Armrest & Seat Wrinkles Corrected, Before & After
12-13-2015, 10:26 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Armrest & Seat Wrinkles Corrected, Before & After
Hey guys,
After trying to fix my squeeking front left suspension with a syringe and grease as recommended here, I had no luck as it did not fix the problem...at all. I figured I would end the day on a positive note so I tried something else. I have been looking at the wrinkles in my armrest since April and kept saying I will try the heat gun and cold water method one day. Well, I finally got up the nerve to try it for the first time. Here are the results...
After trying to fix my squeeking front left suspension with a syringe and grease as recommended here, I had no luck as it did not fix the problem...at all. I figured I would end the day on a positive note so I tried something else. I have been looking at the wrinkles in my armrest since April and kept saying I will try the heat gun and cold water method one day. Well, I finally got up the nerve to try it for the first time. Here are the results...
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sultan007 (12-31-2018)
12-13-2015, 10:36 AM
#4
Member
Thread Starter
I tried it about 4 times before I realized why I wasn't getting the results I wanted. 2 things: I was not heating the leather up (initially) long enough as I was afraid I might burn it and I was keeping the heat gun about 6 to 7" away, that's too far, has to be closer. I realized this leather can hold up to some serious heat. You just have to keep the gun close about 3" away and keep it moving constantly, dont concentrate on the wrinkle, very important, just heat up the entire panel. I would estimate I had to heat up each panel for about 3 to 4 minutes where it would get very hot, hot enough where you would feel your hand burning on the leather when you touch it, then quickly place the heat gun outside of the car and rub the leather with a cold, wet cloth working out the wrinkles and flipping the rag as one side gets warm very quick. You want to keep the rag cold to shrink the leather. The cold rag is what did the trick, just heating the leather itself actually expands the leather initially, don't worry as it is cooled by the cold rag it will shrink if you take your time. Try at your own risk. This was my first time and I had great results. After all was said and done, I used McQuires leather conditioner to moisturize my interior. Stuff works great, smells nice and clean too. Hope this helps anyone who has been wanting to try this.
Anthony-
Anthony-
12-13-2015, 10:40 AM
#5
Member
Thread Starter
I had my heat gun at high and on the highest temp too by the way, low and a lower temp was just not working for me...
12-13-2015, 10:44 AM
#6
Member
Thread Starter
Mike, you definitely need more heat. The heat will expand the leather making it appear worse because you are just starting to warm the leather, it needs to get hot, very hot. I literally had to pull my hand off the leather like I touched a hot pot on the stove, that's how hot I needed to get it to work with these results. On low or heating the leather for a minimal time, I was getting one wrinkle out and still had others or it seemed as if I was just transferring the wrinkles around from one side to another or back to front. it was frustrating at first, then I realized I needed to heat it up longer to get it very hot and that worked. Just keep the gun moving at all times.
12-13-2015, 10:47 AM
#7
Member
Thread Starter
The heating of the leather itself did not remove the wrinkles, so don't wait for that to happen, putting the cold rag on the very hot leather and working them out with a light rubbing action is what sealed the deal. You will see steam come off the leather when the cold rag hits it, when you do, that is when you will get the results you want. Might take a few times. I did it four times to get it like this, one right after another.
Last edited by MonroeHandyMan; 12-13-2015 at 11:00 AM.
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01-27-2016, 03:07 PM
#23
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Location: Orlando,FL
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S550 W221 & W222
OK, so steps...
prep: bowl of lots of ice and water for 2 terry towels.
Heat small areas at a time about the size of a folded terry towel. Hold heat gun about 2 inches away from the area you wish to do. Heat that area for at least 2 min going in a circular motion. You should have both terry towels in the ice water bowl. Grab 1 towel folded, place town on the area you want to do. Towel should be very cold and ringed out a little bit. Take the towel and place it on the area with a little bit of pressure. Keep that towel their for 1 min then turn the towel over on the other cold side add a little pressure. Keep towel their, grab heat gun and start heating a new area. Its important to keep the 1st towel on the 1st area so that it stays cold. Heat new area the same way then grad the 2nd towel and place it on the new heated area. Take the 1st towel used on the fist area and place in ice bowl and repeat that process until you have the whole arm rest done. Dont take the towel and swipe, you wont be doing anything. It only works if you place town on the area with pressure.
