Furniture refinishing

Clean the leather thoroughly and remove most of the old finish / top coat. Spray on Leather & Textile Degreaser if necessary.

Step 1: Cleaning & Degreasing

Stains and grease prevent the new finish from adhering to the leather. First, we will use a water-based cleanser to remove general soiling, then we will remove all grease inside the leather (if necessary) with Leather & Textile Degreaser. Finally, a solvent-based product is used to completely degrease the surface and remove any residual stain. This will ensure the leather is in ideal condition for a new finish.

A. Remove surface dirt by cleaning the leather with a Stain Eraser Sponge soaked in Ultra Rapid Leather Cleaner, rubbing with circular motions. Remove any excess product with an absorbent paper towel or clean, dry cloth and leave to dry. Grease can be absorbed by leather, particularly in heavily used areas like headrests and armrests. On these areas, treatment with Leather & Textile Degreaser is mandatory. Spray a thick coat of Leather & Textile Degreaser on any greasy area, and leave it to work for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. The white powder produced will absorb any remaining grease from the leather. Do not dry with a heat source, as this will prevent the degreasing required. Remove the powder from the leather using a vacuum cleaner with a soft tip and then use a dry sponge.

B. After a general cleaning and degreasing, you need to use the solvent based Deep Cleaner F to clean the leather thoroughly and remove some of the old finish / top coat. You can use Deep Cleaner F with a cloth or paper towel, but keep the towel / cloth clean for best results. The effect of Deep Cleaner F is dramatic, so don’t be surprised by a little color loss.

C. Clean the leather with Leather Cleaner to remove any residue.

A- Ultra-Rapid Leather Cleaner, Leather & Textile Degreaser (if necessary)

B- Deep Cleaner F

C- Leather Cleaner

Fill deep cracks and heavily worn areas.

Step 2: Repairing the Surface (when necessary)

A. If necessary, glue down any raised flaps using Leather Glue WB. Apply the glue only on the lower side of the flap and push it down. Immediately remove any excess glue. Allow to dry for about one hour or accelerate the drying process with a professional heat gun.

B. Deep cracks and heavily worn areas will need to be filled using Mender, a white paste that fills in scratches, cuts, holes and other gaps, and is flexible enough to hold the finish together. Mender may be mixed with up to 10% properly matched (or slightly darker) High Coverage Color to fit in better with the color of the leather being repaired. Apply gently using a spatula or rigid plastic card to fill deep cracks and holes without leaving any excess product on the leather surface. Allow to dry. If possible, avoid using a professional heat gun, as this would reduce the product’s performance and adhesion.

C. Once dry, lightly rub with 400-800 sand paper to smooth out the finished surface. Remove any dust particles with a clean cloth or a soft-tipped vacuum cleaner. For superficial scratches, Surface Repair can be used directly without the need for Mender. Apply the product on the damaged area with a spatula. Use small quantities of product to form a thin layer. Many applications may be necessary until the damage has been covered and the repair becomes invisible. Dry each application with a professional heat gun. Now you should have a smooth, even surface. If not, use Mender or Surface Repair again, as before.

A. Leather Glue WB
B. Mender
C. Riparatore per Abrasioni (to fix light scratches)

Apply the Adhesion Promoter mixture or Extra Adhesion with a sponge in the areas that can’t be reached by spraying, then spraying evenly.

Step 3: Ensuring Adhesion

Use masking tape to cover any part of the leather not to be painted. If you prefer to use Adhesion Promoter, carefully stir in a quantity of Eco Crosslinker equal to 7-8% of the total amount, or 1-3% of Crosslinker AZ5. This mixture should be used within 8 hours. Extra Adhesion does not need crosslinkers. Apply with a sponge to areas which can’t be reached by spraying. Spray to create a light coat. Dry with a professional heat gun, especially for folded leather to make sure that the folds do not stick together.

To ensure the leather is evenly covered, first spray with vertical motions, then with horizontal ones, overlapping with the last coat and spraying evenly.

Avoid heavy coats, as this may cause large drops in the finish. A professional heat gun will speed up drying and achieve a better result. Move on to steps 4 and 5 as quickly as possible.

A. Promotore di Adesione + 7-8% Eco-Catalizzatore o 1-3% Catalizzatore AZ5 oppure
Promotore di Adesione S

Now the leather is ready to be colored with HCC High Coverage Color

Step 4: Coloring

Now the leather is ready to be colored. Mix the color by choosing the matching tones of HCC High Coverage Color. To make color matching easy, we’ve added a Color Formulation Chart and some Leather Swatches to the Professional Repair and Refinishing Kits. Select the Leather Swatch that best matches the color you would like to achieve. On the back of the swatch, you will find a reference number. Use this number to find the Color Formulation in the table provided. Mix HCC High Coverage Color with 3-5% of Color Bonder to confer exceptional adhesion to even the most difficult surfaces. Color Bonder is an impregnation agent that greatly improves adhesion!

