So something was really peeing me off. I have a mint SNAFU saddle. Like for its age it is pristine. However, it had what I thought was a scratch in it. Turns out at the end there was a small hole. And it was bothering me because the bike it is on is all NOS and pristine parts. And it was right in your face, at the front of the seat.
I left it for ages but it was lingering in the back of my mind. Especially as I am soon to fit NOS chrome wheels (sick ones) with NOS pegs and god knows what else. I have had this bike the longest (been finding parts since 2017!) and want it perfect. Well, close would be super.
So the other day I decided to look into the extreme. What if I painted it?. Now bear in mind here this was when I thought it was just a scratch, not with a small hole on the left hand end. It looks like someone caught a nail when taking the bike down from the shed or garage. I also don't mean slapping on some Dulux either
I mean as close to proper as possible.
So my investigation led me to this.
Actual leather paint that dries very flexible. At a mere 6 quid delivered. At this point I still was not set on touching the seat, until Weds when I was up there working on the rear brake and cabling and realised there was indeed a hole and the area was starting to feel quite dry. So I removed it and brought it down.
I have seen videos and guides on repairing car seats. However, the filler looks very cumbersome and causes a F ton of work. I have also see Thai people filling the holes with sugru and it looking the extreme end of shat at the end too. However, one thing I have seen is people making filler out of superglue and bicarb or baking soda. So this was the method I chose to use. It would bind all of the edges of the hole and stop it progressing.
As such I decided to do a tutorial on it, as no one ever has. However, the final check was asking on groups if any one had used said paint and a guy blew me away showing me a mid school Hoffman Condor seat he had repainted. It looked incredible. And thus, I was set.
So here goes. If you have any questions please ask. I am hoping this will save a lot of mid school era vinyl seats !
How to fix and paint a seat. Is it perfect? no. Is it better? I will let you decide. Do note pics numbered are part of the repair and paint. Pics without numbers are the finished seat.
Materials needed.
Seat.
Superglue.
Baking soda (bicarbonate).
3m scuff pad or sand paper.
Superglue activator if you have it. Drying times will be increased if you do not.
Masking tape. I used fine line. This part is on you and depends on experience. If you are a ninja you won't need any.
Leather paint. Aye, proper leather paint.
Paint brush. I used an old makeup brush. Needs to be small and fine.
Isopropyl alcohol for cleaning.
Rags.
Step one.
Remove any plastic reinforcing.
If there is a rip, tear or hole in the seat you need to fix it. If not? skip this step. However, do not skip the scuff and sand!
Cut any flaps of seat that are poking outward off with fine scissors. You want the area as flat and shaped to the seat as possible.
Scuff entire area. Apply superglue into the hole, rip or scratch. Take a pinch of bicarbonate and drop it into the glue. Pat with finger.
Either let it air dry or apply activator. This will turn it rock hard in 10 mins.
Once dry sand it into shape. I could have gone further but I couldn't even feel it tbh.
Once done clean again with alcohol to remove any dust and detritus.
Step two.
Mask up the hard line between areas if you are doing two colours. Or don't, if you are said ninja.
I have used orange fine line tape, you will see it in the pics. Again this all depends on skill and experience.
Step three.
Shake paint for a minute or so. Remove lid and stir. I used a cocktail stick thing.
Step four.
Paint. I used two coats. It was more than enough tbh. It coats way better than I thought, and darkens as it dries too.
Let the paint dry between coats. 25-30 mins.
Step five.
Once tacky carefully remove the masking. Let it dry for 24-48 hour
NOTE. The filler turned pink due to me using a scuff pad.
And after two coats.
And then a close up you would never do unless you like sniffing saddles.
So the takeaway? well the seat is now stable, and the rip and crack can not get any worse. It also looks visibly improved IMO.
