Stage 3 - Colouring

Your COLOURED RESIN PIGMENT would have been matched to either a master pattern or a small sample of leather taken from the underside of your seat which has had no wear or sunlight. There will be very little chance of it exactly matching the facings of the seats, particularly on light colours like ivory & magnolia.

As with the PRIMER SEAL, turn the bottle upside down before opening & lightly shake from side to side. This will need to be done more thoroughly as any separated coloured pigments stuck to the bottom (particularly the heavier white) will affect the colour you eventually end up using & this could make a big difference.

If in doubt, test a small area near where you took your sample from. Allow to dry thoroughly & lightly wipe over with CLEAR MATT LACQUER to see if it dries close.

We can provide TINTING PIGMENTS to alter if necessary, but be aware that some of these pigments are very powerful & a few drops can send your colour so far away, it will be difficult to bring back.

You would be advised to test by pouring a small amount in a cap & add a tiny drop of a TINTING PIGMENT to see if it sends it the way you want before altering the whole of the main mix.

If in doubt, contact the workshop on 01925 851621 during office hours for advise. Some coloured pigments in the tanning industry have very poor covering power, particularly light colours, which is why they can only be spray applied. Bare areas will need building up. Pour a quantity of your COLOURED RESIN PIGMENT into your spray gun through straining cloth. Spray between 35 & 45 psi, although you may need to adjust the pressure & flow to suit. Colour lightly in the recesses, pleats & folds first; followed by a wet even coat.

Take it panel at a time but do not flood the leather. Allow to dry thoroughly before each & every further coat. Do not attempt to speed up this drying process with a hairdryer or it will form a dried skin on the surface but be soft underneath.

Do not spray too high pressure or the finish will dry brittle & rough. Be sure you are totally satisfied with the coverage before you move on to the sealing. Lightly wet & dry any rough areas prior to further coats.

Pour remainder of pigment back in bottle & rinse, your gloves & spray gun under warm water as quick as you can.

Now would also be a good time to clean any overspray on areas not masked off with a damp cloth, mild solvent or spirit, but be careful not to touch the leather.