3M Leather and Vinyl Repair Kit, 08579

3M Leather and Vinyl Repair Kit, 08579 The 3M Leather and Vinyl Repair Kit, 08579, offers a solution for repairing rips and tears in leather and vinyl surfaces. Customers have shared positive experiences and results with this repair kit, noting that it is not a magic fix but provides a very good repair. One customer mentioned using the kit to repair a rip in their leather car seat caused by a screwdriver in their back pocket. They first practiced on an old leather ottoman and were pleased with the results. The repair on their car seat was very good and even better than the original rip. The key tips from this person's experience include: - The repair compound is heat-curing and requires substantial heat to cure properly. - The compound can start to solidify and become sticky if left in the open air for too long. - It is prone to stringing, so caution should be taken not to drag strings of compound over the good part of the repair. - If there are voids or pits after the initial repair, more compound can be added and heat-cured. The heat disk included in the kit is mentioned as an important component for successful repairs. It holds heat but can cool rapidly outdoors if there is a breeze. It is advised to have a heat source nearby to maintain proper heat levels for curing the compound. Using a hair dryer alone is not sufficient; concentrated heat is needed. Color mixing is mentioned as the most challenging part of the repair process. The customer suggests placing a piece of clear box tape over the good part of the repair piece and applying color-mixed candidates onto the tape to evaluate the color match. They found that both light grey and dark brown repairs had a pretty close color match in the end. To achieve a proper grain, it is recommended to lightly press the graining paper into the wet compound before applying heat. Too much heat can iron out the vinyl grain, so practice with small spots of wet compound on the provided vinyl sample is encouraged. The compound can be mixed on a paper plate, allowing for the creation of different color shades. A small dab of each candidate color can be applied to the clear tape to evaluate the color match. Applying heat with the disk requires several rounds of heating and cooling to achieve the best results. It is advised to use a light to moderate pressure to get a good feathered edge around the compound. Too much pressure can cause the material to squish out past the repair. If voids are present after curing, wet compound can be applied to fill them before re-applying heat. The customer had success with this method on their leather ottoman repair. If the finished repair has an undesired sheen, it can be dulled using a pencil eraser. If it appears too dull, a small amount of paste wax or clear shoe polish can be applied and buffed. Overall, the 3M Leather and Vinyl Repair Kit, 08579, receives positive feedback from customers. It is recommended by users who have had success using it on various leather and vinyl surfaces.