How To Refurbish A Vintage Leather Bag

I am refurbishing a vintage leather bag that my son gave me. Its a lovely bag and I look forward to using it.

[@khornethegrim8258]

Holy crap, that is a genius way to keep your thread! Stops it from unraveling all over the place, but it's still fast and easy to pull out a length. I need to find a place to buy some. I did not realize how badly I needed those until I knew they existed.

[@mrdeafa25]

I was a milkman back in the seventies and our cash bags were exactly the same as this.

[@harryrogers]

Thanks that's interesting...I do vaguely remember the milkman having a bag.

[@Antti_Nannimus]

Thank you sir! This is a very useful, well-demonstrated, and explained basic guide for maintaining vintage leather products that many people will appreciate and find helpful. I've used Neat's Foot Oil in the past myself, and it is quite economical and effective for preserving leather. It was a good choice for restoring your vintage bag. As a light oil, I think it can have a tendency to soften many leathers as well though, so when I don't want that to happen, as with shoes and boots for example, In those cases I prefer to use wax and oil compounds, either commercial or home-made. I think bee's wax compounded together with such things as mineral oil, cocoa butter or shea butter, and a bit of odorless mineral spirits using mild, careful heating methods, also makes good, economical, and flexible alternatives to the Neat's Foot Oil used alone. I finish and maintain most of my leather projects with it as well. Such commercial products as "Sno-Seal" and Obenhauf's also work equally well.

[@harryrogers]

Thanks very much for those tips, very useful.

[@CrowManyClouds]

Yeah, I've been using Sno-Seal for thirty years. The important thing is to warm the leather. Inside a car on a summer day for a couple of hours works great. You want the leather to melt it not your hands so it really penetrates.

[@henniepelser5958]

Hi Harry. I recently restored an old leather briefcase and it's so encouraging to see that the decision I took to liberally apply neatsfoot oil to the old leather, is supported by your use of neatsfoot oil. Thanks for your great skill contributions to us other leather workers.

[@harryrogers]

Thanks very much Hennie, it seems to work well.

[@tonyb865]

Nice job Harry, I would love to make a reproduction of that bag. It has a great retro look for today.

[@harryrogers]

Hi Tony, yes it would be a fun build. The concertina wall is circa 2mm, the rest of the leather is circa 3 to 3.5mm.

[@josephpotterf9459]

Thanks Harry love the old leather stuff you can find at sales and shops.

[@jimathey6153]

OLD LEATHER SMITH here, Great Job Harry, Suggestion, I have found that rubbing it in with the hand provides the heat needed 2 penetration the leather more completely, I will admit it is a bit messy, GOD'S BLESSINGS ✝️⚾🙃

[@harryrogers]

Thanks Jim.

[@siskris2]

I remember having to repair my school satchel at least annually and especially the bottom corners, two needles and buttonhole thread.

[@SuyinGrullon]

I bought a LV bag gtdupe years ago. I took it to the LV store in my town last week to have it repaired. The store clerk inspected my bag and immediately told me that the bag was of good quality. She pulled a current bag out of inventory and compared the tags and I found zero differences

[@emiliatarshis5304]

Thank you so much, what an amazing video, and so useful! Your joy from restoring this bag was absolutely contagious ❤

[@harryrogers]

Thanks

[@mosaicgirl4002]

What a delightful video. Gorgeous bag, a sweet gift so we’ll preserved…I think we all want one! ❤️ from Australia

[@harryrogers]

Thanks very much

[@jackreeves3001]

Thanks for sharing your time and amazing talent! Speedy recovery sir. I love your channel! KANSAS USA

[@harryrogers]

Thank you very much!

[@IamChrisL712]

Thank goodness I'm not the only one that has to work hard to thread a needle.

[@GradyGillis]

Very nice. That was some very "thirsty" leather.

[@harryrogers]

Hi Grady...yes I was surprised how much it soaked up, its not coming off either which is good.

[@CrowManyClouds]

As I understand it, the decorative brasses on the lead are called 'spots' when they're on American, Western, horse gear.

[@LewisSkeeter]

I find a cook's basting brush very good for applying oil.

[@CynthiaGladstone]

Thank you. Enjoyed.

[@babycakes8434]

Very nice, now you can stuff it with a paper to give it a proper shape. I was just reading about neetsfoot oil that it deteriorates leather over time, because it goes rancid. Hard to believe any info nowadays. Did the bleed dry out and changed the color, or the other side kept having that oily patch?

[@lukecarrol1745]

Thank you for a very informative and helpful video, it's good of you to share you knowledge. Much appreciated.

[@libertywest5835]

just found your channel- you have many interesting videos - will be binge watching ! thank you for all of your content !

