Vinyl dye and leather dye are two completely different animals. Vinyl dye is
made with a high solvent content that etches or soaks into a PVC-coated
surface. It must be prepped with a strong solvent to help open up the pores
of the vinyl.
Leather dye is formulated to interact with the natural, organic, oily,
skin-like components of the leather. It can't be etched with strong solvents
like vinyl. It can't be heat-welded like vinyl, and must be repaired with a
filler paste. Its pigments are a little bit more grainy like paint.
Quite a number of well-known, proven successful leather dyeing kits are
available. You have to follow their specific cleaning and prepping sequences
religiously. The treatment should be followed by an aerosol sealer like
Fiebing's Leather Sheen, or Tandy Super Shene, as dyes can end up dry and
dusty if not done right.
Healeys up to and including the BJ 7 all had a cheap grade of surface-dyed
Connolly leather on seat faces in combination with vinyl on the rest of the
interior. So one type of dye will not work properly on a whole interior. Yes
it will stick to the incorrect type, like leather dye on vinyl, but this will
eventually come off.
Ambla was a quality PVC vinyl that was used only on the BJ 8. Previous 6 cyl
models used ICI Vynide in different grades, and the early cars used the now
defunct Vynex vinyl by the Robert Pickles Co. with a similar leather-look
grain to the Vynide.
Leather is a wonderful material which ages gracefully, but the oils must be
replaced, as with Rejuvenating Oil or applications of Hide Food among other
such products. Above all it must be kept clean, particularly in the seams.
Dirt will abrade leather and cotton stitching over time.
Vinyl only needs a wipe down with a damp cloth and a bit of mild soap, or
vinyl cleaning product.
Best regards
Peter
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