How to patch a leather couch

This will include all the tools necessary for your repair. The sub patch should be slightly larger than the tear or hole. For accessible inserting, round the corners. Place the sub patch below the hole. To insert the sub patch in the hole, use a pair of tweezers. Then flatten any folds or wrinkles with a pair. The sub patch should completely cover the hole and be placed between the leather and the substrate.

The sub patch should be glued to the leather. Apply the glue to the leather where it will touch the sub patch. Apply the glue to the sub patch and gently pull the tear back into its original form. Use a paper towel to remove excess glue.

You can weigh the tear as it dries. To apply firm pressure, place a block of wood over the entire area. Allow the glue to dry for at least 20 minutes or as directed on the label. To speed up drying, check the glue label. Leather can be damaged or dried out by excessive heat. Clean the area. You will need to clean the area before you apply leather glue to fix the hole. In removing excess glue and grease-based stains, alcohol is more effective than a leather cleaner. Trim any stringy or loose fibers from the edge of your hole.

Use leather filler. Use a palette knife or a brush to fill in any gaps between the edges. To smoothen the filler, use the flat side to scrape off the excess. The filler should be flattened and flush with the rest of the leather surface.

Step 8 Allow the filler to dry. For an estimate of drying times, refer to the product instructions. After drying, the area should feel dry and gently pressed without it feeling wet or squishy. The repaired area can be dyed. Mix your color using the instructions provided in your repair kit. You can also send a sample to a custom dye company for a match. After choosing the correct color, apply a little dye to the area using a damp sponge.

Wait for the dye to dry before covering the entire area. Continue to blend the area outwardly until you achieve a natural appearance. You can quickly wipe off any color that seems off. If you have a large tear in your leather couch, you will need to patch to repair it. The following steps will run you through the repair process for patching.

When your tear is so bad that it exposes the substrate, you need a sub patch to prep the repair. Open your repair kit and cut out an appropriately sized piece of sub patch. It should be just slightly bigger than the tear. Next, using a pair of tweezers, insert the sub patch so that it completely covers the hole and rests between the substrate and the leather. Then, take an applicator or toothpick to apply a thin coat of leather glue on the underside of the leather.

Press the leather onto the sub patch by gently pushing the tear back into its original place. Wipe away excess glue. Place a heavy item over the repair area while it dries, at least 30 minutes.

Check also to see if the use of a hairdryer is advised to assist the drying process. Also be sure to trim away any loose fibers around the tear. If there are any gaps around your repaired tear, you can apply a leather filler with a palette knife to smooth out the surface.

Scrape away excess. If you want to learn how to glue small cuts together to fix them, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Random Article. Home Random Terms of Use. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy.

Cookie Settings. How to Patch a Leather Couch. Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1.

Clean the area with rubbing alcohol and a soft rag. This clears away any grease or dirt to prepare the surface for leather glue. Do not let excess alcohol sit on the surface, as it can damage glossy, fully-finished surface coats. You can use leather cleaner instead, but many of these products condition the leather leaving a residue , or fail to remove greasy stains.

Apply glue to the underside of the flap. Nubuck, suede, and synthetics such as vinyl and bonded leather require a leather glue labeled for use on your material.

On other types of genuine leather, you may get better results with super glue. Apply a small amount of glue to the underside of the flap using a large needle or toothpick, scraping it into a thin layer. Reattach the flap. While the glue is still wet, gently press the flap back into place on the leather surface. Align the flap so that none of the material beneath the flap is visible. Quickly wipe away excess glue with a paper towel before it dries. Sand super glued areas gently.

If you are using super glue on genuine leather, sand it by hand with grit, wet-or-dry sandpaper before it dries. This makes a fine dust that combines with the wet super glue to create a filler. Sand in the direction of the crack until the surface feels smooth. Use grit sandpaper instead on aniline or other thin, delicate leathers. Skip this step if you used leather glue.

Dye the leather. If the repaired area is a different color than the rest of the couch, apply leather dye with a damp sponge. Wait for it to dry. Check the dye label to confirm it is suitable for your type of leather.

Test on an inconspicuous area first if you are not sure. If you feel your repairs need more work, gently sand the surface and repeat the process, starting with a new dab of glue. Apply leather finish. If the dye appears too dull or matte, dab some clear finish over the top, and wait for it to dry. The clear finish will add luster and protect the dye.

Allow the glue to set. Wait at least one hour before causing any flex in the surface of the material. For best results, let the glue set on its own. Heat can damage leather, so using a hairdryer to speed up the drying is risky. Method 2. Cut out a piece of sub patch. Deep tears that expose the substrate under the leather require a "sub patch" to form a strong backing for your repair.

A leather repair kit is a convenient way to purchase sub patch material, since it will also include the other tools needed for this repair. If you don't have a repair kit, you can use any strong, flexible mending fabric, or another piece of leather or vinyl. Cut the sub patch so it is slightly larger than the hole or tear. Round the corners for easy insertion. Insert the sub patch beneath the hole.