How to distress leather: new jacket to Mad Max vintage style

[@dottJSX]

So Many People Saying This Is Stupid, Clearly You're Not Into The Wasteland Clothing Style. Thats Like Going To A Rap Video And Commenting You Hate Rap. Great Work Dimitri.

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

thanks man! working on more wastelandish videos as we speak!

[@dottJSX]

Anytime Man. I Look Forward To Your Uploads. How Would You Recommend Distressing Leather Boots? The Same Way?

[@shaysunderland1494]

Nuclear Snail Studios hey man can you make a waste land looking revolver prop

[@FormalFistFight]

Great Use Of Capitalization Meinen Bruder

[@cdub1734]

.JSX I think it’s called having an opinion different than yours

[@leftkeyentry]

I think there should be a triple thumbs up button for anyone who creates an awesome video, when it's not in their native language. Loved this tutorial!!!! Subscribed. Thank you! MM.

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

if it was for me, everyone would just be speaking Esperanto worldwide (and i would also have huge cybernetic biceps)

[@wilsjane]

It annoys me when someone who clearly has English as their second language leaves a comment and some ignorant smart ass posts a rude reply about a simple mistake in their spelling or grammar. .

[@ianredgate4031]

that's just how my family treated me

[@ianflain7810]

Wait, they could affort acetone?

[@sabi8381]

🤣

[@Biggelz06]

or put a nice jacket and go fight in the desert like Mad Max

[@BrentHutchinson1]

Hey. So ever since I saw this video last month I’ve spent this time gathering all these ingredients you’re using. All except the chemical acetone. Now I just need to find the right parking lot w Little Rock’s and I’m trying to find the dust that you’re using but it’s harder than you think to find. My question is can I start taking off the leather’s dye now or should I do it the same day that I plan on using dirt and dragging it?

[@Sir-Raph]

''If you can't find a volunteer...'' (to get dragged behind a car) Amazing.

[@dannycarter1690]

That drew a Laugh Out Loud from me too.

[@voxnihili282]

Most entertaining how-to I've seen in awhile! lol I got a leather jacket at a thrift store but want a more vintage look. Not quite this extreme, but your ideas seem to actually get a measurable result unlike the other vids I was checking out. Your jacket, especially with the belts looks awesome!

[@Grafgirl333]

I just wanted my new handbag made of drum dyed pebble leather to look like it did not just come out of the box (so tacky). I appreciate you sharing so many techniques, I think I will do the balling it up and beating it up routine. TY

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

glad i could help! :)

[@luckydevil7469]

Quick question, , if there is a person in the jacket while dragging it behind the car, would it wear faster?

[@jamescassidy3995]

I drugged my ex wife for this part.

[@SisuYeti]

Don't try it, it will tear the jacket.

[@syahmimith6764]

I don't understand your question.

[@lots3799]

Depends on the car.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@kainomerta]

Hahahaha 🤣

[@Eric-rp2gl]

Dude this is fantastic! Great research and VERY helpful for someone who is sick of the everyday leather jackets. Bravo

[@WhoYaGonnaCall]

Wow that's exactly what I was looking for to vintage my Howling Mad Murdock (from the A-Team) jacket. Some years ago I've made my first Murdock jacket only with using sandpaper. Now I've got the second one and have to vintage it again. I'll try one or the other tip from your video! Thank you so much!

[@milo_thatch_incarnate]

This was hilarious to watch 😂 I cracked up when you were scootching along on your back, through the dirt, humming LOL Also who knew this would be so easy!! Thanks! Definitely watching the rest of your videos.

[@Dannythepipingboy]

Yeah, good tough work. Mine is a motorcycle jacket with all the safety stitches and armor in it and also in the same "perfect" style. But I also treat it like a baby love it. it's cleaned and polished at least once a year. In 20 years the jacket maybe will look distressed and with a newish lining inside but I ll love it.

