Leather wallets will last really well if you take care of them. This includes conditioning and keeping the wallet away from UV ways (this will stop cracking and fading from happening). Wallets will last for many years to come if you complete maintenance on them.
Here Is How To Repair A Leather Wallet:
If you find that your wallet is cracked, faded or your purse has strap damage then here are some ways to repair your wallet. This includes using a:
Leather Wallet Repair Kit
Take Your wallet to a leather repair shop to be fixed
Send your wallet back to the manufacturer (if in warranty)
Use a leather conditioner
Use Adhesive glue on ripped or on any tears.
We have well researched what can go wrong with a leather wallet (below) and detailed the best ways to fix the material whether it is yourself or taking it to a professional.
What Can Go Wrong With A Leather Wallet
Cracking of Leather
If you have a leather wallet, you might experience cracking due to several reasons. That commonly occurs due to excluding water, sweat, or oils from the leather and prolonged exposure to UV rays in sunlight.
For instance, prolonged exposure to heat will cause a chemical reaction that makes the molecules within the leather expand faster than those on the surface can do so. As a result, this will lead to blistering, which will form cracks that are further deepened by constant rubbing against other items stored in your bag.
Similarly, if your wallet is continuously exposed to liquids such as sweat or water, it will be at risk of getting wet and broken down by bacteria living there. Further, prolonged exposure to sunlight can also cause cracks and other damages that can be avoided by using the right kind of leather.
Leather Purse Strap Damage
Leather purses and wallets get used a lot. They’re something you take on all your outings, they are a daily, constant companion. And while they typically look great when they’re new, this is not always the case over time. Some common causes of leather purse strap damage include:
The purse strap is too heavy for its attachment – Affixing to just one point of contact will wear out quickly.
Straps can be left extended or unevenly distributed over time – Which can cause them to break in different ways. Some people prefer to leave their purses on a peg and have the strap hang well.
Others do not want it dangling. (If they are cumbersome) – Other people like to keep it close, so the length of the strap is shortened and kept evenly distributed over time.
Too much weight on one strap can break the attachment point – This could be simply about carrying too much stuff in your purse. – It could also be an issue of wear and tear over time.
Fading Of Leather Purse
Exposure to sunlight over a long period could cause discoloration in the leather purse. You can also get stains like coffee, dirt, and tea on your purse or wallet. When you have stains in your purse that affect the leather, it will react by changing color and losing its texture.
If you leave your purse or wallet with a stain for too long, it will discolor faster than the natural process of fading. Some leather wallets may have a small amount of dye already in them, and these small amounts will become more visible with time.
Ripped Or A Tear In Leather
When it comes to your leather wallet, it might start to get worn, ripped, or torn in spots.
After being repeatedly taken out and thrown around in a day’s worth of transactions or just from constant wear and tear, that can happen. In such a case, it is possible that when your wallet is overfilled with too many cards, the extra pressure might cause small tears.
Ways To Fix A Leather Wallet
Leather Wallet Repair Kit
To start, measure the length and width of your wallet to make sure you get the right gauge of leather strips. Next up is soaking your leather strips in water before cutting them down to size and sewing both ends together. To do this, submerge the strips into a bowl of water and let them soak.
After you’ve soaked your leather wallet strip twice, carefully use scissors to cut them to size. To sew the wallet strips together, use a sewing machine and appliqué thread (size 11) and follow the instructions included on the repair kit packaging. You should be able to get 4-5 stitches per inch (SPI) once everything is sewn together.
Once you’ve finished sewing the leather wallet strip, let it dry overnight and test it out on your wallet. If the repair is holding up, you’re ready to move forward. If not, straighten out any loose ends with sandpaper and start again!
Once your leather wallet patch is complete, you should use a heat gun to seal the patch into place. You’ll have to hold the heat gun about 6-8 inches away from the patch for about 30 seconds. After that’s done, apply a leather conditioner or polish to give your repaired wallet a shiny new look!
Leather Repair Shop
Leather repair shops can also fix some more unusual problems, such as removing an embossed logo or fixing frayed edges. Regardless of what is wrong with your leather wallet, you should always take it in toto a professional for an inspection before attempting any DIY repairs. This way, you know exactly what the problem is and how much it will cost.
Before visiting a leather repair shop, you will want to pick out which kind of leather wallet you need to repair. The most common leather wallets sold today are calfskin, full-grain, and bridle leather. Calfskin is most commonly used for wallets because it is soft but can still withstand many types of wear. Full-grain is the most durable, and it will last a lifetime. Bridle leather is commonly used in more expensive high fashion items such as handbags or shoes.
The second thing you will want to think about while deciding what kind of leather wallet to get is which type of leather repair shop you want to go to. While there are many repairs that most experts can do, there are some things that only a few can perform. For example, not all wallet repair shops can perform a hand-stitched repair.
If you want a special stitch or a new design, it is best to ask the salesperson if they have someone who would be able to do the job for you.
Send Back To Manufacturer (If In Warranty)
Leather wallets are durable and fashionable, but the natural oils in your skin can damage the material over time. If this happens to you, follow these steps to fix your wallet: First, ensure that your leather wallet is still within the warranty period. If it’s under warranty, then a company representative will walk you through the process of sending it back to them to replace or repair any issues they believe are within their guidelines.
For example, you would need to send the leather wallet and a receipt and details of your purchase (so that they can give you an appropriate warranty). Also, when sending your wallet, include a brief note with details of what happened and how you want them to fix it – don’t use tape or glue!
That will help them speed up their process and get back to you faster if they need more information. The warranty period will depend on the manufacturers of your leather wallet. However, the manufacturer will typically need to receive the leather wallet for at least 14 days to be able to review it.
Remember that if the company cannot fix your wallet or it is older than one year, you can always request to have your money back – and they are likely to refund you without hassle.
Use Leather Conditioner (If Faded)
Prepare your leather conditioner by preparing the surface with water and rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth. Clean both sides of the faded wallet thoroughly before applying the conditioner.
Apply the conditioner with an applicator, or use your fingers to work it into all of the fabric on either side of where you’re trying to repair.
Let the conditioner sit on the leather for 30 minutes.
Gently rub the leather once again with a clean cloth that has been dampened using water and rubbing alcohol. Rub the entire wallet surface to ensure that all conditioners have been rubbed in.
Wait for another 24 hours before using your wallet again. If the color is still not appearing on your wallet, repeat this process until you get what you’re looking for.
You can also try going to an auto supply store and buying a leather polish and treating it
Use Adhesive Glue To Repair Ripped Or Teared Leather
To begin fixing your leather wallet, you’ll want to remove everything inside it so you can get it into one piece. That will let you see the rips in it without any distractions from other items inside the wallet. Look at all sides of the ripped part to try and determine where it came from, how deep the tear is, and if there’s any way of patching up that specific area.
Next, you will want to use an adhesive to bind the parts of your wallet together. There are many different types of adhesives, but you should choose one designed specifically to repair or restore fabric or plastic and leather. You should also use a specific type of glue when repairing any clothing or accessories, so read the labels on everything you purchase to ensure that this is the correct product for what you need.
The next thing you’ll want to do is glue the ripped parts together and make sure that you keep gluing it until everything is sufficiently attached. That will prevent your wallet from tearing more, which is an essential step in the repair process. You can always use masking tape over the parts already glued together, but this can be pretty tedious.
You will now want to set your wallet on a flat surface and allow it to dry for 24 to 48 hours. After this period has passed, go ahead and open up the wallet and look inside; look around at all the material glued back together to be sure that it is still in one piece now. If it is, this is a good indication that your repair is complete.