Step 1: Cleaning
The Preparer & Deglazer has been specially developed for thoroughly cleaning leather - whether used or new. The removal of mud, grease and other dirt prevents the paint from cracking or chipping. It is important to take enough time to do this. Being well prepared is already half the battle! The cleaner the surface, the better the leather paint will stick.
The Preparer & Deglazer removes paint layers and surface layers that have not permeated the leather. Important: only use this product on leather and not on plastic, rubber or other materials. If you wish to colour products that are not made of leather, e.g. the side edges of rubber soles, it is best to thoroughly clean them with water and soap. The basic component of the Preparer & Deglazer is acetone. However, the precise combination of the different components has been specially designed for use on leather, combined with Angelus Leather Paint. We are not directly advising against the use of pure acetone, but it has to be applied very carefully. Acetone is a corrosive substance and can quickly damage the leather surface.
In the case of very smooth leather, such as patent leather, extra treatment can be very worthwhile. The paint sticks better if the leather is first rubbed with extremely fine sandpaper until the surface of the leather has been roughened.
Step 2: Paints
Mix the paint well before use. Simply shaking the bottle is not always sufficient. Patience is important for the painting itself. The more carefully you apply the paint, the more lasting the result will be.
Please first try out the colour in an inconspicuous place, to check whether it gives the desired result.
Angelus Leather Paint contains special components that make the paint elastic. However, the thicker you apply the layers, the less possible it is to use that advantage. Applying several thin layers ensures a far better result. After each layer, give the paint enough time to dry thoroughly. Using a hair dryer produces the opposite effect. After drying, the basic paints have a smooth gloss. The neon paints have a matt look.
At the request of many users, Angelus Leather Products developed the Duller. This product is mixed with the leather paint as needed in order to obtain a more matt look. The rule of thumb here is: between 1.5 and 4.5 ml of Duller to 100ml of leather paint. First, try out the mixture on a piece of leftover material to test whether you get the desired result.
Step 3: Retouching and protecting
Have you applied the last layer of paint and feel satisfied with the result after leaving it to dry for 24 hours? In that case, you can retouch the leather just as you like using the Acrylic Finisher. This keeps the material looking good for longer, as it adds an extra water-repellent layer. The leather paint, which incidentally already provides protection, is thus better protected against wind and weather.
Particularly if you have only (re-)applied paint to part of the surface, it is advisable to use a finisher, as this gives the surface an even appearance.
The Acrylic Finisher is available in four versions: matt, satin, gloss and high gloss. Use matt if you have mixed the Duller with the leather paint. Satin, gloss and high gloss always produce a shinier final result. Treat the leather two to four times with the Finisher to achieve an optimal result!