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Help for Really Stiff Leather Seats |
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pacerman
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jul/03/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9061 |
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Posted: May/28/2016 at 9:46am |
My AMX project car, which I won't really start on until this Fall, has the factory leather seats that are really stiff and dried out. I have tried using some leather conditioner on them, but the leather really needs moisture. Has anyone heard of immersing them in hot water? How about wetting them and bagging them in plastic? Any magic pill type leather conditioners that are guaranteed to work? I am resigned to getting new covers from Legendary but am open to suggestions. Joe
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Happiness is making something out of nothing.
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304-dude
AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/29/2008 Location: Central Illinoi Status: Offline Points: 9082 |
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I assume it is pre 71... if so, there are a few leather conditioners available. Some are more like saddle soap. Others are exotic and have various oils and extracts. The key is absobtion, not cleaning or for extrior look. I would do a light cleaning with a conditioner cleaner like Pinnacle, and then do a deep conditioning with a waxier type and rub in. Let it set in the heat windows rolled up. Check in a few hours and repeat. It may take a few reapplies but, each time thr leather will be more pliable and softer feel.
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gtoman_us
Moderator Group Joined: Jul/10/2007 Location: E. Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 3871 |
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Buffalo Butter. With paitience it will rejuvenate. Big for old baseball gloves and the saddle and tack guys around here
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Used to collect trophies, now I collect gas receipts and put on miles 1964 Rambler Ambassador Cross Country Wagon 1965 GTO 1931 Model A original survivor "Flat Roofs are Cool" |
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smills61074
AMC Nut Joined: Feb/05/2011 Location: savanna, il Status: Offline Points: 270 |
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My grandpa was a leather worker for 50 years. I watched him take a civil war leather powder flask that was stiff as a board and soften the leather. Other than a few superficial cracks it softened up and was very pliable. Unbelievable for a 150 year old item
He used neatsfoot oil. I have use it for baseball gloves, when I was a kid, as well as for my kids growing up. It is oily, but that is what you want. You need something to soak all the way through the leather "remoisturize the leather". I use an old paint bush or foam brush to apply. Multiple coats liberally work best. It might take an application a week for a month. Or, until it gets soft. Once you get your leather softened. You can use some saddle soap to remove excess surface oil. Saddle soap is just that SOAP. It is used to clean leather. It might have some wax in it, but will not do much to dried out leather. Be patient, it will soften up. Just don't stress leather while dry, it will crack. Let us all know, how it comes out |
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68 Blue AMX Perfect California Body going for 401/6 speed
1 1/4 ton Power Wagon Ex Colorado Brush Truck 2006 Caddy CTS V with LS2 and manual trans Corsa Exhaust Beater car (daily driver) |
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72AMX
AMC Nut Joined: Aug/07/2007 Location: United States Status: Online Points: 476 |
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+1 on neatsfoot oil
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