Martin]

I couldn't quite tell from the pics you posted today, but do you have your windows tinted? That certainly saves your interior.

[Andy B]

Amazing stuff leather, on a cow it it is subjected to rain, snow, sunlight, UV's, rolling in mud and dung, rubbing on trees and fence posts etc. to cure an itch and it lasts a lifetime.
In a car?:001_unsure:

[Autocross7]

Amazing stuff leather, on a cow it it is subjected to rain, snow, sunlight, UV's, rolling in mud and dung, rubbing on trees and fence posts etc. to cure an itch and it lasts a lifetime.
In a car?:001_unsure:

When we can figure out how to get a blood supply to our car seats so the cells can rejenerate we will have truley made some break through! Although, I suppose a crash could get extra messy? :ohmy:

Cameron

[Martin]

eeewwwww!

[WayneB]

This thread is starting to disturb me (greatly):001_unsure:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/22/Leatherboy-45cover-new.jpg/180px-Leatherboy-45cover-new.jpg

[Martin]

Disturbing, yet informative :D