[@danazaldane1932]

So so cool! Best tutorial I've seen for distressing a leather jacket! 😎👍

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

thx :)))

[@wilsjane]

When a friends bedroom caught on fire, I felt safe going into the room wearing my cowhide leather jacket, heavy leather jeans and boots. After stomping the worst of the flames out, I used my jacket to put the smoldering curtains out and crushed the smoldering quilt against my jeans until it was completely out. I singed my hands ripping the curtains down, but the distressed look on my leathers was awesome. Guys still comment on my jacket today (about 10 years later), but I had to cut my jeans off and I still wear them for camping and when I am cooking at barbecues. They are indestructible. PS, I do not recommend setting your friends house on fire in order to distress your leathers.

[@mako4874]

distressing leather prematurely is like adding jobs to your resume. faking life experiecnce and character thru your clothing is so superficial and stupid. and i LOOOOVVEEEEE ITTT!!!!!!!!!! ;-)

[@ThirdDimensionalBeing]

Expression is subjective.

[@KasinaMedeis]

Cosplay purposes

[@unclesnorker1970]

@@kana22693 LOL, Did you mommy buy you this computer, Cause it takes money(Capitalism) to make and sell/buy Computers as well as Internet, Electricity. There are literally more than a Billion people who dream of having the Luxory's you have. Not to mention the West live a lifestyle better than 70% of the world,including the Poor or the west. Your Underprivileged is Way over-privileged to most people in the world and that is a direct result of Capitalism. Anyway no use talking to you Neo Commies till you grow up.

[@pseudo-intellectualtroll6563]

Edward Armstrong So stooping down to someone’s level is a good thing? Thanks for encouraging the choice of being dishonest towards generally hard-working capitalists. Those suckers, am I right? I’m sure baseless lies will help _a lot_ for people finding jobs they are most qualified for!

[@nicolem2103]

This is the best tutorial for distressing leather. I have a belt I’m going to try this with to add width. Thank you!

[@juansalgado658]

One can say that in my thousands of hours I spent on KZbin for all my life After thousands of KZbinrs looked, I was never so anxious and impatient with that upload videos as is your case. Brother, I love what you do, never stop. Greetings from Argentina. :D

[@allrequiredfields]

This reminds me of my friend's little sister scratching up her skateboard to make us think she was actually skating. Lol.

[@erlanggamuktiwardhana7016]

Posers be like 😂🤣

[@mitchellbennett3638]

I know Im asking the wrong place but does any of you know of a way to get back into an instagram account..? I was dumb forgot my account password. I love any tricks you can give me.

[@jonahbrian174]

@Mitchell Bennett Instablaster =)

[@mitchellbennett3638]

@Jonah Brian Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. I see it takes quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@mitchellbennett3638]

@Jonah Brian It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thanks so much you really help me out :D

[@tskarainflwer1542]

I tried this the other day, but with water instead of oil or rubbing alcohol; it actually works pretty well. I did mine all by hand though, just grabbing the material and punching it against dirt-layered-concrete.Thanks for the technique Nuclear Snail Studios! :)

[@WolfpackPodcastOfficial]

I am so happy I have larps as an exuse to buy secondhand leather jackets and then go out into a sandpit and roll around. Very good advice, thanks!

[@Jason-xn1ul]

I watched other videos n nothing was showing the results I'm looking for, you did it perfectly, thank you, I will be dragging it behind my motorbike 🙏🏼

[@atomicamphibian1830]

Love it. And to the critics, I'm not sure it's different than any other ornamentation or aging applied to clothing (for gawd's sake, people buy denim with holes pre-worn into it!). Further, there's more than just a 'look' one is going for. Breaking in a heavy leather riding jacket to the point of it actually being comfortable takes a very long time. Years in the case of one of my jackets. This is like when we were kids breaking in a baseball glove - it just makes it feel better (and imo looks much better than that shining, off the rack, black or brown that, to me, reads garish. But most of all, we each like different looks. If one likes the off the shelf look, great. If not, that's great, too. I'm not sure what some of the people posting here are going on about. :-)

[@manitoumimi]

I bought a vintage leather jacket recently and when I received it I was kind of shocked. It looks really old with lots of wear and patina. But actually it looks too good to be real, like it may have been “made”. After watching your video I’m convinced that it could have been done this way but they did a really good job of it. I’m still not certain if it’s real or not but your video is so good that I now know that it’s possible. Thx

[@4c107]

will this void the warranty?