Tips: Get the initial area HOT.
When you father along in the process you'll start to see steam as your working on heating areas that is good! Also good to see steam when you put the cold towel with pressure on the area your doing. If you don't see steam then the area is not hot enough. Don't be afraid of the heat, I wasn't and found that this leather is very good with heat.
Hope this helps.
prep: bowl of lots of ice and water for 2 terry towels.
Heat small areas at a time about the size of a folded terry towel. Hold heat gun about 2 inches away from the area you wish to do. Heat that area for at least 2 min going in a circular motion. You should have both terry towels in the ice water bowl. Grab 1 towel folded, place town on the area you want to do. Towel should be very cold and ringed out a little bit. Take the towel and place it on the area with a little bit of pressure. Keep that towel their for 1 min then turn the towel over on the other cold side add a little pressure. Keep towel their, grab heat gun and start heating a new area. Its important to keep the 1st towel on the 1st area so that it stays cold. Heat new area the same way then grad the 2nd towel and place it on the new heated area. Take the 1st towel used on the fist area and place in ice bowl and repeat that process until you have the whole arm rest done. Dont take the towel and swipe, you wont be doing anything. It only works if you place town on the area with pressure.
Tips: Get the initial area HOT.
When you father along in the process you'll start to see steam as your working on heating areas that is good! Also good to see steam when you put the cold towel with pressure on the area your doing. If you don't see steam then the area is not hot enough. Don't be afraid of the heat, I wasn't and found that this leather is very good with heat.
Hope this helps.
01-27-2016, 10:12 PM
#24
MBWorld Fanatic!
OK, so steps...
prep: bowl of lots of ice and water for 2 terry towels.
Heat small areas at a time about the size of a folded terry towel. Hold heat gun about 2 inches away from the area you wish to do. Heat that area for at least 2 min going in a circular motion. You should have both terry towels in the ice water bowl. Grab 1 towel folded, place town on the area you want to do. Towel should be very cold and ringed out a little bit. Take the towel and place it on the area with a little bit of pressure. Keep that towel their for 1 min then turn the towel over on the other cold side add a little pressure. Keep towel their, grab heat gun and start heating a new area. Its important to keep the 1st towel on the 1st area so that it stays cold. Heat new area the same way then grad the 2nd towel and place it on the new heated area. Take the 1st towel used on the fist area and place in ice bowl and repeat that process until you have the whole arm rest done. Dont take the towel and swipe, you wont be doing anything. It only works if you place town on the area with pressure.
Tips: Get the initial area HOT.
When you father along in the process you'll start to see steam as your working on heating areas that is good! Also good to see steam when you put the cold towel with pressure on the area your doing. If you don't see steam then the area is not hot enough. Don't be afraid of the heat, I wasn't and found that this leather is very good with heat.
Hope this helps.
prep: bowl of lots of ice and water for 2 terry towels.
Heat small areas at a time about the size of a folded terry towel. Hold heat gun about 2 inches away from the area you wish to do. Heat that area for at least 2 min going in a circular motion. You should have both terry towels in the ice water bowl. Grab 1 towel folded, place town on the area you want to do. Towel should be very cold and ringed out a little bit. Take the towel and place it on the area with a little bit of pressure. Keep that towel their for 1 min then turn the towel over on the other cold side add a little pressure. Keep towel their, grab heat gun and start heating a new area. Its important to keep the 1st towel on the 1st area so that it stays cold. Heat new area the same way then grad the 2nd towel and place it on the new heated area. Take the 1st towel used on the fist area and place in ice bowl and repeat that process until you have the whole arm rest done. Dont take the towel and swipe, you wont be doing anything. It only works if you place town on the area with pressure.
Tips: Get the initial area HOT.
When you father along in the process you'll start to see steam as your working on heating areas that is good! Also good to see steam when you put the cold towel with pressure on the area your doing. If you don't see steam then the area is not hot enough. Don't be afraid of the heat, I wasn't and found that this leather is very good with heat.
Hope this helps.
