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Fatliquor 5.0 FAQ

  1. What is Fatliquor?
  2. How does Fatliquor Work?
  3. Why Does Fatliquor Work?
  4. When Does Fatliquor Work? 
  5. What is the Purpose of Using Fatliquor?
  6. What is the Purpose of Fatliquor?
  7. What is the Original Percentage of Fatliquor Content from the Tannery?
  8. How does the Fatliquor Content of Fat and Oil Diminish?
  9. How to Determine the Percentage of Fatliquor Required by the Leather?
  10. How to Calculate the Percentage of Fatliquor Required?
  11. Why Hydrator 3.3 Before Fatliquor 5.0?
  12. What is the Ratio Usage between Hydrator 3.3 and Fatliquor 5.0?
  13. How to Lighten the Leather Appearance after Drying from Fatliquoring on a Chanel Diamond Quilted Pattern Lambskin Bag?
  14. Tips:

    1. What is Fatliquor?

    1. Fatliquor 5.0 is a pH 5.0 micro-emulsion of fat, oil, and water for rejuvenating, restoring, and softening all leather and suede types, imparting their original suppleness and conditioning them from dry rotting and stiffness. 
    2. Concentrate when mixed with 1:5 parts of distilled water turns into a milky micro-emulsion similar to fresh milk, ready to use.
    3. Stiff or dried leather and suede are hydrated and relaxed with Hydrator 3.3 before effective fat liquoring.

    2. How does Fatliquor Work?

    1. Fatliquor 5.0 typically works after hydration with Hydrator 3.3 to open up the fibrous leather structure, ensuring thorough and even absorption of fat and oil. 
    2. The fat plumps the leather with fullness, and the oil lubricates each fibril like millions of interconnecting hinges to glide over one another smoothly once the water content evaporates.
    3. Effective fat liquoring after hydrating produces a softer leather with increased tensile tear strength.

    3. Why Does Fatliquor Work?

    1. The fat content in Fatliquor 5.0 plumps up the leather, preventing it from easily collapsing into creases and wrinkles during stress or flex.
    2. The oil content lubricates the fibers, allowing them to slide over one another smoothly like millions of interconnecting hinges.
    3. Fatliquor 5.0 helps to keep leather at its optimum physical performance and prevents premature aging.
    4. Fatliquor 5.0 softens the leather when dry, providing stretchability, compressibility, and flexibility while significantly increasing its rip tensile strength.

     4. When Does Fatliquor Work? 

    1. When Fatliquor 5.0 is applied, the water-encased molecule breaks free when an ionic attraction occurs between the fat and oil with the leather fiber.
    2. The excess free water content is wicked out, leaving the pores breathing space for the natural transpiration of the leather.

    5. What is the Purpose of Using Fatliquor?

    1. Fatliquor 5.0 carries an ionic negative (-ve) charge to hydrogen bond with the ionic positive (+ve) charge of leather fibers, thus freeing up pores for better breathability.
    2. Unlike other stuffing conditioning oils and waxes that fill up the breathing pores, suffocating the breathability.

    6. What is the Purpose of Fatliquor?

    1. Fatliquor 5.0 conditioning replenishes the original fat and oil that diminishes through sun bleaching, aging, heat, and alkaline over-exposure or cleaning.

    7. What is the Original Percentage of Fatliquor Content from the Tannery?

    1. Fatliquor content retained after a universal tannery when dried varies by an average of up to 14% depending on the leather type and its usage.

    8. How does the Fatliquor Content of Fat and Oil Diminish?

    1. Fatliquor percentage drops as the fat and oil content diminishes through aging and heat, or when it is leached out by water or chemical overexposure during cleaning.

    9. How to Determine the Percentage of Fatliquor Required by the Leather?

    1. The fatliquor content required by the leather is based on the weight of the leather to the percentage of remaining fatliquor.

    10. How to Calculate the Percentage of Fatliquor Required?

    1. Fatliquor requirement is calculated simply by weight percentage.
    2. If the weight of the leather is 100gm and the leather moisture reading is less than 1%.
    3. Applying 80gm of Fatliquor 5.0 will deliver an incremental of 13.3% fatliquor when dry, as the 66.6% water content evaporates.

    11. Why Hydrator 3.3 Before Fatliquor 5.0?

    1. Hydrator 3.3 is used as a hydrator to relax, open up the inter-fibrillary spaces, and facilitate and redistribute colloidal water movement.
    2. Besides, protonating is used to post-clean fatliquor surface remnants.

    12. What is the Ratio Usage between Hydrator 3.3 and Fatliquor 5.0?

    1. Hydrator 3.3 to Fatliquor 5.0 ratio practice is 2 to 1, and it works out to be approximately 160gm of Hydrator 3.3 plus 80gm of Fatliquor 5.0 to replenish 100gm dry leather, from less than 1% back to the original tannery, up from an average of 14% fatliquor content.
    2. Fatliquor 5.0 by weight content comprised 16.66% ionic negative (-ve) charged fat and oil, encased in 83.33% water.
    3. Fatliquor water content that encases the fat and oil molecule in an emulsion suspension when hydrogen bonds with the ionic positive (+ve) leather protein fiber break free and discharge clear from the leather structure to the surface.

    13. How to Lighten the Leather Appearance after Drying from Fatliquoring on a Chanel Diamond Quilted Pattern Lambskin Bag?

    Yes! Lightening the leather's appearance after drying from fatliquoring is about physically manipulating the fibers to regain their natural softness and color vibrancy. Here’s a more refined step-by-step approach for a Chanel diamond-quilted lambskin bag:

    Step-by-Step Lightening & Puffing Process

    1. Ensure the Leather is Fully Dried
      • Allow the bag to air dry naturally after fatliquoring to prevent unwanted distortions.
    2. Use a Smooth Spatula or Teaspoon
      • A smooth, rounded edge (like the back of a teaspoon) helps stretch the leather gently without causing damage.
    3. Stretch from Center to Stitching
      • Place the tool in the center of each quilted diamond and press outward towards the stitching.
      • This motion helps loosen up the fibers, enhancing puffiness and restoring the lightened effect.
    4. Apply Controlled Pressure
      • Moderate pressure is key—too much can cause over-stretching, while too little won’t achieve the desired effect.
      • The goal is to encourage fiber movement without distorting the stitching pattern.
    5. Buff & Refine
      • After stretching, lightly buff with a soft microfiber cloth to even out the finish.
      • If needed, a final application of a Leather Doctor® finishing can restore luster with Gloss 21.

    This technique helps maintain the softness, puffiness, and luxurious look characteristic of Chanel lambskin. Would you like product recommendations for aftercare?

     14. Tips:

    1. Always precondition the leather/nubuck/suede with Hydrator 3.3 to relax and open up the fiber structure before Fatliquor 5.0.
    2. A fully fat liquor-replenished leather maintains an average of 14% fat and oil content, while vegetable-tanned leather is thirstier.
    3. Insufficient fat-liquoring (fat and oil) content may remain stiff and suffer cracking from staking, massaging, or flexing.
    4. When crispy dry, prior surface contamination or damage may darken with resurfaced soiling particulates.
    5. Removes surface soiling particulates with Eraser 4 for all leathers, including nubuck, and Eraser 5 for suede.
    6. Stretching the dark areas lightly will also lighten the appearance.

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