Apply the product in difficult areas with a sponge, then spray on two light coats. A professional heat gun may be used for quick drying.

A. HCC High Coverage Color + Color Bonder

Application of Top Coat Matte / Top Coat Gloss is the final step in protecting leather.

Step 5: Sealing and Protecting Leather

Application of Top Coat Matte / Top Coat Gloss is the final step in protecting leather. It protects against any color transfer and restores all its original physical properties. Examine the leather and decide the level of sheen desired in the final finish. Top Coat Matte and Top Coat Gloss can both be mixed in any ratio. Remember that a matte finish hides defects better and lends a more natural look. Select the sheen required, mixing the two top coats if necessary, and then obtain the feel desired by adding a maximum of 3% of FM Slip Additive (feel modifier – silky hand) or FM Non-Slip Additive (feel modifier – waxy hand). A quantity of Eco-Crosslinker equal to 7-8% of the total of the top coat mixture, or 1-3% of Crosslinker AZ5, must be added to ensure that the original physical properties are restored. All mixtures of Top Coat Matte and Top Coat Gloss containing crosslinkers must be used within 8 hours. To give the leather a natural scent, add Leather Additive Fragrance in a quantity of up to 0.3% of the total weight of the final mix. Apply the mixture with a sponge to areas which cannot be reached by spraying, and then spray a coat of the mixture onto leather. Use a professional heat gun to speed up drying. Repeat the operation. Rub resistance may be checked after 48 hours by rubbing a wet, white cloth on the leather when dry and inspecting for any color transfer. Apply Leather Protector after 24 hours and leave your renewed leather to rest for a couple of days.

Remember to advise your customers to follow an appropriate cleaning and care routine with FENICE products to make sure their treasured leather will last for many years.

Now your customers can enjoy their comfortable leather sofas for years, thanks to Fenice’s safe, simple and environmentally friendly refinishing products.

A. Top Coat Gloss or Top Coat Matte + Eco-Crosslinker or Crosslinker AZ5 + FM Slip or Non-Slip Additive (feel modifiers) + Leather Additive Fragrance (a perfumed essence to give leather a natural scent).

Clean the leather thoroughly and remove most of the old finish / top coat. Spray on Leather & Textile Degreaser if necessary.

Step 1: Cleaning & Degreasing

Stains and grease prevent the new finish from adhering to the leather. First, we will use a water-based cleanser to remove general soiling, then we will remove all grease inside the leather (if necessary) with Leather & Textile Degreaser. Finally, a solvent-based product is used to completely degrease the surface and remove any residual stain. This will ensure the leather is in ideal condition for a new finish.

A. Remove surface dirt by cleaning the leather with a Stain Eraser Sponge soaked in Ultra Rapid Leather Cleaner, rubbing with circular motions. Remove any excess product with an absorbent paper towel or clean, dry cloth and leave to dry. Grease can be absorbed by leather, particularly in heavily used areas like headrests and armrests. On these areas, treatment with Leather & Textile Degreaser is mandatory. Spray a thick coat of Leather & Textile Degreaser on any greasy area, and leave it to work for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. The white powder produced will absorb any remaining grease from the leather. Do not dry with a heat source, as this will prevent the degreasing required. Remove the powder from the leather using a vacuum cleaner with a soft tip and then use a dry sponge.

B. After a general cleaning and degreasing, you need to use the solvent based Deep Cleaner F to clean the leather thoroughly and remove some of the old finish / top coat. You can use Deep Cleaner F with a cloth or paper towel, but keep the towel / cloth clean for best results. The effect of Deep Cleaner F is dramatic, so don’t be surprised by a little color loss.

C. Clean the leather with Leather Cleaner to remove any residue.

A- Ultra-Rapid Leather Cleaner, Leather & Textile Degreaser (if necessary)

B- Deep Cleaner F

C- Leather Cleaner

Fill deep cracks and heavily worn areas.

Step 2: Repairing the Surface (when necessary)

A. If necessary, glue down any raised flaps using Leather Glue WB. Apply the glue only on the lower side of the flap and push it down. Immediately remove any excess glue. Allow to dry for about one hour or accelerate the drying process with a professional heat gun.

