Leather Repairs - Part 2 – identityleathercraft

Following on from our last article...

Tips for taking on a repair job

It is important to really think about the projects before starting them. Consider the age of the product, it’s history. Will it be used or displayed? What does the customer want from it, do they want it to look like new or to preserve the age of the item? This conversation is the most important part of the job. Be very clear about what you can and can’t do, an ask them questions to ascertain what their expectations are. As much as you are able give a clear idea of the time and cost involved before starting.

Case Study 3 - Repair and Preservation

Mark’s Shotgun Case – this early 19^th century case has a huge amount of history. The case has a thin leather wrapped around a wooden block. It was in remarkably good condition for it’s age, though one strap was broken and the other very brittle. The case was cleaned and then conditioned and polished with a clear natural carnubua cream to seal and preserve the leather. The colour and wear were left to show the patina of age and history. The straps were conditioned, and the broken strap glued onto a new thin piece of vegetable tanned calf leather. This preserved as much of the original strap while still making it usable.

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The psychology of why you should charge for repairs

It is hard to charge for repairs for friends and can seem ludicrous when all you might have done is punch a hole in a belt. However psychologically people are then less inclined to ask you again in future which defeats the point. You have the tools and skills that they don’t. Even of the repair is quick for you, it is way out of the reach of the person asking for help. Cost your time and materials as you would normally. If you wish to then offer them a friends/family discount, or a barter, then the value of your time and the repair is kept.

Document the Repair

For more complex repairs it is worthwhile to document the repair with notes and photos. These can be shared with the customer and kept with the item as part of the record of it's history. Sometimes you will find in old furniture a little note inside fillings from the repairer/restorer or dated newspaper clippings. They also serve to let the customer know what was done and how complex it was, which adds to the value of the price you charge.

Case Study 4 - Document Case

Museum of Leathercraft

Museum of Leathercraft - Leather Document Case

A preserved document from Queen Victoria asking for permission to lay cables across the English Channel. This request was one of the first attempts at electronic cross-sea communication to mainland Europe. Here you can see the case has been secured but no attempt has been made to make it perfect by replacing or even gluing down the peeling on the side leather panels.

The Identity Repair and Restoration Directory

If the repair is something you do not wish to undertake yourself, or you want help with your own items, we have put together a Directory of customers who undertake repairs and restoration across different leather interest groups. If you would like to be added to this directory, please email us your details.

To download the directory – click here