Greetings my name is Marios, I live in Hellas and I love anything analog.
I like pencils (mostly Blackwings) fountain pens (Kaweco, Waterman etc.) and of course notebooks, organisers and good old vinyl records.
A month ago I decided to acquire a Malden in brown colour that I wanted it for a long time.
Unfortunately half of the rings was slight misaligned and with gaps... (Filofax why? really why ?)
Anyway they didn't have another, so I decided to buy it and fix it myself, I used pliers with plastic tips I was able to perfectly correct the rings.
But as the days went by I didn't like the way that the leather looked and also it didn't feel right to the touch.
I regret that I didn't buy an old Malden from the web, so I decided to distress the leather and to remove the paint so to see how it looks.
DECLAIMER: This procedure is irreversible and it may void your warranty in a new Filofax. So do it at your own risk. Also, I don't think that it will be good with other colour Maldens like the black or the blue. Make a test in a small area inside the Filofax first.
I used rubbing alcohol and with cotton wool I did small areas without forcing too much.
You have to be gentle and giving time for the leather to dry out and evaporate the alcohol, before you continue.
It took me over an hour to fully clear the Malden inside out, and then I cleaned the residues with a wet cloth.
I let it dry and then I saw a beautiful leather that needed it to be moister.
I didn't have any leather conditioner so I used the next best thing, that was Vaseline.
I let it soak for an hour and then I wiped out the rest of the Vaseline.
And there I was with a new beautiful distressed Malden that now has character and some extra benefits:
- First, the smell of the leather is more intense.
- Second, (Neil from ''Flatability'' will love this...) the flatability went from 70% to 100% effortless.
- Third, now I can see the grain of the leather and most important as I use it, the natural oils of my hands are starting to make the leather darker. This is so perfect, the leather binder reacts to my touch.
I took some pictures but they don't make justice to the real thing.
I hope to inspire others to transform their Filofax.
Mario's I admire your valiant spirit - great job and it's given me ideas...
ReplyDeleteMarios, your willingness to take a risk (while voiding your warranty, no less!) paid off handsomely. Thank you for sharing! I can’t wait to show this post to my husband who has an ochre Malden sitting unused because it’s so “plastic” feeling.
ReplyDeleteThe stamped label inside said “Antiqued Leather”, but I think you’ve transformed it into something a lot closer.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing & I think that it looks great. I'd also love to read a follow up post, so that we can see how the leather changes with more use.
ReplyDeleteMarios K.
ReplyDeleteYes i was thinking the exact thing.
To post some new photos a few months or in a year from now.
I have to tell you that's as the time goes by the grain of the leather is getting more vivid than the photos you seeing.
I really loving it, it's gorgeous.
Thank you for your kind words.
I have recently wondered if there is a way to remove plastic coating (I think that's what it is?) from my Malden since the closing parts are not looking very good, leather looking all cracked and uncomfortable, and they seem to be begging to be treated with anything that would nourish the leather underneath... Now I am really tempted to try this, since this looks absolutely fantastic. Great job, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMarios K.
DeleteThank you for your kind words.
If you gonna try it, take your time and remove the paint one layer at a time. It takes time but the result it will be great.
I wonder if someone of Filofax company is reading this post, to see in the future a Malden with natural leather unthreaded.
It will be wonderful !!