B. Deep cracks and heavily worn areas will need to be filled using Mender, a white paste that fills in scratches, cuts, holes and other gaps, and is flexible enough to hold the finish together. Mender may be mixed with up to 10% properly matched (or slightly darker) High Coverage Color to fit in better with the color of the leather being repaired. Apply gently using a spatula or rigid plastic card to fill deep cracks and holes without leaving any excess product on the leather surface. Allow to dry. If possible, avoid using a professional heat gun, as this would reduce the product’s performance and adhesion.

C. Once dry, lightly rub with 400-800 sand paper to smooth out the finished surface. Remove any dust particles with a clean cloth or a soft-tipped vacuum cleaner. For superficial scratches, Surface Repair can be used directly without the need for Mender. Apply the product on the damaged area with a spatula. Use small quantities of product to form a thin layer. Many applications may be necessary until the damage has been covered and the repair becomes invisible. Dry each application with a professional heat gun. Now you should have a smooth, even surface. If not, use Mender or Surface Repair again, as before.

A. Leather Glue WB
B. Mender
C. Riparatore per Abrasioni (to fix light scratches)

Apply the Adhesion Promoter mixture or Extra Adhesion with a sponge in the areas that can’t be reached by spraying, then spraying evenly.

Step 3: Ensuring Adhesion

Use masking tape to cover any part of the leather not to be painted. If you prefer to use Adhesion Promoter, carefully stir in a quantity of Eco Crosslinker equal to 7-8% of the total amount, or 1-3% of Crosslinker AZ5. This mixture should be used within 8 hours. Extra Adhesion does not need crosslinkers. Apply with a sponge to areas which can’t be reached by spraying. Spray to create a light coat. Dry with a professional heat gun, especially for folded leather to make sure that the folds do not stick together.

To ensure the leather is evenly covered, first spray with vertical motions, then with horizontal ones, overlapping with the last coat and spraying evenly.

Avoid heavy coats, as this may cause large drops in the finish. A professional heat gun will speed up drying and achieve a better result. Move on to steps 4 and 5 as quickly as possible.

A. Promotore di Adesione + 7-8% Eco-Catalizzatore o 1-3% Catalizzatore AZ5 oppure
Promotore di Adesione S

Now the leather is ready to be colored with HCC High Coverage Color

Step 4: Coloring

Now the leather is ready to be colored. Mix the color by choosing the matching tones of HCC High Coverage Color. To make color matching easy, we’ve added a Color Formulation Chart and some Leather Swatches to the Professional Repair and Refinishing Kits. Select the Leather Swatch that best matches the color you would like to achieve. On the back of the swatch, you will find a reference number. Use this number to find the Color Formulation in the table provided. Mix HCC High Coverage Color with 3-5% of Color Bonder to confer exceptional adhesion to even the most difficult surfaces. Color Bonder is an impregnation agent that greatly improves adhesion!

Apply the product in difficult areas with a sponge, then spray on two light coats. A professional heat gun may be used for quick drying.

A. HCC High Coverage Color + Color Bonder

Application of Top Coat Matte / Top Coat Gloss is the final step in protecting leather.

Step 5: Sealing and Protecting Leather

Application of Top Coat Matte / Top Coat Gloss is the final step in protecting leather. It protects against any color transfer and restores all its original physical properties. Examine the leather and decide the level of sheen desired in the final finish. Top Coat Matte and Top Coat Gloss can both be mixed in any ratio. Remember that a matte finish hides defects better and lends a more natural look. Select the sheen required, mixing the two top coats if necessary, and then obtain the feel desired by adding a maximum of 3% of FM Slip Additive (feel modifier – silky hand) or FM Non-Slip Additive (feel modifier – waxy hand). A quantity of Eco-Crosslinker equal to 7-8% of the total of the top coat mixture, or 1-3% of Crosslinker AZ5, must be added to ensure that the original physical properties are restored. All mixtures of Top Coat Matte and Top Coat Gloss containing crosslinkers must be used within 8 hours. To give the leather a natural scent, add Leather Additive Fragrance in a quantity of up to 0.3% of the total weight of the final mix. Apply the mixture with a sponge to areas which cannot be reached by spraying, and then spray a coat of the mixture onto leather. Use a professional heat gun to speed up drying. Repeat the operation. Rub resistance may be checked after 48 hours by rubbing a wet, white cloth on the leather when dry and inspecting for any color transfer. Apply Leather Protector after 24 hours and leave your renewed leather to rest for a couple of days.

Remember to advise your customers to follow an appropriate cleaning and care routine with FENICE products to make sure their treasured leather will last for many years.

Now your customers can enjoy their comfortable leather sofas for years, thanks to Fenice’s safe, simple and environmentally friendly refinishing products.

