Leather jacket( polyester coating)paint peel !!!

Keifer smeaton

Double Actioner
I painted a jacket a while back and just got a call to say the paint is peeling of in places so I am looking for some advice on how to repair it. I thought maybe I might of missed a couple of spots with the varnish but thinking back I did use enough, probably too much if anything. The varnish I used is liquitex water based varnish for outdoor use including on leather. But that’s the thing it’s actually fake leather ‍♂️ So I’m not sure what to do I was just hoping for the best really but now paying the price. It seems fine for the most part just a few places especially on the back where they could of leaned against a wall and scraped it which also tells me it’s not durable at all so I’m wondering is it even worth fixing as the same could happen again.. my last resort would be to buy a real leather jacket and redo the artwork as opposed to paying back the €300 I charged.. there was a lot of hours in this artwork and looks really nice. I will post pictures later thanks.
 
Hi @Keifer smeaton, sorry to hear of your troubles... That's every artist's worst nightmare. :)

Before paying back anything or offering an apology (which raises an instant liability for you, so keep it low key :)), it might be worth asking a few questions:
  1. When was the work on the jacket completed?
  2. Thus, how long has elapsed from completion date to the recent report of an alleged failure?
  3. Do you keep a record of what went into the work? I mean, what primers, paints and finishes (apart Liquitex, which we already know about)?
  4. Pictures of the alleged damage?
  5. Circumstances of how the damage has occurred? If the paint is peeling, it is usually a gradual process, beginning with cracking. If it has peeled suddenly, then it is likely to be mechanical failure actioned by something, not necessarily failure due to execution error.
I think it would be wise getting answers to the above questions first.

On a different note, if you sell your work (commissioned or not) on a commercial basis, it might be useful to lay some ground rules as to what is guaranteed and what is not guaranteed.

Artwork on wearables cannot be guaranteed, because you have no control over how that artwork will be handled in the future. The Customer commissioned artwork to be painted on a wearable item (a leather jacket, which is faux-leather as well). There is considerable wear-and-tear on clothing items, such as a jacket.

Lay down ground rules if you haven't already done so... And for the time being, hold your ground and do not accept liability.

Keep us posted :)... You're not alone :D.
 
I think more than the top coat, it will matter how you prepped the material prior to painting, and what you used to paint it with. If the paint you used did not bond well with the surface, it really doesn't matter how good the top coat is/was. The ability to repair it will really depend on how good the remaining paint has bonded.

Tough situation. I hope you are able to salvage whatever is left without much issue...
 
I think more than the top coat, it will matter how you prepped the material prior to painting, and what you used to paint it with. If the paint you used did not bond well with the surface, it really doesn't matter how good the top coat is/was. The ability to repair it will really depend on how good the remaining paint has bonded.

Tough situation. I hope you are able to salvage whatever is left without much issue...
Thanks Dave for the prep I gave it a good cleaning And used acetone to remove any grease and dye. Then Used created illustration paint .. You’re right it’s a though one
 
Hi @Keifer smeaton, sorry to hear of your troubles... That's every artist's worst nightmare. :)

Before paying back anything or offering an apology (which raises an instant liability for you, so keep it low key :)), it might be worth asking a few questions:
  1. When was the work on the jacket completed?
  2. Thus, how long has elapsed from completion date to the recent report of an alleged failure?
  3. Do you keep a record of what went into the work? I mean, what primers, paints and finishes (apart Liquitex, which we already know about)?
  4. Pictures of the alleged damage?
  5. Circumstances of how the damage has occurred? If the paint is peeling, it is usually a gradual process, beginning with cracking. If it has peeled suddenly, then it is likely to be mechanical failure actioned by something, not necessarily failure due to execution error.
I think it would be wise getting answers to the above questions first.

On a different note, if you sell your work (commissioned or not) on a commercial basis, it might be useful to lay some ground rules as to what is guaranteed and what is not guaranteed.

Artwork on wearables cannot be guaranteed, because you have no control over how that artwork will be handled in the future. The Customer commissioned artwork to be painted on a wearable item (a leather jacket, which is faux-leather as well). There is considerable wear-and-tear on clothing items, such as a jacket.

Lay down ground rules if you haven't already done so... And for the time being, hold your ground and do not accept liability.

Keep us posted :)... You're not alone :D.
Thanks Lewis. I painted the jacket a couple of months ago and they say it first worn this weekend, came home and it peeled. I supppose I’ll have to take their word for it. I was worried that this would happen
 
Thanks Lewis. I painted the jacket a couple of months ago and they say it first worn this weekend, came home and it peeled. I supppose I’ll have to take their word for it. I was worried that this would happen
It
Thanks Lewis. I painted the jacket a couple of months ago and they say it first worn this weekend, came home and it peeled. I supppose I’ll have to take their word for it. I was worried that this would happen
I do think it’s a bonding issue so if I repair those peeled parts it could happen in other places in future so it’s a tough decision.. but at least I learned something. The polyester coating was very smooth whereas real leather has some texture for better adhesion
 
Thanks Lewis. I painted the jacket a couple of months ago and they say it first worn this weekend, came home and it peeled. I suppose I’ll have to take their word for it. I was worried that this would happen

@Keifer smeaton, Yeah, two months is not long enough to discard an issue of some description. Can you get them to send you photos? They might tell you more, because "peeling" is subjective somewhat. It does not tell you how extensive the damage is, nor if there was cracking prior to peeling, or even if it started peeling without cracking, in which case it probably is not peeling, it's potentially delamination of the paint film.

