Leather Padfolios have a reputation for being something primarily used by businessmen and women. Though they are useful for anyone who needs to organize their things, they are useful for authors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and independent business owners.
- SKETCH - DESIGN - INSPIRE - Does your life revolve around your creative passions? Do you want the freedom to create when ever and where ever you happen to be when inspiration strikes? Do you love the feel and smell of leather?
- SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED ORGANIZER FOR… Artists, designers, architects and creatives.
- PERFECT - Sure there is room for a small laptop or tablet for the digital creative, but this isn't designed for the board room but the drawing room. And since the whole world is your studio you'll love the carry strap and hooks. Carry it under you arm like a classic padfolio or throw it over your shoulder like a messenger bag
- DIMENSIONS: Exterior is 13.6" by 12.2" and about 2" deep. Inside the padfolio will comfortably fit a standard 9x12 sketchbook. The accordion pocket will fit a 9"x12" laptop, the zippered pocket will fit a 6.75"x9.5" tablet. The slit on the writing side of the padfolio will fit a slim clipboard. The other side has 18 pen loops.
- NEW STRAP DESIGN & MATERIAL! (This listing is for the leather padfolio and strap only. All other contents, devices, tools and accessories are shown for display purposes only).
The best leather padfolios have all the pockets and slots to fit in everything you need while protecting your valuable items. Not only do they keep you organized but they can keep all your important documents in one secure place.
You can get so many different styles of leather portfolios and padfolios, but leather and faux leather are probably one of the most popular, and the most often seen used.
However, like anything over time they will go through some wear and tear, and eventually, they will start to peel, especially if it is real leather. Today we will have a look at why this happens, how to prevent it, and what to do to fix it if it does start to peel.
Contents
Real Leather Vs Faux Leather
What if the difference between real leather and faux leather and why does it matter?
Real leather is made from animal hides, often from cattle, buffalo, and oxen. On the other hand faux leather is made from a plastic base and is then treated with wax, dye, or polyurethane that creates the color and texture.
The biggest difference between these two is that real leather is always unique as no two hides are the same, it will often have hallmark features of its origin, such as stretch marks, scars, and veins. Faux leather will be more uniform and is created to look natural but the pores are still synthetic.
Real leather will often last longer without damage, but is more expensive than faux leather, due to its mass production.
Real leather won’t crack and peel as easily as faux leather. Faux leather can puncture and crack over time as it is less breathable. Bonded leather which is made of scrap leather and polyurethane can scratch and peel even easier.
Let’s find out why each leather type will peel.
Why is it Peeling?
If you have a real leather padfolio, it is made from animal skin and although it is more durable it may start to crack and peel over time. This is because animal skin needs to be maintained and moisturised.
When it is not it can eventually crack and peel. It can also happen if you are using incorrect products to clean the leather, this will cause peeling. Though few leather padfolios are made from real leather this is still worth noting.
Bonded leather, is partially real, it is scrap leather that is bonded with polyurethane. This is probably the most susceptible to peeling. This is because it is the most delicate material and so after some significant use it will be most likely to start peeling.
Faux leather, which is made from synthetic materials, also, like bonded leather, has a polyurethane coating which helps it look more ‘real’. This is a fragile material and all that is required for it to start peeling is time. It may last longer than bonded leather but will not outlast real leather.
How to Fix: Step by Step
There are plenty of ways to fix peeling leather. First of all, let’s find out how to fix authentic peeling leather.
- Mixing dish soap with water, scrub the peeling leather with a brush that is dipped in this solution, and wipe dry.
- Dip a sponge into the cleaning solution and scrub away the damaged leather to remove it and give good adhesion for a new dye. Wipe with a towel.
- Wipe down with denatured alcohol and dry once more.
- Rub the surface with 240-grit sandpaper dipped into your cleaning solution so further remove any more of the damaged leather then grind to smooth the surface. Remove debris and spray on a leather prep sprayer.
- Apply leather glue if peeled edges have left the area fluffy. Once dry, sand any roughness left behind with 400-grit sandpaper.
- Fill in the damaged section with leather filler if the area is pitted. Smooth it off with your fingers and wipe the excess away. Apply a second coat if required and leave to dry for 60 minutes.
- Once dry, spray on three coats of leather dye with a color that matches your leather. Let each coat dry before applying a second. Sand down if any rough patches remain. Let it dry for 10 hours.
- Finally, condition it with a leather conditioner. And done!
It is a little easier to tackle faux leather, and there are plenty of techniques to choose from.
- The first option you have for fixing faux leather that is peeling is to use nail polish. You can get clear nail polish and apply that to the peeling area. If some of the leather has already peeled off it will not fix that area though, so this method is just a quick fix.
- If you are crafty as a person, you can buy more fabric and attach it to your padfolio by sewing. However, with some leather padfolios, this may be difficult due to the design. But, if your padfolio is more flexible then it might work.
- If you want a better overall look, you can also buy leather paint and use this, if you have very damaged faux leather this can be a good option for restoring the aesthetic. You should remove all loose bits of leather and clean the surface first. Using appropriate leather paint you can then paint across the peeled section using even brushstrokes. Leave to dry for half an hour and then do another coat if needed. You can then finish it off with a leather gloss paint or matte finish. This will seal the area to prevent further peeling. You could put this coat on the whole padfolio cover to prevent any future peeling.
Preventing Peeling
You can do some safety measures to prevent any leather from peeling. Sanding with 180-grit sandpaper can help. You should also clean it often to remove body oils and dirt from penetrating the surface.
Avoid any harsh chemicals getting onto it and use a leather conditioner to assist in the surface preservation. Finally, keep it out of direct sunlight, as sunlight be damaging, especially for real and bonded leather.
- SKETCH - DESIGN - INSPIRE - Does your life revolve around your creative passions? Do you want the freedom to create when ever and where ever you happen to be when inspiration strikes? Do you love the feel and smell of leather?
- SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED ORGANIZER FOR… Artists, designers, architects and creatives.
- PERFECT - Sure there is room for a small laptop or tablet for the digital creative, but this isn't designed for the board room but the drawing room. And since the whole world is your studio you'll love the carry strap and hooks. Carry it under you arm like a classic padfolio or throw it over your shoulder like a messenger bag
- DIMENSIONS: Exterior is 13.6" by 12.2" and about 2" deep. Inside the padfolio will comfortably fit a standard 9x12 sketchbook. The accordion pocket will fit a 9"x12" laptop, the zippered pocket will fit a 6.75"x9.5" tablet. The slit on the writing side of the padfolio will fit a slim clipboard. The other side has 18 pen loops.
- NEW STRAP DESIGN & MATERIAL! (This listing is for the leather padfolio and strap only. All other contents, devices, tools and accessories are shown for display purposes only).