Grain Pattern Help

[Julian Rowe]

Hi everyone

Whilst I was pretty chuffed with my recent arm chair job, the bit that I'm not happy about, and isn't really evident on the photos, is the lack of texture on the airbrushed arm.

When you look at the repaired arm on its own, it looks ok, but compare it to the non-repaired arm and you can see the difference in grain pattern - the repair has very little grain.

Is there a technique to put grain back on a larger area? I'm aware of (and have ordered) the grain kit from Judy, but my understanding of that is that it's mainly for putting grain back into small patches and repairs.

or do I simply explain to the client that I can repair it but the grain will be missing from the repaired section??

Thanks
Jules

 

[Judy Bass]

Bigger areas of grain loss are always difficult to deal with. You could just use the small pads over a larger area as we did on the course. Was there serious grain loss (on that level of damage I wouldn't have thought there would be that much) - this would indicate that too much pigment was applied. Did you roller or airbrush?
You can get 'spray grain' products but I have never found them very effective or very easy to use.
I think most customers are happy to have the colour restored.
I will work on ways of getting larger areas sorted Jules

Cheers
Judyb

 

[Kevin Loomes]

Judy's right, on large areas if the grain has worn flat people are used to it and so aren't usually fussed if there still isn't any after restoring the colour. It's more to do with small areas to replicate the surrounding area - if there is grain.

Just another thing that may be of interest, too much application of pigment by spraying can flatten an area and cover the grain if used too heavily. If you think of the grain as valleys and if they fill up they become flat (a great man taught me this once), and can look a bit iffy. The roller technique can be very useful in most scenarios where a plain colour is used if you don't fancy setting up the sprayer!

Edit: Sorry Judy I didn't read your post properly - you already mentioned about too much pigment/using a roller etc!

 

[Julian Rowe]

The grain was pretty worn already so I don't think I applied too much pigment. I was just wondering about trying to get it back to its pre-damaged state.

I sprayed Judy. That would be great if you could develop something.

 

[Kevin OBrien]

IMO a more professional spray gun would help the ones I use are so fine I can adjust the spray to the finest detail getting a nice coverage with not to much pigment, I have used them to fill in keyed paintwork on cars with no overspray.

 

[Kevin OBrien]

This is one of the few I use.

 

[Judy Bass]

Ours is very adjustable too Kevin - you also use far less pigment than with a bigger air gun. We have tried many many airbrushes and air guns and always go back to the badger as it is so easy to use and to look after.
As we roller coat most of the pigment all that is needed with the air brush is a very light finishing spray so there is no overspray - great for doing car interiors etc.
Hope this helps
Judyb

 

[Julian Rowe]

I don't think the issue was too much pigment. the pigment was worn away in very tiny circles (like the tips of the grain pattern only was missing) across quite a large area of the arm. from a distance it looked ok but up close you could see the damage.

 

[Daniel Darlow]

Possibly?????........ a damn good clean of the other arm may assist the cosmetic look, also the immeadiate surrounding areas.
Takes the weight off the newly finished arm.

 

[Julian Rowe]

Hi Daniel. I did thoroughly clean the entire chair and then repaired the damage to just one arm....

Maybe I should have 'repaired' both arms?!

 

[Daniel Darlow]

Julian.
I have learnt, in my short year of leather 'restoration' that it really is, a 'deep learning curve'! I think that is the terminology at present.
The main thing I have learnt is, to either take the item away, and do. Or on-site, make sure the client is not hanging over your shoulder!
There is nothing worse than when the colour is not going right , you have to rub off and mix again, blah, blah.

 

[Robert Bailey]

(Post #4)
Julian, why did you spray Judy? Was it fake tan

 

[Daniel Darlow]

With an nice Satin Gloss Finish!

 

[Judy Bass]

We have a nice colour called Essex Orange!!

 

[Julian Rowe]

Trying to get her to sit still while I stamped the colourmatch machine on her forehead proved to be the most difficult part of the job!

 

[Judy Bass]

.......so relieved - that comment could have gone so horribly wrong!

 

[Robert Bailey]

It would have done but you got in there before me.