Color  Does….Matter. 

Leaving 2008, high gas prices and the election, (thank goodness that’s over.) I’ve come to the conclusion that perception can be reality.

So what am I talking about you ask? Primarily people’s perception of what we do in the field. Many technicians like myself enjoy doing work with no one looking over their shoulders and asking questions. For many of us it’s the same kind of questions and for the most part simply distract us from our job. Sometimes they’ll make sounds of gasp or sounds of disapproval as the repair is coming along. This only intensified the need to give them a reassuring smile or some other kind of platitude that we use to reassure them.

That’s why many of the mobile repair technition refuse to work under such scrutiny. Who can blame them? But of course, I’m different.  My customers are interested in how the repairs hold up and the like. So I have chosen to do much of my work in full view of everybody. I guarantee my repairs for life….or I should say, I use to. Now I guarantee them for as long as they want me too. Why do I do this? Simply speaking….feedback.

Example. I use to use a particular CA (superglue) on leather seat scratches cuts and all. After three months a customer called me back for what they thought was a new repair. After closer examination I could tell that it was the CA. The leather had tiny little breaks like shattered glass or cracked ice on a cold concrete. While the repair was still intact the surface coating was a problem. Our problem was eventually solved with two factors. A flexible Ca and a product we call the Answer. This product is a type of leather sealer that creates a thin film of emulsion skin and hiding the little cracks. This is a product that is frequently used to seal the leather where color coat is worn off.

Most recently, I found something very interesting when I was called to do some leather repairs on the bolster section of a seat at a dealership. This dealership tends to use everybody and not just me.  One of the salesmen who had known me for years called me in to do this job for him. The seat was a typical repair. In times past, I would have used the leather crack filler, light gray or white. But this time I chose to use the Leather Bee and Fat Colored Cat. Both products are colored leather repair cold compounds that I have had a great deal of success with. I chose the same color for both products and started the repair process. Let me say this…For the areas I used to repair with products from the Fat Colored Cat I could have easily have used Leather crack filler as well. But then I found out something special about using the colored compounds that I did not expect….. Color did matter.

I could see the flaws easier and touch up was immediate. I didn’t have to color the repair and then go back and touch it up again and re-dye it. But something else happen that I never expected. Something that truly became the catalyst for me to write to you this article. It’s about….Perception… After I had finished the job,  I  chose to spray a little color over the repair for general blending.

From time to time the anxious salesman and customer would be doing his usual spot checks on my work but that day I had been on and off the phone a lot and never gave had a chance to converse with them, so I was never really sure what they were talking about. But I was about to find out  real soon. I picked up my tools and wrote out the bill and went to the office to get a PO. On my way there I walked past the office of the salesman that called me as he was bragging out my job to another salesman. The conversation went like this.

“I’m telling you Bob, You gotta start calling Doc. He knows what he’s doing. “

“My guy knows what he’s doing,” he says in his defense.

“You’re nuts Bob. I’ve seen your guy work. I’m telling you I know how he would have fixed the same job that Doc did. That dark blue seat he would have smeared it up with some gray primer (likely Leather crack filler) on the seat and then would have painted it!”

“Painted it?”

“Doc’ doesn’t do it that way. When he puts on his repair stuff and it makes those cracks disappear!”

Yes friends….color does matter…Truth was, my competitor’s method of repair was the way I would have fixed it in the past. It may have been as good as my repair. But the difference….perception. Where he smeared gray primer over cracks and painted it I repaired it with colored compound and made the cracks disappear. So who was perceived as be better? Nuff said.

        I also was reminded again of the same point.  Once again when I did a furniture store. Because of customers and the closeness of so much of all the plush and elegant furnishings spraying anything would have been difficult.. The color compounds proved not only to be the answer but ultimately proved to be quick, easily and profitable. I spend close to 5 hours and did repairs that ranged from $25 to $35 a piece. When I was done I was almost afraid to give them the bill of $980.00. But I did and I dare say I’ve been back many times doing repairs. And this is the kicker…I only sprayed one area. All the other areas were repaired with Leather Bee and Fat Colored Cat . Yes…Color does matter. I know that personally. I love my Colors… …especially the greens.

COLOR DOES MATTER!

Imagine being able to use a repair compound that has the color you need already in it? Think of the time and money it could save you. With a good color match you may not have to use any dye at all or very little as a toner. This product is a product we use everyday because of these attributes: its strength, flexibility, fast drying, and less dye needed. On numerous occasions, we have done repairs where all we had to do is spread on the NeXus and top it off with some MATTE KILLERSHIELD to kill some of the shine and have gotten a perfect repair. Other times, if we are moving fast and don't have the exact NeXus color but close enough, we have come over it with a light toner. Less dye, less dry time, and less chance of overspray. The repair doesn't just LOOK good, but it is strong.

This Solvent based repair compound dries quickly (so don't leave it untopped), you can mix your NeXus colors together to get the perfect shade, can be used along with mesh, under patch material, and leather fiber flock, and best of all - GRAINS BEAUTIFULLY!

Apply NeXus with your smooth edge pallette knife. Moisten your grain pad with CBC (the moisture will prevent the compound from sticking to your grain pad and messing up your repair). Press your grain pad on your repair. Those are the basic directions to using the compound. However, there may be some technique that you will learn yourself as you use this compound; like, you can use some of your CBC to smooth out the applications high points with your fingers. Simply spray the moisture on the repair and smooth with your finger, then press your grain pad onto the repaired area.

On a HOT summer Louisiana day, the repair dries in seconds to a few minutes (depending on the repair), but if the day is cool and your repair needs a little help drying because you need to move fast (time is money!) get our your hair drier and give the dry time a little boost.

Feel free to inquire about this product for more information on how to use and how we have used this product in the everyday field.