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Leather Sanding Pad Improving the look of worn alcantara

#1 User is offline   gimmickyflea 

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Posted 29 July 2015 - 09:40 AM

Hi all,

So I have been looking up about how to restore/remove the bobbling from the alcantara in the front seats on 275. I found some very useful information through YouTube including a tutorial from an American company called Colourlock who use a leather sanding pad for this purpose. It looked good but when I went on their website they do not ship to the UK. However, Amazon.com supplies these from them for £15 so I thought it worth a try for the minimal outlay.

As their video explains it will not work if the pilling has gotten into the structure of the alcantara, it is only for the type on the surface. The delivery was much faster than expected and it arrived this week, so out I tentatively went to give it a try and hey presto it works like a charm! Posted Image so I just thought I'd pass this on.


Now waiting for the cleaner and protector kit I've ordered through Ebay from a company called V-fix. Has anyone tried these products and if so are they any good? Any other recommendations would also be helpful in case this stuff isn't up to much Posted Image According to a very particular technician assigned with cleaning the alc of a Bugatti Veyron the smoothed off tip of a narrowed hoover pipe held approx. 0.5 - 1cm away from the material will bring the fibres back up. This I have yet to try.....


Thanks
GF

#2 User is offline   Rayy 

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Posted 29 July 2015 - 12:39 PM

Hi GF, Got any before and after pics?
Owner: FRP #076
Current mile muncher: 2014(64) Ford Mondeo 2.2 TDCI 200 Titanium X Sport - Frozen White

Previous:
2009(09) Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI | 2008(08) Mk7 Ford Fiesta TDCI Zetec S | 1999(T) Rover 420 | 1997(.R) Rover 620 TD | 1995(M) Mk3 Ford Fiesta Si
First car: 1990(H) Mk3 Ford Fiesta Popular Plus!

#3 User is offline   nottadam 

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Posted 29 July 2015 - 06:59 PM

Hello, how is the FRP? Hope you're enjoying it.
One of them 'bobble off' machines works quite well. So does a hair trimmer.
The thing is, what you're removing is fibres from the alcantara which have formed into lumps due to being sat on. If you do it enough, all you'll be left with is the thin base material.
In my opinion, alcantara is not an ideal choice for car seat upholstery. They claim that it's hard wearing and I would agree that it is to a certain extent, but not for 15 years worth of bums on and off Posted Image
My work lease car (MK 7 Golf) has the alcantara seats. 30k miles, most of them motorway miles, and already the seats look a bit worse for wear.
I guess a professional valet would bring them up a bit, but I don't think they will ever look like new again.
My FRP driver's seat is bobbled and worn, but not so it looks really bad. It won't get any worse, as I have them covered with the custom made seat covers. These have the added bonus of making it much easier to get in and out of the car.
I would strongly recommend getting hold of some if you can.
Paul

This post has been edited by nottadam: 29 July 2015 - 07:46 PM

FRP#008, 2001 1.6 Med Steel Blue, Fiesta 1.5 TDCi Zetec S

#4 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 29 July 2015 - 08:42 PM

Agree with seat covers.
Also have a jumper bubble remover gadget (use it on my clothes but it would work on the seats/steering wheel but a pointed out you are making the material thinner so not good to do often). Have heard of people using a shaver carefully but that feels too harsh.
Dragging bum in and out of car which people do wears the seats but also makes holes in the side bolster.
Geting in with a lifted bum and careful placement will help the side bolster live.
Jeans with those little studs play havoc.

Glad product has worked well for you :-) pictures we always love :D
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#5 User is offline   gimmickyflea 

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Posted 29 July 2015 - 09:17 PM

Hi Rayy,

Unfortunately I was so eager to use the pad I forgot to take a before piccy of the seat and only thought after ward. I have now taken one of the passenger side before tidying and one of the driver's since which I will post in the gallery, although the driver's side was much worse.

Hi Paul,
Well what can I say other than the FRP is a totally awesome car, I love looking at it and even sometimes driving it - when I can prise hubby's firmly planted backside out of the driver's seat! Posted Image

I know exactly what you mean about the alcantara in all respects but unfortunately it's a case of make do and mend because it's no longer available. I'm hoping once cleaned that using the protector will also help keep it in reasonable condition along with the use of seat covers for daily use, but my thoughts were to get the nylon blue type that are easy to remove.

Have fun Posted Image








#6 User is offline   Rayy 

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Posted 30 July 2015 - 08:42 AM

Anything that makes an improvement is a good thing! Posted Image

In various pictures I've seen some light blue nylon seat covers with the Ford Racing logo on... are these still something you can buy?

Cheers
Owner: FRP #076
Current mile muncher: 2014(64) Ford Mondeo 2.2 TDCI 200 Titanium X Sport - Frozen White

Previous:
2009(09) Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI | 2008(08) Mk7 Ford Fiesta TDCI Zetec S | 1999(T) Rover 420 | 1997(.R) Rover 620 TD | 1995(M) Mk3 Ford Fiesta Si
First car: 1990(H) Mk3 Ford Fiesta Popular Plus!

#7 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 30 July 2015 - 01:41 PM

That was a group buy by Aaron Bentley year or so back.
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#8 User is offline   eldoodarino 

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Posted 31 July 2015 - 08:51 PM

Would sooner just sit in and out with care rather than drive around on plastic... hate sitting on those covers, it's like you have an incontinence problem..lol
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#9 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 01 August 2015 - 10:18 AM

I keep a black sack on my seat just so that damage getting in/out in garage is minimal but remove it to drive.
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#10 User is offline   V4FRP 

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Posted 01 August 2015 - 09:06 PM

View Posteldoodarino, on 31 July 2015 - 08:51 PM, said:

Would sooner just sit in and out with care rather than drive around on plastic... hate sitting on those covers, it's like you have an incontinence problem..lol

At my age pal that's a comfort and the covers are impervious to all types of fluids.

#11 User is offline   nottadam 

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Posted 02 August 2015 - 07:46 PM

View PostV4FRP, on 01 August 2015 - 09:06 PM, said:

At my age pal that's a comfort and the covers are impervious to all types of fluids.

Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image
FRP#008, 2001 1.6 Med Steel Blue, Fiesta 1.5 TDCi Zetec S

#12 User is offline   splice 

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Posted 13 August 2015 - 11:08 AM

Those covers were made based from my old FRP seat. I believe you can still get the covers from Capital Seating.


In fact I've found the link for you, Note their image is from the prototype, not the finished article which is why the colour is wrong and there's no logo.

http://www.capitalse...=&appid=&rid=60

This post has been edited by splice: 13 August 2015 - 11:09 AM


#13 User is offline   eldoodarino 

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Posted 13 August 2015 - 12:37 PM

crickey, surprised FORD have not spotted this yet and busted their ass!.. Alan got a proper bollocking years ago for making some floor mats.. :mellow:
Wizards Of Nos 60hp progressive delivery.... yeah baby yeah :-o
Denso Iridium Plugs
Helix Clutch
Mobil 1


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