Things You'll Need:
- Leather cleaner
- Conditioner or protectant
- Small knife or spatula
- Sandpaper
- Color restorer
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Step 1
Fix the handle by first cleaning the leather with a leather cleaner.
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Step 2
Apply a leather conditioner to soften the leather.
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Step 3
Determine if the leather is too dry to repair. If it still has moisture and suppleness, then you can repair it. It is also recommended that the whole briefcase be restored, not just the handles.
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Step 4
Invest in a leather repair kit for small jobs. For bigger jobs, go to a leather repair professional.
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Step 5
Use a color restorer to bring the color of the briefcase back to its original color. Try to match as closely as possible. Color restorers will not repair the cracks but will conceal them so that they are less noticeable.
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Step 6
Prepare the handles for repair by applying a small amount of leather rejuvenator oil. Also apply to the entire briefcase, since the oil prevents future cracks from occurring. Use a very fine grade sandpaper to gently smooth out "hang nails" on the handles.
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Step 7
Match the color of the briefcase with the correct shade of dye, and mix it into a crack filler. Fill the cracks with crack filler using a small knife or spatula. Apply directly into the cracks. The crack filler will level out and go into all the cracks on the handles. If cracks are severe, apply another coat of crack filler, but allow each application to dry approximately half an hour in between. Sand after each application.
