How to Apply Acrylic Resolene on Leather

Applying Resolene on leather can help to protect it from water damage and also coat it with a durable and glossy finish. It’s available in neutral, brown and black colors and works on various types of leather. 

In this guide, we’ll be teaching you how to apply Resolene onto your leather products through a step-by-step process. As there are various ways to do this, we’ll make sure to cover the best methods.

Here’s a quick overview:

1. Clean Leather Surface
2. Apply Resolene 
3. Rub Resolene Into Leather
4. Remove Excess Resolene
5. Let Leather Dry
6. Buff Leather

1. Clean Leather Surface

The first thing you’ll need to do before applying any type of product on your leather is to ensure that the surface is clean and free of dirt. The best way to do this is to use a fine cotton cloth or sheep wool.

Ensure that you wipe the leather surface in each direction so that there are no dust particles, stains or dirt. If you have opted to use a leather cleaner or leather wipes to clean your leather, make sure that it’s completely dry before proceeding to the next step.

2. Apply Resolene

Next, you’ll need to apply the Acrylic Resolene on your leather. It’s important to pick the right color that matches the color of your leather. If you use an unmatching color, you may accidentally darken or lighten the color of your leather. 

Now that you’ve selected the right colored Resolene for your leather you will need to decide on how to apply it. While Fiebing recommends using sheep wool, we’ve had great success using a cotton cloth, damp sponge or even an airbrush.  

Whether you use an airbrush or a material to apply the Acrylic Resolene to your leather product, ensure that you have an even coat.

3. Rub Resolene On Leather

When using a cloth, sponge or wool, you’ll need to make sure that you use circular, as well as back and forth motions to rub in the Resolene onto your leather. 

Don’t be too forceful when rubbing the product onto your leather – a gentle rub will do the trick. The last thing you’ll need to take note of is to make sure to work fast, as the Resolene can dry fairly quickly.

4. Remove Excess Resolene

When using an airbrush, you will need to ensure that you evenly spray the leather surface. Instead of removing excess Resolene when spraying, make up for the areas that have less product by coating them again. 

On the other hand, if you’re using a material to apply Resolene to your leather product, then make sure that there is no excess Resolene. You’ll want to remove any excess, as it may lighten or darken parts of your leather when it dries.

5. Let Leather Dry

Now, it’s important to let your leather dry completely before you buff it. We recommend letting it dry naturally overnight in a dry environment. Simply lay it indoors onto a table and leave it to dry overnight. 

You may also use a hair dryer or a fan to accelerate the drying process. However, we do recommend letting it dry naturally for a few hours before you do anything else with it. Here are some drying tips that you can use:

• Let it dry naturally
• Use a hair dryer or fan to accelerate
• Dry it indoors
• Keep leather out of direct sunlight

6. Buff Leather

The last step involves buffing your leather. This is completely optional, but highly recommended, as you’ll get that gossy look out of it. There are several ways to buff your Resolene-coated leather – let’s explore all of them. 

Low to Medium Gloss Resolene Finish

For a low to medium gloss finish use a new piece of cotton cloth or sheep wool and gently rub it across the dry leather surface. Make sure not to apply too much pressure – just enough will do. Evenly rub in a circular motion over your leather.  

Medium to High Gloss Resolene Finish

To get a medium to high gloss finish you should buff your leather more extensively by rubbing the surface with a suitable material and using a little more pressure. You may want to use a light coating polish to achieve this.

High Gloss Resolene Finish

If you’re looking for a high gloss finish, we recommend that you apply more pressure and also use a light coating polish on your leather. Do multiple rounds of buffing and polishing until you achieve your desired look.