Cycling UK Forum

My jerk of a roommate drew an inappropriate image on my leather bike saddle and I was wondering how to get it off?

We've tried the usual of hairspray, leather cleaning wipes and a liiil biiit of vodka (I drank the rest lol, legend)
Any other ideas would be much appreciated
Thanking you

Isopropyl alcohol might do it, if the hairspray didn't set it. You might be able to get it at B&Q. Otherwise, a place that sells stuff for electrical/electronic repair.

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Draw a more appropriate image over the top of it, if all else fails.

Hi
If the ink has become ingrained it will prove difficult to shift
You could try something like this, but you'd need to be sure that it doesn't rub off onto clothing, skin, etc in different weather conditions
Regards
tim-b

I keep a bottle of acetone handy for things like stain removal and cleaning of greasy items. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-Pure-Acet ... rkt%3D1%26

No promises but it might be worth a try.

Cheers

Though it should be pointed out that pure acetone has a flash point of -17 C and a bp of 56 C so you need to handle it very carefully in a well ventilated area and store it in an appropriate fire proof area.

Elizabeth_S wrote:Though it should be pointed out that pure acetone has a flash point of -17 C and a bp of 56 C so you need to handle it very carefully in a well ventilated area and store it in an appropriate fire proof area.

True. It does have the advantage of being less harmful than most commercial solvents and it's rather difficult to ignite. I would hope that anyone keeping the stuff at home treats it carefully and best of all stores it in an out building. It is however, the main ingredient in nail varnish remover and many people would have access to it in that form.

what sort of pen.
and I am guessing the saddle is not black
Sounds like you need to get your room mate very drunk and return the favour on his forehead with indelible marker

PBA wrote:

Elizabeth_S wrote:Though it should be pointed out that pure acetone has a flash point of -17 C and a bp of 56 C so you need to handle it very carefully in a well ventilated area and store it in an appropriate fire proof area.

True. It does have the advantage of being less harmful than most commercial solvents and it's rather difficult to ignite. I would hope that anyone keeping the stuff at home treats it carefully and best of all stores it in an out building. It is however, the main ingredient in nail varnish remover and many people would have access to it in that form.

Er. That's why it's labelled "flammable"!! It is, however, miscible with water, unlike many other flammable hydrocarbons.

It will depend on the pen. I once managed to remove scribbles from a permanent marker on white plastic with white spirit. But the leather is presumably a bit porous, making it harder. Maybe the only solution is to disguise the image by colouring the whole saddle.

IMO, best practice when leaving a bike with a leather saddle outdoors is to cover it to protect it from the weather. When it's being ridden, the rider's backside covers it more or less. While it's no excuse for this upsetting vandalism, few others are likely to see it. Perhaps regular use will polish it all off with the passage of time.

This stuff works well on ballpoint pen on clothing IME, so worth shot: http://www.dr-beckmann.co.uk/products/s ... n-remover/

NUKe wrote:what sort of pen.
and I am guessing the saddle is not black
Sounds like you need to get your room mate very drunk and return the favour on his forehead with indelible marker

Draconic but effective.

Or prosecute for criminal damage + sue for cost of new saddle (need proof).

If that fails, go with previous suggestion.

Wait until he gets drunk, he dogs like that'll happen frequently, then use the marker to full effect. Then put the money saved by not actually spending money on getting him drunk towards a new saddle. Add in the money saved by not trying chemicals and cleaning fluids that won't work and you'll possibly get to the price of a new saddle quicker.

This way you can perhaps get a better saddle if you wish and still see his ugly.mug with a suitably decorated forehead for the price of an indelible marker.

PS be prepared for payback possibly involving removal of saddle or other vandalism of your bike. Such as the replacement of seat post and saddle with a suitably pipe pinched to a point. That's something I could easily get from work BTW and has been a considered for payback of my own. They've got welding kit too. Steel frame, welded pointy pipe instead of seat post and saddle. Not easy to sort out. Just pointing out that with payback your bike is your weakness. Just how much do you want to spend putting it right after payback for your payback?