A. Top Coat Gloss or Top Coat Matte + Eco-Crosslinker or Crosslinker AZ5 + FM Slip or Non-Slip Additive (feel modifiers) + Leather Additive Fragrance (a perfumed essence to give leather a natural scent).

What is refinishing?

There are three types of refinishing:

Refinishing using transparent dyes (aniline), which is especially used with luxury leathers without any natural markings. This is a highly natural, transparent refinishing, but it leaves the leather exposed to dirt and grime, so is should only be used for leather kept in protected settings (e.g. in formal sitting area; not recommended for car interiors due in part to its limited protection against the discoloration caused by sunlight).
A refinishing process that first uses high-coverage color (pigments) over which a transparent, binder layer is applied in order to protect the leather from external agents.
Suede is a soft, natural leather that is pleasing to the touch, but it is extremely delicate, so it should never be used in cars and is now rarely used as upholstery for furniture, as it has been replaced by microfiber fabrics, which are much easier to care for.

Fenice’s refinishing techniques are safe, simple, and ecological.

What is refinishing?

There are three types of refinishing:

Refinishing using transparent dyes (aniline), which is especially used with luxury leathers without any natural markings. This is a highly natural, transparent refinishing, but it leaves the leather exposed to dirt and grime, so is should only be used for leather kept in protected settings (e.g. in formal sitting area; not recommended for car interiors due in part to its limited protection against the discoloration caused by sunlight).
A refinishing process that first uses high-coverage color (pigments) over which a transparent, binder layer is applied in order to protect the leather from external agents.
Suede is a soft, natural leather that is pleasing to the touch, but it is extremely delicate, so it should never be used in cars and is now rarely used as upholstery for furniture, as it has been replaced by microfiber fabrics, which are much easier to care for.

Fenice’s refinishing techniques are safe, simple, and ecological.

Leather Renovation

Adhesion

When is good adhesion necessary?

When working on leather that has already been finished, monitor adhesion carefully to ensure that products adhere well to the previous finish. Finished leather can present various problems of adhesion due to dirt, grease or poor finishing. Check adhesion after the application of each product, and especially after the first coat.

How is good adhesion obtained?

By cleaning and degreasing the leather prior to any spraying application and only using products specifically designed for leather. One coat of diluted and crosslinked Adhesion Promoter will normally be enough to ensure good results. Extra Adhesion is a high-performance, ready-to-spray product, which is a faster alternative if a solvent-based product can be used. Finally, you can mix Color Bonder with HCC colors for exceptional adhesion on even the most problematic surfaces.

How can adhesion be tested?

Let the finished leather rest for 4 hours. Apply wide, transparent adhesive tape to the leather’s surface. Remove it quickly to see if any color is removed. If so, adhesion is poor and the leather will delaminate easily.

How can leather defects be corrected during the finishing process?

Leather finishing can be done on full-grain leather (where the natural surface of the leather appears like human skin) or on buffed leather. Buffed leather is obtained by sanding full-grain leather with a specially designed machine using sandpaper of the appropriate coarseness for the desired result, e.g. 180 for low-quality leather or 600 for higher quality leather. This is done on leather with many defects; therefore, buffed leather has a lower value. Buffing helps to hide defects. To improve leather quality, a stucco (or paste) known as a ‘mender’ is sometimes applied by spatula to fill deep cracks and other defects. When dry, the leather is buffed, then finished. The above procedure is done in the tannery, and Fenice uses the same process for leather re-finishing.

The type of sanding performed on leather results in an additional classification of leather:

• FULL-GRAIN: non-sanded;

• CORRECTED: snuffed (sanded with fine sandpaper leaving some of the top grain);

• BUFFED: sanded (with the top grain fully removed).

A pattern similar to the original grain is then recreated by embossing the leather.

Leather Renovation

Adhesion

When is good adhesion necessary?

When working on leather that has already been finished, monitor adhesion carefully to ensure that products adhere well to the previous finish. Finished leather can present various problems of adhesion due to dirt, grease or poor finishing. Check adhesion after the application of each product, and especially after the first coat.

How is good adhesion obtained?

By cleaning and degreasing the leather prior to any spraying application and only using products specifically designed for leather. One coat of diluted and crosslinked Adhesion Promoter will normally be enough to ensure good results. Extra Adhesion is a high-performance, ready-to-spray product, which is a faster alternative if a solvent-based product can be used. Finally, you can mix Color Bonder with HCC colors for exceptional adhesion on even the most problematic surfaces.

How can adhesion be tested?

