Decorative nailhead trim and upholstery tacks can make leather furniture restoration daunting. Here’s how to recolor and refinish the leather without having to remove all those nails and tacks.
Method 1 (great for both absorbent and non-absorbent upholstery)
- Using a spray bottle of water, lightly mist a 1-2 ft. section of tacks.
- Use a damp sponge or small brush to apply Rub ‘n Restore® color over the tacks.
- Before the color dries, use a stiff-bristle brush to remove it from the surface of the tack.
Method 2 (best suited to absorbent leather)
- Using a spray bottle of water, lightly mist a 1-2 ft. section of tacks.
- Use a damp sponge or small brush to apply Rub ‘n Restore® color along the tacks.
- Before the color dries, mist more water on the nails, and dab with a rag. The water will remove it from the metal nail, though the color will have already penetrated and stained the leather.
Whichever method you choose, repeat until all nails / tacks are complete before moving on to other areas. Remove any remaining color from the tacks with alcohol and q-tips or superfine “0000” steel wool.
This video demonstrates:
- 0:40 – The basic approach
- 1:13 – Method 1: Apply color with a brush, wipe off with a damp rag
- 1:24 – Method 2: Apply color with a brush, buff off with a stiff bristle brush
- 1:40 – Method 2 demonstrated
- 2:20 – Burnishing with a darker color to create an antiqued look
- 2:30 – Before and after