[@loperalex]

+TJ Max yup

[@chalino19]

lmao

[@Nantosuelta]

no.

[@Toyota4by4shiz]

4 C Who gives a flying fuck about the warranty if the jacket is old and worthy of distressing.

[@dnguyen536]

Rick Grimes leather jacket will be good for life if u take care of it u dumb fk.

[@jeffswartout4924]

I could see stopping short of tearing seams and liner, but still just breaking in the jacket. Definitely great, detailed advice....think I will follow first steps with alcohol and acetone and stuff jacket with weighted towels and drag behind car in gravel cement yard near me....just enough to distress leather to look broken in and used.

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

thru later experiments i found that alcohol and acetone jsut helpa bit.. its fucking it up by means of ROADKILL that really do the job -with or without additional chemicals ..either way, have fun dude! :)) you can post the result jacket to my facebook page if you like, love seeing what people make of it!

[@Andreiiiiiioooooshellllll]

I actually learned some tricks from this video to custom some of my leather items, thank you.

[@Harleyrk99]

I wouldn't take the chance to ruin my leather I don't care about the process, I was going to click off the video but you made it worth watching. Pretty awesome job putting out a video brother.

[@ianalexander6977]

Great videos Dimitri! It would be great to see videos of construction of items as well as distressing effects. For example how you attached different bits of clothing and armour together and what tools you use. Thanks!

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

thanks :) and - working jsut on that, new video soon.. sorry for delay

[@krisc6327]

Seeing you drag that leather and treat it so harsh hurts my soul BUT after seeing the results and the way it looks id say good job sir 👍🏽 the jacket came out awesome!! Respect

[@rayswoodshop4467]

How to Frakk up a new leather jacket in 8 min....love it. Ive worn mine for 8 years and it looks good to me....not wasteland style but hey ! Thanks for the fun of watching how to frakk up a jacket !

[@BrentHutchinson1]

Dude! You’re a f**king artist! This is hands down the best way to make your leather coat distressed. I had a $400 coat that someone stole that looked like this so I bought the same style on eBay for $80 and it’s nice but it is too pretty. I’m absolutely going to use this method. Thank you dude. This is sick! I live in NYC, So I don’t have a car. I was just thinking how I use Uber and Lyft at least 4 times a day. It is funny to think about hiring an Uber to drag my coat around in some gravely parking lot. It’s going to be fun. I might have to order a few ubers until I get a driver who actually wants to help me. Hahaha

[@PointyGorman]

Don't apply just any oil, organic oils can go rancid. You don't want a mouldy jacket :)

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

good point! thx!

[@samuelmellars7855]

All comercial leather treatments, like saddle soap, use neatsfoot oil to protect and soften the leather. It doesnt go rancid but it's an organic oil. I can't say about other oils though

[@PointyGorman]

Samuel Mellars I doubt it's all leather treatments (because I have one that doesn't use neatsfoot), but I know neatsfoot has a lot of problems. It does go rancid, and will rot stitching, leaves oily residue, causes discoloration etc. Usually you won't use pure neatsfoot you will use a blend with various preservatives. I thought neatsfoot was almost completely replaced with synthetic oils, but I guess there's still a lot of people using it for the tradition. You sound like you use leather a lot, so if you have something spare maybe give something else a try!

[@agawind3473]

Thank you for that! I am planning to go on a postapo event for the first time and I only have a super old jacket to destroy and this was super helpful! Love how you explain everything! Hail the Snail!!

[@ironcladindustries]

looks great, almost exactly the same techniques I use, and I agree that the harsher and more destroyed it is the better it looks

[@joshhoffman517]

You gotta know your neighbors think you're crazy, dude.

[@lots3799]

I think the police show up in the next video.😁

[@dongillette2759]

Very cool. I've got a Saddleback Leather Duffle Bag that is so tough it's like dragging around a pine box. Tomorrow, I'm putting it through this acid test at a local school parking lot to see it it will loosen it up some.

[@xxxretrotronxxx6794]

"ich bin eine raupe es geht mir gut." i heard it at 3:17 funny :D greetings from Austria

[@GageKNeely]

Ich liebe vaterland!!

