Removing print from leather?

[Torvald_Faust]

And now I've a question of my own I bought a pair of very cool second-hand motorcycle boots, but since I won't use them as such, but as costume pieces, I've a problem with them:



As one can (barely) see, the brand logo is printed, or I at least assume it's printed, on the front. Any suggestions on how to remove it? I'm considering acetone, but I've no idea if it would work and what it would do to the leather. An other option would be sanding it off, I suppose, but then I'm sure to damage the boots

[Miles (a sailor)Martin]

paint over it with acrilics?

[Torvald_Faust]

Truth to be told, that's an option I had thought about but hadn't mentioned - getting the gloss just right would be hard. If I actually remove it, I could probably get the same sort of gloss with shoe polish, whereas with paint, I'd either get the wrong gloss or I'd be scared to accidentally remove the paint with the polish

[Professor Oilcan]

it MAY come off with white spirit, but use very little and work a small area at a time

[Torvald_Faust]

I've heard advices including White Spirit more often, but I've yet to find the stuff in the Netherlands...But thanks regardless

[bicyclebuilder]

I've heard advices including White Spirit more often, but I've yet to find the stuff in the Netherlands...But thanks regardless

White Spirit noemen wij hier in Nederland, terpentine. 

[Torvald_Faust]

Ah, mystery solved Yeah, I got that There will be chemical warfare this weekend, if I have the time

[Lady Chrystal]

It depends when the print was applied. Leather is finished (like varnished) in multiple layers - you may have to strip some off, before reaching the pring. You're likely to leave more of a mess than you expect, because of this.

I'd suggest covering it up - some sort of embellishment suitable to your costume?

[Torvald_Faust]

Well, there's a problem; as it stands now, I don't intend to cover it up, as I'll be stuffing my trousers into them

A more 'exotic' options that's occurring to me would be to stitch a well-matching piece of later on top

[Lady Chrystal]

You could make a short "belt" of matching or contrasting leather, with a buckle that sits over the print. Something like that?

[Torvald_Faust]

For instance I may go for a more sci-fi route and go for, for instance, high-tech armour Yes, not all my costuming is Steampunk

[Lady Ashgrove]

I'm betting that writing is heat stamped into the leather

at which point even if you do get it off you will still be left with the stamp outlines

and most likely ruin the leather under it so that it is a bigger draw to the eye than the words

I think that I would take gold paint and paint a square over it with a design in it

[Torvald_Faust]

I figure if that would be the case, the 'print' would be recessed into the leather? If so, that's luckily not the case

[Lady Chrystal]

No - there are a number of ways that the print could be "bonded" into the leather that wouldn't have to embossed it. If you're set on using a chemical means to remove it, can I suggest testing it on a small area that won't be seen, first?

[Torvald_Faust]

Ofcourse you can, but, there's no area where something else is printed on, I'm afraid...

[Torvald_Faust]

Sorry for the double post, but I would like to rapport that chemical 'warfare' won Adhesive remover removed the print without any noticeable ill effects on the leather so far