[@johnhartley3596]

Thanks Harry.

[@harryrogers]

Hi John, and thanks.

[@indiabilly]

Sat here saddle stitching a ww2 leather munitions pouch, about to oil him and then use him for my travel art supplies , many thanks xx

[@lovelytia2]

What machine would be good for leather repair and appliqué on motorcycle jackets? Using zig zag stitch thx

[@harryrogers]

I was going to say a wheel feed machine until I saw the zigzag bit....I would ask a sewing shop like Tysew and take some samples to them.

[@kaylamattheashames3289]

I do the same trick with the dye in the refillable marker! Much easier then dealing with a bottle and dauber

[@harryrogers]

Hi Kayla, absolutely, I like the way it does not put too much dye on as well.

[@kaylamattheashames3289]

Definitely that too! It makes finishing edges such a breeze with no cleanup, plus there's no risk of getting dye on the face if using pre-dyed leather

[@kimberleycasey3862]

Great video. I have the same question about the Montana refillable pen and the Feedings spirit based pro dye. I am wondeirng whether this would suit repairing the worn corners of a 20 year old green soft leather handbag as well as the cracks all along the strap ore whether one of the leather paints on the market would be better?

[@shaistaali9802]

Really enjoyed watching this. Plz could you tell me what dye u used?

[@harryrogers]

Hi it was Fiebings Pro Dye.

[@mamazelle]

I’ve burnt my leather bag - it was leaning against a too hot radiator 😢 can it be fixed? There’s a dark patch that doesn’t smell burnt but is now discoloured.

[@croquis34]

Thank you for this informative video! 😊 I would like to refurbish my suede backpack, but is neatsfoot oil also suitable for suede? And when i re-dye it, could that rub off on my clothes? Thank you!

[@ginoponis3231]

Buon giorno signor Harry, Oggi rivedo con piacere un lavoro sulla pelle! Saluti dalla Sardegna (Italia)

[@harryrogers]

Buon giorno Gino

[@maryberry3501]

Please tell me more about that pen. What is it called? What is the product? Do you have to match colors; mix colors?

[@harryrogers]

Hi its a refillable marker pen with leather dye in it. If you Google art shops and street graffiti you should find one...Montana is a trade name for it.

[@johncourtneidge]

Well done, Harry, thank-you! Glad you enjoyed this: very educational! Glad, too, that you are well and happy? Kerp it up!

[@harryrogers]

Thanks John.

[@snipeweedan]

Anyone know is if one can't access neatsfoot oil what other oil would suffice?

[@harryrogers]

Antti below gives some good ideas.

[@FiveLiver]

Neatsfoot oil. I've never heard of that, but it looks good. If the old leather need to be cleaned before application, how should it be done?

[@harryrogers]

Hi could use saddle soap.

[@FiveLiver]

@@harryrogers Thank you.

[@mikeboone4425]

Well done back to leather. Happy trails

[@harryrogers]

Thanks Mike, a few projects in the leather queue!

[@mikeboone4425]

@@harryrogers That would be nice.

[@chenkunnie]

Good content quality as ever.

[@frogslips]

Hi Harry, sorry to ask you this here but I don’t have an email. I wonder if you might know of any product that would clean oil/grease out of leather. Where the grease has contacted the leather it has gone a dark colour and the surrounding area of a leather sofa is a lighter distressed brown. Thank you.

[@harryrogers]

Hi I am sorry I do not know, does talc lift grease stains???...probably have to Google some more.

[@LifeAccordingtoMaria]

Great job just wondering your thoughts on Kiwi Saddlesoap. I use this as a first step to clean the years of grime off of leather. I wipe it off with a moist microfiber cloth and let dry completely for about 24 hours. Then I apply mink oil (looks like a balm) with finger tips all over the leather a d let that soak in for a few minutes and then wipe off and buff.

[@harryrogers]

Sounds like a very good approach, thank you.

[@flatdog-]

Hello Harry

[@faybertgedoan2671]

Sound like Hanibal Lecter 😂 great job t

[@Dr.Fiendish]

Watching this has significantly lowered my blood pressure!

[@harryrogers]

Haha that's great...thanks

[@jimmyrustler8983]

Very nice little bag, reminds me of those Eastern Bloc military map cases. The refillable marker idea is great, I may have to get one of those for tidying up my leather knife sheaths 👍

[@lafillenoir]

Just out of curiosity - how do you know it's Irish in origin?

[@harryrogers]

Probably Irish from what the seller knew of it's history.

[@lafillenoir]

@@harryrogersOk, hard to tell without labels but could well be. Really interesting, great job on restoration.

[@erickvarela2777]

Very nicely done