[@sasaramin6515]

@Phase Two it means "I'm a caterpillar I'm fine"

[@angrywhitemale7163]

Lived a port town. Used to let the boots sit in the sea water for about 30 minutes. Then drag them behind a car along a gravel lane. Will work for jackets too.

[@thomashongshagen4912]

A small tip for anyone looking for alternate methods of softening leather while not heavily distressing them, or if they want their jackets to be softer after the work has been done. Use citric acid, ger: Zitronensäure, it serves to break down the proteins in the leather and gives it a slightly worn apperance and softer feel. It also removes a fair bit of the creaking you get from newer leather jackets.

[@N-Scale]

I love this method and it really replicates years of use in a day or so. Mike

[@realtruth1448]

Mike Fifer how long did it take you to finish it? Also can I see before and after picsv

[@zombieoutbreakresponseteam6807]

Ich muss ehrlich sagen...hammer klamotten und danke für die ideen!!! Bin gestern abend mit meinem "geländewagen" mit nem alten ledermantel hinten an der anhängekupplung durch den wald gefahren...absolut geil...

[@jamieboerio923]

Love it i have a harley jacket that looks like this. Everyone loves the worn weathered look.

[@easyliciousfood6542]

Du bist der absolute Oberhammer! Dank dir kann mein Barbaren Outfit endlich lebendig werden!

[@vinayakaajithananda4542]

You can do all this or just borrow the jacket from the homeless guy in the subway station

[@ianflain7810]

Hey buddy! Did you just see a real bright light?

[@Toyota4by4shiz]

Vinayaka Ajithananda How many homeless fucking people do you see wearing leather jackets for the love of fuck?

[@epictetus9221]

@@Toyota4by4shiz That, plus how many of those homeless people will just hand their jacket over?

[@eds1057]

Very well done. I’m not into that style but I really respect the effort to get it exactly how you want it.

[@vidydvici]

Beautiful creation. I really admire creativity especially the straps too good to know there are others out there HAIL THE SNAIL!

[@martigreen3055]

You are good and very entertaining, I watched this a few times. You get five stars on this as well.

[@nightrider5109]

Wow I really like that distressed look ! Nice ! Just like u said looks like Mad Max's leather Nice job I like that look alot

[@rudranath_bln]

For those who don't want to go full berserk on their leather jacket: just use some fine sand paper for finishing and rough up the seams and edges to get a worn-in look. Great vid to take inspiration from. Thank you.

[@kindredcottagelife]

“Add some weight… if you cannot find a volunteer…” 🤣🤣🤣 this video is awsome!!! Great ideas! Thank you! 🙏🏻 ❤

[@cyco111]

Dude you are awesome! Thank you for your videos. I'm making my first costume ever and your instructions are making it come out so awesome and I'm having so much fun watching and using your methods

[@ItsJustaMeNow]

Instead of using dirt to get that brown color, could I just rub it with acetone, concrete, and brown paint?

[@OspreyKnight]

I love this, I'm going to try it out on my old jacket *still pretty black*

[@slowandcurios]

Subscribed the moment you did the front crawl with the jacket on

[@lonesurvivor5800]

Making "vintage"/used jacket and having fun? what's not to like :D ? One more question: what kind of sewing machine do you use for sew those lether straps on? I assume those common wont be strong enough to punch through thick leather...

[@britiniport]

Amazing results! Can't wait to try it on my own!!

[@quintonbottoms5766]

I'll be using my jacket for motorcycling. i was wondering what would happen if you do this and then clean and rehydrate it. I imagine it would be a nice vintage look

[@joeblack333]

Love this video and have plans to distress a jacket the same way, but would you substitute anything for the leather fat?

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

hmm nah leather at does the job just fine! :)

[@stewartikin2240]

Here in 2024 looking for tips to age and wear the leather parts of my Sandtrooper costume. I loved watching you drag your jacket behind your car 😂

[@dananephiera6494]

Thank you this was really helpful. I don't have enough money for the apocalyptic jackets I wanted so I'm gonna try using this method. Thank you so much! Cx

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

you´re welcome" thats the awesome things about post-ao stuff, the basics of it are cheap to make

[@chrisunderhill8853]

another good method is to put a flapper sanding disc in a grinder and use it sparing -ly, in other words don't turn it on full blast it will eat your leather up. but works well to get good abrasion. Also a coarse pummes stone works too, and a foot skin grinder to get different effects.

