Can I use leather from a leather jacket?

[COPO]

I have a black leather jacket from 1970 when I went to high school which of course doesn't fit me thank god. Will this leather work if I use it to recover my 1970 arm rests? Is so, I knew that leather would come in handy one day. I don't want to redo it in vinyl or it'll just crack again where the originals cracked and I hear the repo arm rests don't fit and a reupholstery shop wants more than a repo is worth to recover them.

 

[BB72R-Yes]

If you can do it I think it would be pretty cool. Making your car even more special to you and that much harder to ever part with. Go for it!

 

[79camaro2001]

I don't see why not, I mean there are seats covered in leather and if it's real leather then it shouldn't be any different.

 

[COPO]

Great, I'll put the leather to good use. I guess I use the yellow spray glue?

 

[Marks71BB]

3-M contact adhesive would be the ticket. Have you done any upholstery work?

 

[onovakind67]

You can find strips of very good upholstery leather in the rear seats of many BMW and Mercedes cars in the boneyard, the fold down center armrest has a large leather flap attached to it that rarely sees the light of day.

 

[protour73]

...............that jacket leather should be pretty thick, it will probably wear like iron!!

 

[COPO]

3-M contact adhesive would be the ticket. Have you done any upholstery work?

No, but I'll try and remove the original vinyl and copy the cuts.

 

[DJReynolds]

No, but I'll try and remove the original vinyl and copy the cuts.

Don't do that,as the foam under the old cover will chunk out on you and it will show threw the leather you are recovering it with.And you might want to find a different piece of leather to use that is a little thinner,and more plyable than the jacket leather you have now.That stuff (leather jacket) is great for inserting a seat or a flat door panel insert,but something that would need to be tucked and stuffed into tight places it's a little to thick.

 

[COPO]

One side was done with vinyl overtop the original before I bought the car. I'll have to measure and see how thick it is and report back.

Can't find it....must have send it to the Salvation Army.