desib

Nice stuff and very unique to your style. I have got a question regarding the airbrushing process. What do you use to seal the leather prior to the application of the acrylics? Oh and another. How watered down is the acrylics or is it a specific type? The reason I ask is I only just started applying acrylics to my pieces and have found that it draws out the tannins staining the acrylic. Cheers.

Thanks for your appreciation guys!

I started this about a fortnight ago and have at last go to a point that I can call completed. It was inpired by a strap that Tom Swede made, his Mosher one in fact. So thank you Tom you are inspiring people across the world with your work. It's for a mate of mine who is an aircrewman in the Australian Navy. He's a Kiwi though, and has a close tie to his heritage. so I asked him what he'd like done. It took months for an answer and it was pretty lacklustre. Anyhow here it is. It is based around Maori traditional colours Black and Red are Raven oil dyed where the White is acrylic painted. I have had a bugger of a time with leaching tannins through the white. But after a sealent and 4 coats it has settled down. The quality of the leather is poor and apart from the scars on it it is stiff and not receptive to the dye. I'm 3000kms from the nearest Leather Craft store so i do with what I can. But i' love to know what the alternatives are for the products you folk often rever to in these forums. Once again thanks Tom you've inspired me to produce this.

Did a quick Restoration for a mate. 5 Hrs of work and pretty happy for first go at a knife scabbard. Two pieces of Roo skin for the body, and the steel holder on the side is a thin piece of cow hide. Critique your hearts out! I impressed myself.

Nice stuff you have there Jacko.

Nice work!

Turf it my friend it has been incorrectly ground. I would say that it is irretrieveable too. I have one like it that does the same thing. I bought it on ebay and got what I paid for. There should be a divit it the back of the tool and the leather should run in the divit/groove.

Thanks for the help Twin oaks. I have now realised just how much info is on this site and I guess my question could have been better placed. I recently had a rifle sling I made go a wierd stained colour whilst out bush. I believe it was the acid either from the plants and grass in the area or the mandarins I was eating 9something to investigate). I will give the vinegaroon a go too. I'm paying $27Aussie for 250 mls of black dye so that's money I could be spending on leather instead.

Folks I am wondering if anyone has successful recipies on Antiques and Dyes. I recently had a go by blending a little raven oil with Dubbin to produce a very average antique but wonder if there is a simple solution without the expense. Where I live there is no access to any leather shops and everything has to be freighted. I have access to Raven oil and that's about all. Any help appreciated. Attached is the raven oil/dubbin mixture effort. But I have concerns that it will all leach to a wierd colour in a few weeks.