Tobacco Vinyl & Leather Finish

4.88 out of 5

(24 customer reviews & photos)

Picture of leather chair demonstrating Rub n Restore rich Tobacco brown color and triangular swatch in upper left corner for reference

Tobacco is a warm medium brown. It is more golden than Walnut but not as red as Cinnamon.

$19 – $79

Size

Clear

Get a Swatch of Tobacco

Product Details

Use our water-based finishes to restore and condition:

absorbent aniline and semi-aniline leather,
non-absorbent full-grain or top-grain leather,
and vinyl upholstery.

Our finishes won’t sunfade or backstain like leather dyes. They don't feel plasticky, flake or peel like spray paints.

Do not use on fabric, suede, nubuck, bonded or faux leather.

Store in a temperate, dark place away from children.

Click here for SDS (Safety Data Sheets) and ingredient information.

See here before changing color!

Changing color is best suited to absorbent leather.

Thorough cleaning and testing color adhesion are critical! If the material repels water and will be heavily used, consider adding special order Satin Sealer to the color.

The following are not good candidates and will require touch-up:

changing from red / dark to white / pale;
worn, cracking, scaly or thinning leather;
furniture with lots of wrinkles, folds, deep creases (and therefore stress);
pieces that are heavily used or harshly cleaned (kids, dogs, chemicals);
car or boat upholstery (for these we suggest a heavier urethane coating);
bonded, faux or polyurethane (PU) ‘leather’ which repel all finishes (including their own).

Here's what wear looks like on non-absorbent leather or vinyl:

Our finishes wear naturally, resulting in a distressed look.

Deeper lines or creases receive more stress.

Picture of beige leather changed to Cognac and then scratched by dog claws — Dog claws can quickly scuff the color.

Easy rub-off indicates inadequate cleaning.

The color may flake if applied too thickly and allowed to pool in the grain.

This is easily corrected by thinning the color with alcohol and reapplying.

Learn more about changing color here.

Our products are water-based acrylic finishes (paints) that look and feel natural. Consider a heavier urethane or aerosol for color changing boat or auto upholstery.

How do I match a color?

You can order handmade swatches of leather or vinyl refinished with our colors to see how they compare.

Or send us a sample. For a $120 fee, we will formulate a unique color and keep it on file. 8 oz. is the order minimum and a separate cost. There's a re-mix fee if you ever need more.

Samples should be at least 2" x 3" in size and can be:

Original leather or vinyl (found underneath cushions or pull some staples and trim from the frame);
Cushion case (please indicate which area you want matched with a piece of painters tape);
Headrest, fuse panel cover, or component from a vehicle;
Paint chip from a hardware store (beware, the paint chip may not actually match the material).

Please print out and include the Color Request Form and mail to:

Rub 'n Restore, Inc.
PO Box 1149 (US mail only)
39585 Lund Rd (UPS / FedEx / DHL only)
Paonia, CO 81428 USA

How do I clean?

Do I need Clear Prep & Finish™?

Buy it if you:

have absorbent leather or dry, sun-rotted vinyl;
want to dilute color to create a marbled, distressed, or burnished appearance;
or want a shiny finish.

Answer these three questions to determine what clear finish, if any, is needed.

Do unworn areas absorb water?

Yes

Are you applying a primary or secondary color (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)?

Yes

What kind of luster do you want?

Matte

Satin

Semi-Gloss

Shiny

Mix 1 to 2 parts Clear Prep+Finish™ + 1 part color for the first coat. Use one coat of Satin Sealer for a final topcoat.
Learn more about Satin Sealer here.

Use equal parts color and Clear Prep+Finish™ from start to finish. If it dries too shiny, reduce the amount of clear in the mix for your final coat. Conversely, if more shine is desired, add more clear to the mix or use alone as a topcoat.

Use equal parts color and Clear Prep+Finish™ from start to finish. If more shine is desired, add more clear to the mix or use alone as a topcoat.

Mix 1 to 2 parts Clear Prep+Finish™ + 1 part color for the first coat. Increase the ratio of color to clear for subsequent coats (approximately 4 to 1) for a satin finish.

Mix 1 to 2 parts Clear Prep+Finish™ + 1 part color for the first coat. Use color alone for subsequent coats. It will dry matte and does not need an additional sealer.