[@TheYellowGoggles]

Do you think rubbing alcohol could work for taking some of the dye out? I think I already have some of that is why I ask.

[@wendy833]

I bought Freebird booties and wanted the black distressed ones. They looked just like your coat after the car ride. I ended up needing a bigger size, so ended up with burgundy boots. I'm going to do this.

[@mimsmorning]

I'm making a leather bralette from pieces together scraps of black leather, but I want to give it a some subtle distressed look. Should I distress the leather scraps before I piece them together? Or after? I'm worries about ripping the cross thread too much. I also perform with fire... will the acetone compromise the leather's fire resistancy?

[@agustinbadt]

bro was ahead of his time

[@emix3631]

Mega cool! Ich würde mich allerdings irgendwie nicht trauen, ne teure Lederjacke so zu behandeln :D Fettet sie zum Schluss noch oder fällt Dreck ab, wenn man sie anfasst? Kann mir gar nicht vorstellen, dass der ganze Dreck keine Flecken auf den Händen hinterlässt. Würde mich sehr über ne Antwort freuen :)

[@KushilyDoda]

i really like how it looks like without the fat .... but im gonna take my jacket to a water war in few days.... should i put on the fat? will it totaly ruin the jacket if i wont? :S

[@BlahSnarto]

i actually own a portable cement mixer and this is a suggestion.. but try using that and also a beater laundry machine.. makes things more random and looks more natural in the aging of the material..

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

good idea, been willign to try that for a while now (Y)

[@TheEleventhLetter]

Hello! well, i just tried to distressed a faux leather jacket to escape the tremmendously boring black leather jacket but i had a surprise! When i actually put some acetone in the jacket it didn't come out greyish as i expected, it came out red... so my question is, since the colour underneath is red it won't be easy to make it greyish i suppose? or is there any other way? cheers!

[@neh214]

Oh Dimitri, what fun! I have a reproduction old fashioned mail bag that one of my cats was nice enough to pee on and then sharpen her claws with! This is going to be VERY CATHARTIC! Thanks sooo much. Nan

[@thomasdeangelo1930]

I just started doing this today with acetone and sand paper. Tomorrow I drag it on the driveway if it's dry. It's a lot of work and I'm not going to finish in one day, I probably spend half hour to a hour each day until I get the way I want it.

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

gogogo! :)

[@lohenbrau]

Thank you for this great video! Clear and easy to follow.

[@blurpderp5826]

Does the finished jacket smell bad because of the acetone? It looks badass and I'd want to wear it casually but if it smells it mightn't be a great idea.

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

nah the acetone dissipates really fast, it doesnt smell of it after 1 hour or so!

[@mikedag03]

Maybe your best Viddy yet!

[@Wetcorps]

It all makes sense now... Great work! Will watch more.

[@ghostsurfer23]

I found this video incredibly helpful. I'm going to try these methods on my own jacket. Mine is isn't real leather though, and it is a few years old. Does that make a big difference? Would it be unwise to use these methods on faux leather?

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

you can use it on faux leather, however 1. it might not work since faux leather sometimes doesnt have a "true" colour, so its surface black might be just same black inside.. and 2. if it does work, it takes MUCH less time/effort/distressing to do so, so dont start cardragging it, or at least not so aggressively

[@kegges14]

Honest question. For the beginning dirt part, do you just use normal dirt? Like from my back yard? Or should I use something from a baseball field? I live in Pennsylvania and our dirt here is pretty dark, not light.

[@ephraimmiller9272]

I have a vest that says genuine leather... I didn't have acetone, but i used laquer thinner, turpentine, and then stripper. I saw the cloth turn black but all it did the "leather" was take away the shine. I tried using dirt, tile dust, and sand paper to work it out, but all I got was a dirty vest. It did distress the patches on it, which is good.

[@RichWllmsn]

I’ve got to ask, you seemed to have a bag of sand or equivalent for the dust. Can I ask what you used?