Paint on leather is tricky. It is very easy for stuff to delaminate and come off the leather. On fake leather?... I do not know. I wonder if a bookbinding firm might be able to help you?... They know their trade very well, work with leather and fake leatherette fabrics and so on...

I know a thing or two about genuine leathers: They are skins, so they have pores like our own skin. For this reason, dyes are better to get designs into leather, because dyes are designed to penetrate deep into the pores of the leather and from within the pores colour the surrounding skin tissue. Paint only forms a mechanical and chemical bond with the surface of the leather. This is why leather seats in the automotive industry and leather sofas in the furniture industry use dyes to colour the leather. Leather seats in cars and sofas in homes last for decades, quite literally, thanks to the penetration power of dyes. Modern dyes are colourfast, leather applied to car dashboards will resist decades of sun and heat.

A leather dye penetrates the pores, a leather paint does not, it sits on the surface only.

One of the best, if not the very best manufacturer of genuine Leather Dyes and Paints is called Angelus. They have dyes and paints that were developed and tested especially for the leather markets only. They belong to the Charles Birch Group, and can be contacted by email to
angeluspaint@charlesbirch.com.

It might be a good idea to contact them, share your problem with them and see what they say?

Keep us posted, nobody wishes to see a mate in the arts in difficulty :thumbsup:
 
"actually fake leather" I wouldn't be surprised if that is the main problem. Pleather (plastic leather) peels of its own accord without anything on it. The second it gets a small hole / scratch the peeling will start (even without painting on it)
 
"actually fake leather" I wouldn't be surprised if that is the main problem. Pleather (plastic leather) peels of its own accord without anything on it. The second it gets a small hole / scratch the peeling will start (even without painting on it)

I agree @JackEb. The issue starts with the fake leather. It is not absorbent like real leather, it has no pores for dyes to get into and it is prone to delamination. All fake leathers delaminate. This is one of the reasons why I said initially that @Keifer smeaton's liability is debatable. It is a very limited liability at any rate, in my view.
 
Hey everyone just an update. That jacket was a failure and I Have since painted another jacket which is genuine leather and same problem the paint is starting to peel. I used createx illustration which is recommended.. I cleaned and prepped the leather with acetone ..so I don’t know the problem or where I’m going wrong
 
quick google search about airbrushing on leather and I found this:

Step 5
When the painting is done and thoroughly dry, heat-set the design. You can use a heat press, a hot air gun for five minutes at high heat or a clothes iron with a protective cloth for 30 minutes at medium heat.

https://www.ehow.com/how_6616408_heat-set-acrylic-paint.html

So I am wondering. Is there a need to heat set that paint?
 
quick google search about airbrushing on leather and I found this:

Step 5
When the painting is done and thoroughly dry, heat-set the design. You can use a heat press, a hot air gun for five minutes at high heat or a clothes iron with a protective cloth for 30 minutes at medium heat.

https://www.ehow.com/how_6616408_heat-set-acrylic-paint.html

So I am wondering. Is there a need to heat set that paint?
Thanks that is possible I’ll check it out. I have the whole piece varnished now though so not sure what I can do. It’s really frustrating.
 
also maybe this will be important for you

4030 Balancing Clear
•A water-based, urethane clear for mixing with Createx Airbrush Colors and Wicked Colors for improved flow, adhesion and
durability.Recommended when painting plastic, leather, vinyl, glass, synthetic fabrics and any non-porous surface.


Leather, Vinyl, Synthetic Fibers, Plastic, and otherhard-to-paint substrates
Add 4030 Balancing Clear to colors approx. 25% per volume, then reduce with 4012 High Performance Reducer.When adding
4030 Balancing Clear to paint, it’s best to add 4030 to the paint, mix thoroughly, then add 4012 High Performance Reducer.


https://creatextech.com/assets/pdf/app-guides/Createx-Colors-Textile-Application-Guide.pdf
 
I was doing some research...early here and drinking coffee...lol
I did notice that everyone recommends using alcohol to clean. Maybe it is the acetone that you use for prep? Just a thought....
 
Just remembered I did use wicked for one colour on both jackets and those parts seemed to be where it has peeled, so I’m guessing the wicked doesn’t bond as well as illustration. I used mostly illustration for the base. And then shading with wicked Payne’s grey
 
I've been pondering this one for some time. I keep coming back to the prep. If i get illustration colors on anything remotely material like it is there for good. Wicked colors have even a stronger base to them. There has to be something on the surface that is preventing adhesion. Either that, or the paint is being reduced to the point that the base is broken down, and the binder is just failing... Have you considered sending Createx and e-mail asking for tech support or advice with this project? I do hope to get this issue sorted out, one way or another.
 
I've been pondering this one for some time. I keep coming back to the prep. If i get illustration colors on anything remotely material like it is there for good. Wicked colors have even a stronger base to them. There has to be something on the surface that is preventing adhesion. Either that, or the paint is being reduced to the point that the base is broken down, and the binder is just failing... Have you considered sending Createx and e-mail asking for tech support or advice with this project? I do hope to get this issue sorted out, one way or another.
Thanks. Yeah i will email them. I’m thinking now that it could be the heat setting which I did before on two jackets and there have been no problems. That was probably a year or more ago. Just forgot to do it on these ones
 
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