Mix 1 to 2 parts Clear Prep+Finish™ + 1 part color for the first coat. Reduce the ratio to equal parts for subsequent coats to get better coverage. If more shine is needed, use clear alone for a final topcoat.

Mix 1 to 2 parts Clear Prep+Finish™ + 1 part color for the first coat. Reduce the ratio to equal parts for subsequent coats for a semi-gloss finish.

Use Satin Sealer for a final topcoat.
Learn more about Satin Sealer here.

Apply a thin coat of Clear Prep+Finish™ and disperse quickly so it does not dry too shiny. You can also try equal parts color and clear.

Apply Clear Prep+Finish™ as a final topcoat.

The color will dry matte and does not need an additional sealer.

Mix 4 parts color with 1 part Clear Prep+Finish™ and use from start to finish (or alone as a final topcoat).

Mix equal parts color with 1 part Clear Prep+Finish™ and use as a final topcoat.

Use Clear Prep+Finish™ as a final topcoat.

Shipping Info

Orders received before 10 am MST on weekdays (excluding US holidays) are usually shipped same-day.

Most domestic orders are shipped via Priority Mail unless otherwise requested and typically arrive in 2-4 business days. Packages over 5 lbs. as well as all Canadian and international orders are shipped via UPS.

We are not responsible for delays and cannot refund shipping costs except for UPS Next Day Air.

You will receive an automated email with tracking number. Please secure your package in a timely fashion to avoid freezing during winter months.

Canadian and international Customers, use coupon code internationalCLUB (case and space sensitive) to discount the freight and duties on 8 or 16 oz. bottles of color. Rub 'n Restore, Inc. is not responsible for duties, tariffs or other expenses incurred.

Click here for more shipping information.

Returns & Exchanges

Colors Similar to Tobacco

Cognac

Rust

Cinnamon

Walnut

Many repair projects also need these items:

Handmade Color Swatches

$0.50 ea

Picture of Rub n Restore leather paint swatches arranged in circular wreath

Choose Colors

Clear Prep+Finish™ Conditioning Sealer

$9 – $36

Size

Clear

Tool Options

Sandpaper Option

Clear

Leave a Review

24 reviews for Tobacco Vinyl & Leather Finish

+2

Brian Gass

5 out of 5

September 8, 2020

Excellent and Easy to Use

I love that they help you select the right products and methods for your restoration project. The color and finish apply very easily and is quite forgiving. I restored this well worn but high quality Stickley leather couch in about 2 hours (with three small tears). I found It's best to work in one small area at a time and rub in a circular motion. I blended the conditioning sealer with the color and finished with just the conditioning sealer right after to give it some shine and to keep it's slightly worn look that I like. The only thing I wish they would improve is the gloves they send. Would be nice for it to come with some nitrile gloves i...More
I love that they help you select the right products and methods for your restoration project. The color and finish apply very easily and is quite forgiving. I restored this well worn but high quality Stickley leather couch in about 2 hours (with three small tears). I found It's best to work in one small area at a time and rub in a circular motion. I blended the conditioning sealer with the color and finished with just the conditioning sealer right after to give it some shine and to keep it's slightly worn look that I like. The only thing I wish they would improve is the gloves they send. Would be nice for it to come with some nitrile gloves instead of the cheap plastic ones.

Before
+1

Tim Hayes

5 out of 5

August 6, 2020

Project complete

We were debating on getting our old comfortable club chair recovered, but after watching the videos and speaking to Lesandre on the phone, my wife and I gained the confidence we needed to tackle the project of restoring it instead. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome, and would highly recommend the products Rub n Restore has to offer. Five stars are not enough in my opinion for the products and support we received. We have more projects already planned. Thanks again!!

Happy customers,
Tim And Terry

after
+2

Mary W

5 out of 5

August 1, 2020

Step by step instructions were most helpful for this novice user. I think the photos will attest to that. The hint about mixing color with Prep and finish was useful so I did not have to order custom color.

Teena Stewart

5 out of 5

July 26, 2020

We dyed two sofas and a chair and ottoman with a cognac base and used tobacco for a glaze. Worked Great. See the cognac dye section for photos.