Reshaping an A-2 neck (hot water = what not to do)

[Skyranger]

Since I didn't like the collar of my "time worn" A-2 Pearl Harbor walnut, I decided to rework it with boiling water.
I had noted not to use water over 80°C and not for more than ten seconds.
Since I'm the king of doing stupid things (and sometimes writing them too) I decided to soak for 30 seconds for better effect, and of course I butchered the collar...

Fortunately there are serious firms of which ELC is a perfect example, so here is their response to my email calling for help:

Hello Cyrille,

Thanks you for your enquiry.
Yes it would be possible for us to change the collar.We will find as close a colour match for the leather as possible.
A replacement collar would mean that we have to carefully unpick the lining from the collar stand.
So it is of course a piece of time consuming work!
If all goes well the cost of this work would be approximately 200GBP
If you would like to go ahead please make sure that the shipping papers clearly state that the jacket is being returned to
‘COUNTRY OF ORIGIN UK MANUFACTURER’ and list it as a ‘Warranty Return’

Hope that all make sense!

Best regards,


Thanks to Nina and of course I will send my A-2 for repair, and above all don't do like me: don't play the professional when you don't know how to do it!

 

[LV426]

ARGH !!!! If your stupid , then that's the case of 99.9% of human beeings ! Especially the curious ones who wants to improve and makes some "experiences" . That the kind of thing I could have done. I own the same Pear Harbor ( the old issue I think , with the talon zipper , now they have a crown as far I as know ) and I must say that it's stiff leather , much more than the new Air masters for example. The stand-collar is real stuff to get right shape . Thak you for the experience and hope that It will not coast too much , as ELC said you'll just have to pay the repair and the shipping but not TVA again .

 

[Silver Surfer]

by rewetting the collar in Luke warm water, you can reshape it, assuming that it hasn't shrunk

 

[Pilot]

Lost collar…
It shrunk! easy to see even on one photo base…” irrécupérable “ …Hence need full replacement.
Next time please ask pros on how to do it : HWT is less than 30% of the whole procedure..
Sorry for your loss…

 

[B-Man2]

So … look at it this way … in today’s world an education in any field, is usually expensive and time consuming. You got one rather quickly for a relatively cheap cost .. ( trying to put a positive spin on this )

 

[LV426]

I though about it , but the boiled leather was used to make helmets and armor , this is no help at all. Just a fact to remember that , yes this kind of technic has to be used with extrem care. Burt is wise , a lesson for all of all of us !

 

[Grant]

Nina and the rest of the Eastman crew offer first rate customer service. Good luck with the repair. The graining on the rest of the jacket looks great, along with the patch.

 

[flyincowboy]

When using hot water do not forget to feed and nourish the leather...WHEN STILL WET and allow the leather to dry gently. used this trick for shaping" moulded leather" and it works !did not notice any shrinkage..

 

[bn1966]

I learnt to allow cuff knits to ‘break in’ naturally after trying to speed the process up on a new ELC G-1 with warm water and a couple of pairs of socks ….. ended up back at ELC for replacements

 

[Skyranger]

The jacket return tomorrow to Great-Britain for repair.
It's a shame to have to fill out 6 forms for customs, but hey, that's what the English wanted...

 

[Micawber]

Oh dear, lesson learned the hard way. On the bright side the collar will be younger than the rest of it... but don't try to artificially age it

 

[ZuZu]

Since I didn't like the collar of my "time worn" A-2 Pearl Harbor walnut, I decided to rework it with boiling water.
I had noted not to use water over 80°C and not for more than ten seconds.
Since I'm the king of doing stupid things (and sometimes writing them too) I decided to soak for 30 seconds for better effect, and of course I butchered the collar...

Fortunately there are serious firms of which ELC is a perfect example, so here is their response to my email calling for help:

Hello Cyrille,

Thanks you for your enquiry.
Yes it would be possible for us to change the collar.We will find as close a colour match for the leather as possible.
A replacement collar would mean that we have to carefully unpick the lining from the collar stand.
So it is of course a piece of time consuming work!
If all goes well the cost of this work would be approximately 200GBP
If you would like to go ahead please make sure that the shipping papers clearly state that the jacket is being returned to
‘COUNTRY OF ORIGIN UK MANUFACTURER’ and list it as a ‘Warranty Return’

Hope that all make sense!

Best regards,


Thanks to Nina and of course I will send my A-2 for repair, and above all don't do like me: don't play the professional when you don't know how to do it!

Great deal for a repair! 200 Pounds? Seems like hours of work.

 

[Skyranger]

Repair Return today: ELC did a great job!
I'm just going to improve the color match a bit more, but I'm not playing with boiling water anymore!

 

[LV426]

Repair Return today: ELC did a great job!
I'm just going to improve the color match a bit more, but I'm not playing with boiling water anymore!

. You're in France , shipping + repair wasn't too much expensive ??? BTW : Super Greatissimo Job !

 

[Skyranger]

240€ for the repair and shipping + 38€ taxes and fees.

 

[LV426]

Thank you , that's good info for Fr customers . You did well !

 

[Camel24hrs]

Unlike original A2s ELC leather is vegetable tanned leather. Vegetable tanned leather and water do not mix well. Soaks water up like a sponge and discolors it. That’s why you don’t wear an ELC out in the rain. Probably main reason original A2s were chrome tanned. Costly mistake. Thanks for sharing your experience with others.

 

[Chandler]

I have a 30 year old ELC RW 1401 -- vegetable-tanned and spray-dye finish. It sheds water like a turtle's shell.

I also have a 25 year-old ELC Star Sportswear A-2 -- vegetable-tanned and what appears to be a pigment finish. It's not as water resistant as the 1401, but it's certainly not a sponge in any way.

It's not the tanning process that makes a hide less resilient to water, it's the finish used.

Yes, I've seen those aniline finished jackets soak in the rain (and give their owners convulsions), but I've also seen them dry out just fine with no undue scarring of such sacred wardrobe.

How many of us have vegetable-tanned boots we wear in inclement weather without a second thought?

 

[Grant]

Agree Chandler. I've gotten caught in rain, sleet and snow many times in my Eastman A-2's. After they've been allowed to air dry they show no worse for the wear. If anything, they start to look better the more they're abused.

 

[Dany McDonald]

Weathering + Leather = Patina