diff --git a/data/json/items/tool/tailoring.json b/data/json/items/tool/tailoring.json
index 69b7179c5f81..a522bf5793c0 100644
--- a/data/json/items/tool/tailoring.json
+++ b/data/json/items/tool/tailoring.json
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
       "item_action_type": "repair_fabric",
       "materials": [ "cotton", "leather", "nylon", "wool", "fur", "faux_fur", "nomex", "kevlar", "gutskin" ],
       "skill": "tailor",
-      "tool_quality": -1,
+      "tool_quality": 1,
       "cost_scaling": 0.1,
       "move_cost": 1300
     },
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@
       "item_action_type": "repair_fabric",
       "materials": [ "neoprene" ],
       "skill": "tailor",
-      "tool_quality": 0,
+      "tool_quality": 1,
       "cost_scaling": 0.1,
       "move_cost": 1200
     },
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@
       "item_action_type": "repair_fabric",
       "materials": [ "cotton", "nylon", "leather", "wool", "fur", "faux_fur", "nomex", "gutskin" ],
       "skill": "tailor",
-      "tool_quality": -1,
+      "tool_quality": 0,
       "cost_scaling": 0.1,
       "move_cost": 1500
     },
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@
       "item_action_type": "repair_fabric",
       "materials": [ "cotton", "leather", "nylon", "wool", "fur", "faux_fur", "nomex", "kevlar", "gutskin" ],
       "skill": "tailor",
-      "tool_quality": 0,
+      "tool_quality": 2,
       "cost_scaling": 0.1,
       "move_cost": 1000
     },
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@
         "item_action_type": "repair_fabric",
         "materials": [ "cotton", "leather", "nylon", "wool", "fur", "faux_fur", "nomex", "kevlar", "neoprene", "gutskin" ],
         "skill": "tailor",
-        "tool_quality": 1,
+        "tool_quality": 3,
         "cost_scaling": 0.1,
         "move_cost": 800
       },
diff --git a/src/iuse_actor.cpp b/src/iuse_actor.cpp
index 65f7e0f6dd05..361946f15407 100644
--- a/src/iuse_actor.cpp
+++ b/src/iuse_actor.cpp
@@ -3295,8 +3295,8 @@ std::pair<float, float> repair_item_actor::repair_chance(
             action_difficulty = fix.max_damage() / itype::damage_scale;
             break;
         case RT_REINFORCE:
-            // Reinforcing is at least as hard as refitting
-            action_difficulty = std::max( fix.max_damage() / itype::damage_scale, recipe_difficulty );
+            // Reinforcing is 50% harder than refitting
+            action_difficulty = fix.max_damage() / itype::damage_scale * 1.5;
             break;
         case RT_PRACTICE:
             // Skill gain scales with recipe difficulty, so practice difficulty should too
@@ -3315,9 +3315,11 @@ std::pair<float, float> repair_item_actor::repair_chance(
     // Duster |    2   |   5   |  5  |   10%   |   0%
     // Duster |    2   |   2   |  10 |   4%    |   1%
     // Duster | Refit  |   2   |  10 |   0%    |   N/A
-    float success_chance = ( 10 + 2 * skill - 2 * difficulty + tool_quality / 5.0f ) / 100.0f;
+    float success_chance = ( 10 + 2 * ( skill * ( 1 + tool_quality / 10.0f ) ) - 2 * difficulty ) /
+                           100.0f;
     /** @EFFECT_DEX reduces the chances of damaging an item when repairing */
-    float damage_chance = ( difficulty - skill - ( tool_quality + pl.dex_cur ) / 5.0f ) / 100.0f;
+    float damage_chance = ( difficulty - ( skill * ( 1 + tool_quality / 10.0f ) ) - pl.dex_cur /
+                            5.0f ) / 100.0f;
 
     damage_chance = std::max( 0.0f, std::min( 1.0f, damage_chance ) );
     success_chance = std::max( 0.0f, std::min( 1.0f - damage_chance, success_chance ) );