Was at Pep Boys the other day and I saw some leather paint. I'm tired of my cream leather and want to paint it white. The spray can said it soaks into the old leather. Anyone tried to paint their leather?
Mike

560SEL:

When I bought my Honda Interceptor motorcycle in 1991, it came with a light grey seat. It was the only thing not black or red on the bike. Therefore, I painted the vinyl (leather looking) seat with a black leather paint, and the results are still spectacular to this day (29.Feb.2000).

I ride quite frequently, hang off the bike all the time, and do not pamper the seat in any way. There is no rubbing off of the paint, there is no discoloration (I suppose it helps that it is garaged), and I have never regretted painting that ugly light grey.

But please be aware that if you paint your seat white, you may need more than one coat, and you will probably need to touch them up periodically. Also, any crcking of the leather will show up as darker cracks than the seats, and therefore, will be much more evident. It is for these reasons that most people shy away from white seats. They never look good when they are old.

But, if you are set on painting them, then by all means try it. Back in the 50s and 60s all the hot rods were done that way, and they were spectacular. But then they were not sedans or Mercedes, but who cares? If you like it, do it.....Andras

I guess I'll try something other than white then.. Do you know if I can paint over cracked leather?
Mike

Michael:

Yes, of course you can paint over cracked leather, but be aware that no paint will "bridge" over the cracks, and that these cracks will be with you forever. If upon painting it, you think that the cracks have disappeared, once you sit on those seats, the cracks will reappear.

However, if you were to paint the seats a darker color, something similar to the color of the cracks, then the cracks will be less obvious. Still there, but less visible.

On the other hand, you could also just justify those cracks to the well-lived patina that nice old cars have, and leather is like skin, only not yours, the cow's. It was a living, breathing, thing once, and now it is aging, much like we all do. It does have character, no?.......Andras