[@frog8220]

hi The acetone/alcohol: does the smell stay? im afraid of ruining a jacket by using acetone... id want to use it for everyday use, would that work? oh, you can answer in german as well, whatever you prefer (no russian though... )

[@taraelizabethdonancricchia7192]

Isn't the acetone going to "eat" the leather? Is there not a "cleansing" stage? Absolutely love this video!!

[@BearClawAK47]

You can use an orbital sander and add dirt in between the sand paper and jacket. This will rough up the leather and dive the dirt into the leather.

[@joevelazquez3593]

Awesome!!! I'm doing it to a thrift store jacket...I hope it turns out as cool as yours!!! Thanks for the video... keep it going. Also thinking about doing it to a leather duffle bag to match the dusty cowboy rocker look!!

[@toddjones4492]

How do u get the dirt to stay on the jacket and not on your clothes or on the car seats etc...?

[@Salzblut]

Hi :) Ich arbeite gerade an dem Goblin-Kostüm für einen Freund und hab nach guten, umsetzbaren Tips zum Leder-Einsiffen gesucht, damit seine Flickwerkrüstung ein bisschen ranziger und älter aussieht. Das Video ist klasse, ich werd definitiv alles ausprobieren! Nur eine Frage: Wird das Speiseöl nicht ranzig?

[@ROCKSTAR3291]

i treat my saint laurent biker jacket like my baby, this pains me so much lol.

[@universalchannels3476]

You and me buddy this guys have cheap jackets that's why

[@allenfernandez8653]

Thang Nguyen geez dont those go for a few grand? id treat one like ababy too

[@classnimitz8521]

Same. I have a vintage, albeit only replica, lambskin German U-boat captain deck jacket and I treat it with more care than I treat most other things in my house. I could see doing this with maybe one of my cheaper walker jackets, but just thinking about doing this to my vintage makes me wanna throw up.

[@bivopastor]

Thang Nguyen I saw one for sale for $6,000

[@josemendoza1746]

I feel safe in this comment section. It pains me to watch this idiot do this to a leather jacket 😓

[@brynf4377]

you should have also said where you got your jacket, maybe what types of leather and all that? good video for distressing it looks good.

[@spencerderosier6649]

Thanks man super happy with my mad max look

[@kontankarite]

I love your videos. Just found them today and find them very compelling. My question is if this makes the leather or ANY clothing purely a costume piece after this? Or can this be used for every day wear? Because if I were to ever do this to my own jacket, I would intend to wear it all the time and not as just a cool looking set piece. How does one keep it from just dusting up everything it's around?

[@repocult]

Wow, what a transformation. Thanks for making and posting this video!!

[@faaea13]

awesome video!! Im really getting into the post apocolyptic style!!!! Love it!!!

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

thx :)

[@ephraimmiller9272]

This was awesome! I have a leather vest I may try on it today. I should be studying for a test... I will probably use sandpaper because there are patches on the vest. I need to do something with them as well.

[@LRangerdriver]

Great techniques! As well as being funny as hell. "what did you say about my momma!!?' Jacket looks great after the treatments

[@NuclearSnailStudios]

thank you! and well, the jacket been talkin jack bout my mom, it got what it deserves, man...

[@Ray-Angel]

This is good. What about suede? I have a brown suede guitar strap I'd like to give a worn in look.

[@jonasjohajohanson9517]

Great "how to video". Thanks for uploading. Keep up the good work!

[@brunokazimierz]

I laughed so hard when you said "Hail" at the end! ;p keep up the good work of destroying cloths for destruction effect we all love !

[@freshprinceofdarkness]

Awesome. So apocalyptic.

[@MarkPoletti]

Do you have any suggestions for doing this with a Tan brown jacket as opposed to a black? Looking for a war-torn distressed look as opposed to a post-apocalyptic look!

[@mentcheva]

Old leather looks so much better! Distressed things hold sich a special place in my heart. I think this technique, however, will totally distroy fine lamb leather. I am currently looking for best way to distressed leather jacket of fine lamb leather.

[@Herbymac0811]

I've been using sand paper on an old pair of combat boots and have aged them nicely. I'm about to use the acetone to remove a bit more of the black. Do I need to apply the dust with the acetone or can I dust it later ?

[@Panzerlang]

How did the worn-through seam-stitching work out for you?