How Do You Protect the Seams on a Black Convertible Top?

To protect the seams and stitching on a black convertible top, treat them with Doc Bailey's Leather Black every time you treat the top. Leather Black cleans, conditions, re-dyes, and waterproofs in one application. It keeps the fabric and the material around the stitching conditioned so they don't dry out and pull on the thread, and it leaves a protective wax on the stitching so the elements don't break it down.

Key Takeaways

• Seams fail first. Sun and rain dry out the thread and the material around it, the seam opens, and water gets in.
• Leather Black is a 4-in-1 for black canvas, vinyl, leather, and rubber. It cleans, conditions, re-dyes, and waterproofs.
• Lanolin conditioning and the protective wax work together to prevent stitch-rot.
• On canvas, wash the top first and let it dry, then feather the Leather Black on a little at a time and follow the One-Hour Rule.
• The same bottle handles your black leather seats, jacket, and saddlebags.

Why do convertible tops fail at the seams first?

Stitching is where a top usually fails first. Sun and rain dry out the thread and the material around it. Dry material pulls on its own thread, the thread weakens, and the seam opens. That's when water starts getting in. The seams are also where fading shows first.

How do you protect the seams on a black convertible top?

Keep the material conditioned and the thread sealed. Doc Bailey's Leather Black does both in the same wipe:

• Cleans. Lifts dirt and road grime off the top.
• Conditions. Lanolin keeps the material from drying out and pulling on its own thread.
• Protects the thread. A protective wax on the stitching keeps the elements from breaking it down. Together, that stops stitch-rot before it starts.
• Re-dyes. Real black dye brings gray, faded seams back to black, and it won't come off in the rain.
• Waterproofs. The wax blend leaves a hydrophobic finish, so water beads off the top and the seams.

Lanolin conditioning plus a protective wax on the thread is what stops stitch-rot before it starts. Doc Bailey's is lanolin-based, silicone-free, and made in the USA.

How do you treat the seams?

Canvas takes a special application so it recolors evenly. Here is the process for a canvas top:

1. Wash the canvas first and let it dry.
2. Rub the Leather Black into the sponge so there are no blobs. The less you use, the better it works.
3. Feather-brush the canvas with the sponge to slowly introduce the Leather Black dye onto the canvas gradually, working small 1-foot areas at a time. Along each seam, feather it into the stitching.
4. Once the entire top is recolored, add more to give it a protective coat.
5. Follow the One-Hour Rule. It's touch-dry in seconds, but leave it about an hour, then lightly buff to pick up any excess you might have applied and to seal the waxes.
6. While the sponge is still loaded, wipe the rubber weatherstripping around the top with what's left on it.

Restoring the whole top? Follow the full guide: how to restore a faded black convertible top.

Does it work on canvas and vinyl tops?

Yes. Leather Black works on black canvas, vinyl, leather, and rubber. It's a special formula, not a spray, so you control exactly where it goes along the seams. Washing first is for canvas only. While the sponge is loaded, wipe the rubber weatherstripping around the top with what's left on it.

What else can you treat with the same bottle?

Most convertibles have more black to look after than the top. Treat black leather seats in the same session, and see how to keep leather seats from cracking. A faded dash? Here's how to restore a faded black dashboard.

On black leather, Leather Black cleans as it works, with no washing first. Take a small amount, about the size of a dime, and gently scrub the leather to clean the leather, which opens the pores of the skin, allowing the lanolin oil in Doc Bailey's to flow deep into the skin to condition and restore the hide. Then the black dye restores the color, and the special waxes lock the color in and waterproof your black leather.

The weatherstripping around the top stays black with the routine in how to keep black rubber trim from fading. If it's already gray, start with how to restore faded black rubber trim.

Off the car, one bottle of Leather Black does a leather jacket 30 to 40 times or saddlebags 25 to 30 times.

Get Doc Bailey's Leather Black. One bottle is $19.95 plus $5 shipping. Two bottles are $34.90, and 2 or more bottles ship free. Every order is backed by an unconditional money-back guarantee.

Frequently asked questions

Will Leather Black run off the seams in the rain?

No. The dye dries completely and won't come off. Once it dries, the dye is locked in by the wax and stays put. Water beads off the finish.

Does it protect the stitching on a convertible top?

Yes. Lanolin conditions the material so it doesn't dry out and pull on the thread, and the protective wax on the stitching keeps the elements from breaking the thread down. Together they prevent stitch-rot.

Does it work on vinyl convertible tops?

Yes. Leather Black works on black canvas, vinyl, leather, and rubber.

Do I need to buff the top after treating it?

Yes, lightly. Follow the One-Hour Rule: it's touch-dry in seconds, but leave it about an hour, then lightly buff to pick up any excess you might have applied and to seal the waxes.

Can I treat the weatherstripping at the same time?

Yes. After you treat the top, wipe the rubber weatherstripping with what's left on the sponge.

Leather Black cleans, conditions, re-dyes, and waterproofs. Four jobs. One bottle. Built by riders who want their gear to last a lifetime.