A leather shirt allows your coffee table to withstand a great deal of use and abuse. Even though the leather is durable, tears may happen. Fix pieces or tears in your coffee table top using a leather repair kit that contains tint for a perfect color match.
Cleaning the Cut
Before you start repairing the leather, then it needs a gentle cleaning to reveal the **true leather color**; otherwise your color-matched mend might not be the ideal shade. Wipe the leather down with the cleaning pads or alternative included from the leather repair kit. If the kit doesn’t contain a cleaner, use rubbing alcohol applied to a white fabric or cotton swab. Clean the area immediately surrounding the damage. If you become aware of a good deal of dirt moving to the fabric or cotton, clean as much of the leather as possible — it is dirty.
Preparing a Patch
Cut a patch from durable fabric like canvas, or utilize an iron-on clothing patch. Trim the patch so it’s 1/4-inch bigger in all directions than the tear. Slide the patch within the hole — sticky side up, if it is an iron-on — and line it up so the patch completely covers the hole area. Utilize a **toothpick or tweezers** to push the patch into position without stretching the torn leather. Whether there are any stray fibers sticking out of their leather on either side of the hole, then trim them with scissors.
Making the Repair
Mix the repair alternative with the **tints** included in the repair kit so that it matches the color of their leather table top. Test the solution in an inconspicuous area, if possible, to make an accurate match before applying it to the mend. Apply a thin layer of this repair solution above the tear with the small spatula included in the repair kit, then extending the option 1/4 inch or so beyond the slice for a strong fix. Press the leather grain newspaper in the kit grain-side down into the repair area, and then iron it gently with a low-heat iron. If the repair area is small, cover the grain newspaper with a plain brown bag, then ironing the bag to protect against ironing the leather itself, which might lead to discoloration. Remove the grain newspaper once it cools completely.
Dealing With Serious Damage
If the tabletop has numerous tears, scrapes and discolored areas, replacing the leather covering might be a worthwhile investment. Shops specializing in [replacement leather ](http://www.antiqueleathers.co.uk/aboutus.htm) provide a variety of leather colors and styles, so there’s a good chance you’ll have the ability to find new leather that looks similar to the existing tabletop. Retailers that sell replacement leather also include instructions about how best to fasten the new leather to the table, as this may change depending on the plan of the tabletop.