Ink removal from leather?

Dwight Gruber · 09-10-2005, 05:01 PM

This isn't exactly a Luger leather question, but should be applicable to Luger holsters as well as many other items.

I have a friend who has a U.S. Army leather scope case (WWII/Korean War era) which is in nearly perfect condition -except- some previous owner wrote their name on the outside, rather large, with some kind of ink

I have no idea when this occurred, so I don't know whether it is an organic ink or marking pen. It does seem to have permeated into the leather surface pretty thoroughly.

So the question is: one, can it be successfully removed; and two, if so, can it be done without harming the leather?

--Dwight

Edward Tinker · 09-10-2005, 06:32 PM

I have removed ink and perm. marker from items, but it usually leaves a lighter shade where it was, plus usually all the marking doesn't come off. Have used a q-tip with a bit of that gunk remover, comes in a small can, supposed to remove almost anything, Walmart has it.

I would think, which is worse, leaving original leather color or "maybe" taking some color off. However, is it "etched" like in a pen or top leather? if top of the leather I think you'd have a better chance?

no expert on leathers Dwight, just slome idears.

Ed

lugerholsterrepair · 09-10-2005, 07:32 PM

Dwight, I have had success with carburator cleaner. It does not seem to harm leather as it evaporates immediately. Stinks for a day or so but it eventually goes away. Spray it out of the can onto the affected area and the stain "might" come right off. As I remember it does not affect the color of the leather. A little light coating of hide food in a day or two....I know it sounds drastic but I have had it work on some terrible stains...Let me know if you try it and if it works. Jerry Burney

Dwight Gruber · 09-10-2005, 07:34 PM

Ed,

Didn't get to examine it closely, but it didn't look like the leather was 'embossed' as it would be with a ballpoint, for instance.

"...that gunk remover..." ??

--Dwight

Dwight Gruber · 09-10-2005, 07:35 PM

Jerry,

Thanks much.

--Dwight

Ron Smith · 09-10-2005, 08:02 PM

Dwight, Yeah! You know! That stuff in a can at Walmart. You should be able to find it on a shelf in one of the isles....

09-10-2005, 05:01 PM	#1
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Ink removal from leather? This isn't exactly a Luger leather question, but should be applicable to Luger holsters as well as many other items. I have a friend who has a U.S. Army leather scope case (WWII/Korean War era) which is in nearly perfect condition -except- some previous owner wrote their name on the outside, rather large, with some kind of ink I have no idea when this occurred, so I don't know whether it is an organic ink or marking pen. It does seem to have permeated into the leather surface pretty thoroughly. So the question is: one, can it be successfully removed; and two, if so, can it be done without harming the leather? --Dwight

09-10-2005, 07:32 PM	#3
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,865 Thanked 3,104 Times in 1,429 Posts	Dwight, I have had success with carburator cleaner. It does not seem to harm leather as it evaporates immediately. Stinks for a day or so but it eventually goes away. Spray it out of the can onto the affected area and the stain "might" come right off. As I remember it does not affect the color of the leather. A little light coating of hide food in a day or two....I know it sounds drastic but I have had it work on some terrible stains...Let me know if you try it and if it works. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

09-10-2005, 08:02 PM	#6
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Dwight, Yeah! You know! That stuff in a can at Walmart. You should be able to find it on a shelf in one of the isles.... __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

09-10-2005, 06:32 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,915 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,506 Times in 2,080 Posts	I have removed ink and perm. marker from items, but it usually leaves a lighter shade where it was, plus usually all the marking doesn't come off. Have used a q-tip with a bit of that gunk remover, comes in a small can, supposed to remove almost anything, Walmart has it. I would think, which is worse, leaving original leather color or "maybe" taking some color off. However, is it "etched" like in a pen or top leather? if top of the leather I think you'd have a better chance? no expert on leathers Dwight, just slome idears. Ed

09-10-2005, 07:34 PM	#4
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Ed, Didn't get to examine it closely, but it didn't look like the leather was 'embossed' as it would be with a ballpoint, for instance. "...that gunk remover..." ?? --Dwight

09-10-2005, 07:35 PM	#5
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Jerry, Thanks much. --Dwight