Let the finished leather rest for 4 hours. Apply wide, transparent adhesive tape to the leather’s surface. Remove it quickly to see if any color is removed. If so, adhesion is poor and the leather will delaminate easily.

How can leather defects be corrected during the finishing process?

Leather finishing can be done on full-grain leather (where the natural surface of the leather appears like human skin) or on buffed leather. Buffed leather is obtained by sanding full-grain leather with a specially designed machine using sandpaper of the appropriate coarseness for the desired result, e.g. 180 for low-quality leather or 600 for higher quality leather. This is done on leather with many defects; therefore, buffed leather has a lower value. Buffing helps to hide defects. To improve leather quality, a stucco (or paste) known as a ‘mender’ is sometimes applied by spatula to fill deep cracks and other defects. When dry, the leather is buffed, then finished.The above procedure is done in the tannery, and Fenice uses the same process for leather re-finishing.

The type of sanding performed on leather results in an additional classification of leather:

• FULL-GRAIN: non-sanded;

• CORRECTED: snuffed (sanded with fine sandpaper leaving some of the top grain);

• BUFFED: sanded (with the top grain fully removed).

A pattern similar to the original grain is then recreated by embossing the leather.

The role of a crosslinker | Eco-Crosslinker – Crosslinker AZ5

Why use crosslinkers?

‘Crosslinking’ chemicals are added to either water- or solvent-borne top coats to improve the performance of finished leather, including rub resistance, wet and dry abrasion resistance, etc.

What are crosslinkers?

Crosslinkers are complex organic molecules that create chemical links between the molecular chains of the polymers in the topcoat film deposited on the leather.

The chemical reaction can be seen with a microscope. This diagram shows an example of Fenice’s Adhesion Promoter without any crosslinkers.

The role of a crosslinker | Eco-Crosslinker – Crosslinker AZ5

Why use crosslinkers?

‘Crosslinking’ chemicals are added to either water- or solvent-borne top coats to improve the performance of finished leather, including rub resistance, wet and dry abrasion resistance, etc.

What are crosslinkers?

Crosslinkers are complex organic molecules that create chemical links between the molecular chains of the polymers in the topcoat film deposited on the leather.

The chemical reaction can be seen with a microscope. This diagram shows an example of Fenice’s Adhesion Promoter without any crosslinkers.

However, if crosslinkers are added to our products before spraying, this forms ‘bridges’ that anchor the product’s molecules both together and to the leather to greatly increase rub resistance.

To be specific, this reaction creates a three-dimensional structure that dramatically increases the top coat’s mechanical properties such as surface hardness, toughness, and flex resistance. This crosslinking reaction also reduces and even removes the presence of water-sensitive hydrophilic functional groups in the polymeric structure, resulting in greater water resistance and improved wet-rub fastness.

Why must a mixture containing crosslinkers be used within 8 hours?

Crosslinkers are made of reactive molecules dissolved in inert solvents and start to react as soon as they are added to the topcoat. Better results are quickly achieved, but the creation of these ‘bridges’ starts a continuous reaction that increases the product’s viscosity, meaning that it becomes unusable within 8 hours.

How are crosslinkers added to the mixture?

The crosslinker must be added to the fixing agent very carefully: add the crosslinker slowly, while stirring, to avoid it reacting too quickly with the topcoat. We recommend Fenice’s Eco-Crosslinker, an effective, easy-to-use crosslinker that is particularly suited to crosslinking with water-based topcoats.

We also recommend following these simple rules:

Add crosslinker to the topcoat just before use.
Add crosslinker slowly while stirring to ensure the it is perfectly dispersed within the fixing agent.

How long does the crosslinking process take to complete?

Once the mixture of the topcoat and crosslinker has been applied and left to dry, the crosslinking action will gradually increase general resistance (particularly wet and rub resistance). The whole process is normally completed within 48-72 hours.

How should leather be dried after the application of a crosslinked mixture?

The leather must be dried thoroughly after the application of the topcoat because the crosslinker within the applied film is sensitive to humidity. If the leather is dried well with a professional heat gun after fixing, all the crosslinker contributes to improving the physical characteristics of the leather.

However, if left to dry naturally, the performance of the leather will be slightly reduced because part of the crosslinker will have been neutralized by humidity in the air. The positive aspect is that the leather will still perform better than without crosslinkers.

What precautions should be taken when using crosslinkers, especially crosslinker AZ5?

There are some important safety precautions which should always be followed when using any chemical crosslinkers.

Avoid direct contact with skin.
Use impermeable rubber gloves.
Do not inhale any vapors.
Only use the product in well-ventilated areas.