leather repair with Dynamix
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clk 320
leather repair with Dynamix
got myself a bottle of Dynamix Dye to try and repair a rather sad looking driver seat bolster, seats were rather grubby and had some major scuffs to the normal places, it looks like dirt on the photo but they were sort of down to the bone and the stitching has begun to come away.
Before i take the plunge and have the whole panel replaced i thought i would try Dynamix dye, results below, colour match is perfect (alpaca grey) best results come from, cleaning the area with methylated spirts (as per instructions) then lightly dabbing the areas with the dye to get a good finish, as wiping in a brush fashion just seems to thin the finish.
I have to say, ive given them three coats now, and cleaned the seats and a fine wipe all over with the remaining dye, and the look pretty damn new, im amazed at how good they have come out, i will certainly be doing the door cards now, i cant recommend this stuff enough if your seats are in a bit of a state. I spoke to Ryan from Dynamix and they are really helpful on the phone, great product great company.
http://www.dynamixdyes.com/index.php
The after photo still needs to be finished with leather conditioner.
Before i take the plunge and have the whole panel replaced i thought i would try Dynamix dye, results below, colour match is perfect (alpaca grey) best results come from, cleaning the area with methylated spirts (as per instructions) then lightly dabbing the areas with the dye to get a good finish, as wiping in a brush fashion just seems to thin the finish.
I have to say, ive given them three coats now, and cleaned the seats and a fine wipe all over with the remaining dye, and the look pretty damn new, im amazed at how good they have come out, i will certainly be doing the door cards now, i cant recommend this stuff enough if your seats are in a bit of a state. I spoke to Ryan from Dynamix and they are really helpful on the phone, great product great company.
http://www.dynamixdyes.com/index.php
The after photo still needs to be finished with leather conditioner.
Last edited by nellees; Apr 3, 2011 at 02:56 AM.
Thread Starter
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clk 320
no its a perfect colour match, when you apply it it looks about half a shade lighter when going on, but dries perfectly, I spoke to the guy who runs the company and it seems they go to great pains to get the colours right, you can even send them a sample swatch from an over cut and they will match it perfectly, i think mine looks lighter on the photos as the "before" photo was before the seat was cleaned etc, then the dye has coloured all of that nasty engrained stuff that was left, the seats look damn near new now, im stunned at how good they have come up.
http://www.dynamixdyes.com/index.php
http://www.dynamixdyes.com/index.php
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From: Richmon VA...but from NYC
2001 CLK 430...92 honda civic GSR turbo hatch
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1998 CLK 320
This is crazy I was calling up local upholstery shops referred from MB today and left messages to get this fixed!!
I want to do it on my own however from every post I was discouraged about the whole time consuming process.
I just have a few have a few questions:
Did you/are you going to do the middle of the seats?
If so, are you going to take the seats apart?
Any sanding done?
Any use on the armrest or steering wheel?
I want to do it on my own however from every post I was discouraged about the whole time consuming process.
I just have a few have a few questions:
Did you/are you going to do the middle of the seats?
If so, are you going to take the seats apart?
Any sanding done?
Any use on the armrest or steering wheel?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 17
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clk 320
as you can see from the photo, mine were bad in the normal place, no sanding, just cleaned with meths as per instructions, then dye applied with the sponge left for 24 hrs, then applied another 3 coats, im lucky as i dont use the car that much, but i did use it once inbetween coats, no harm done, then conditioned, seats have come up like new, but you do need to follow the instructions, if you do mess it up the dye can be removed with meths and re-applied. in my view, before i went to an upholsterer, i couldnt really make them look any worse, now i dont need an upholsterer until i get a split.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 84
From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
This is crazy I was calling up local upholstery shops referred from MB today and left messages to get this fixed!!
I want to do it on my own however from every post I was discouraged about the whole time consuming process.
I just have a few have a few questions:
Did you/are you going to do the middle of the seats?
If so, are you going to take the seats apart?
Any sanding done?
Any use on the armrest or steering wheel?
I want to do it on my own however from every post I was discouraged about the whole time consuming process.
I just have a few have a few questions:
Did you/are you going to do the middle of the seats?
If so, are you going to take the seats apart?
Any sanding done?
Any use on the armrest or steering wheel?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 17
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clk 320
i didnt take my seats out, but may re-do it in the summer for something to do..!!, my interior is like a two tone, light alpaca grey with darker steering wheel and trim, im sure if i purchased the correct colour for the wheel i could be done too, im sure there is a photo of one on the dynamix site...?
http://www.dynamixdyes.com/gallery-p...galleryimage39
http://www.dynamixdyes.com/gallery-p...galleryimage39
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
I've done a lot of seats. Some I've removed (those in HORRIFIC shape), most I've left in the car. Yes, steering wheels can be done the same way. So can door panels.
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1998 CLK 320
Marcus,
I was looking through your instructions and just had a quick question
After you condition the seats do you wait 2 days??
Or can you work right after that?
I do like the concept of just reworking the leather rather than touching up
I was looking through your instructions and just had a quick question
After you condition the seats do you wait 2 days??
Or can you work right after that?
I do like the concept of just reworking the leather rather than touching up
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,784
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
Washing the seats removes any conditioner that hasn’t completely soaked in. For me, the goal is to get as much conditioner as possible absorbed into the leather before the wash. The seats probably have absorbed all they can in 30 minutes, but I’m usually not in a rush, so I wait a couple of days. Condition one weekend, and wash/color the next. I've done it without conditioning as well. It depends on the condition of the seats.
Thread Starter
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clk 320
i found that using the conditioner before dyeing, doesnt allow the dye to cure properly, my first attempt i didnt clean throurghly, the dye looked like it had took, but when i conditioned over the top of the dye, it started to come off on the cloth, the conditioner had stopped the dye from staining i think, in the instructions from dynamix, it states to clean the seats throuorghly with methylated spirits to remove any wax etc etc.
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Posts: 3,784
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
I use Color Plus. They have factory colors and will supply custom shades. There's a link at the bottom of my page.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,784
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
$35 for standard colors and $85 for custom brews (there are more standard colors available than shown on their website). Car Care Specialties has similar pricing. And in case you're wondering, 8 ounces is PLENTY.
Thread Starter
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clk 320
heres the link for the stuff i used too in the photos above if anyone is interested.
http://www.dynamixdyes.com/buy_dyes.php
http://www.dynamixdyes.com/buy_dyes.php
