Ohhh Mike > Leather Conditioners...?

[HammerDown]

Leather Conditioners...if for the most part all automotive Leather seating has a painted surface on top of the actual Leather hide so, just how can any kind of Leather Conditioner penetrate the painted surface?
Are we conditioning the painted surface and if so would it not be better to use a product like 303 protectant etc?
I've been using Mequiars Leather Conditioner on my re-covered Red Corvette leather seats for a few years...I don't think it actually gets to the Leather itself. So maybe it's just conditioning the paint on the seats???
Feedback...thanks Ray

[HammerDown]

Re: Ohhh Mike > Leather Conditioners...?

El bumpo

[HammerDown]

Re: Ohhh Mike > Leather Conditioners...?

Hmmm looks like I've stumped people about this one

[roushstage2]

Re: Ohhh Mike > Leather Conditioners...?

Leather Conditioners...if for the most part all automotive Leather seating has a painted surface on top of the actual Leather hide so, just how can any kind of Leather Conditioner penetrate the painted surface?
Are we conditioning the painted surface and if so would it not be better to use a product like 303 protectant etc?
I've been using Mequiars Leather Conditioner on my re-covered Red Corvette leather seats for a few years...I don't think it actually gets to the Leather itself. So maybe it's just conditioning the paint on the seats???
Feedback...thanks Ray

I don't think most leather seats have that coating on them. I have never seen one yet (If I have, I didn't even notice it). If I had to guess, I would say it would be like the polishing oils soaking into the paint.

Did you have your seats re-covered, or painted? Either way, I would stick with the leather products because the coating on (in maybe?) the leather seats is the same kind of paint that is on the car. Unless the manufacturer says otherwise.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Ohhh Mike > Leather Conditioners...?

Leather Conditioners...if for the most part all automotive Leather seating has a painted surface on top of the actual Leather hide so, just how can any kind of Leather Conditioner penetrate the painted surface?
Are we conditioning the painted surface and if so would it not be better to use a product like 303 protectant etc?
I've been using Meguiar's Leather Conditioner on my re-covered Red Corvette leather seats for a few years...I don't think it actually gets to the Leather itself. So maybe it's just conditioning the paint on the seats???
Feedback...thanks Ray

Hi Ray,

Once in a while a post slips by... didn't mean not to reply, just somehow got by us...

I don't know a ton about the coating used on some leathers except that when you apply a leather cleaner/condition/protectant to the surface it penetrates past the coat and into the leather, it's not like a layer of glass or plastic in which nothing can get by which is the picture most people have in their minds when they think of this coating on the surface of leather.

Is that how you think of it?

Another thing to understand is that with wear and tear this coat wears off.

A simple test anyone can do to demonstrate the permeable characteristic of these coatings is the next time you apply a dressing to your seat, look at how the leather looks before applying the dressing, then look to see how it looks after you apply the dressing. In most case you can see where the dressing will change the look of the color of the leather, in most cases bringing out the color more than before the dressing was applied.

This is mostly noticeable with darker colors versus lighter colors but the change is taking place whether you can see it or not.

That change that takes place is because the liquid in the product you're suing penetrates past the coating and into the leather.

Even if we forget all the above, let's look at the big picture... you have two choices...

1. Do something
2. Do nothing

By this we mean, you can 'maintain' your leather by applying a product you trusting in the name of or apply nothing and hope the leather holds up o it's own. Our chemists are very well up to date with changing technologies with all the materials used to make cars.. (it's part of their job), and then take changes in technology, (coating on leather for example), into consideration when they create a formula or modify an existing formula. That's why sometimes if you're in the "Do something" camp, if you don't completely understand the material you're working on, you can take comfort in knowing that before the name "Meguiar's" goes on the label, we've done our homework and our products are going to take care of your investment no matter what you're working on.


Now... how's the boat doing?