Bobby hdflame

Tina, Thanks a lot for the help! We have a Joanns about 30 miles from here. I'll make a note of the names of the paints and go check them out. I'll look out for a 50% off coupon from them before making a trip! Here's a link to some pictures with the first finished one: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=28410 Thanks for the help, Bobby

I just wanted to post a couple of pictures of a Christmas present I'm working on for the guys at my fire station. This is one of my first leather working projects, so any critiques are welcome. Also any suggestions as to what kind of dyes or paints you're using would be helpful too. I'm not finished with them all, but here's a picture of one that's part way done and one that I finished for me, just practicing techniques! Let me know what you think. BTW, these are in the shape of a leather front shield for a FF helmet...just in miniature. This is a pic of a couple that I did just practicing different techniques to see how I would make them. My recent pictures were too big to attach directly, so I'll link them with Photobucket. This one is partially finished. I glued it together and am waiting for the dye to dry before sewing. Different stages of practice pieces, along with the first finished one I did for myself. First finished one for me! I would have liked to made the bottom panels where the name and SFD are at in white with the black letters, but I couldn't get the white Fiebings die dark enough to suit me...any suggestions? I would have also liked to have outlined the red numbers with a fine white line, but wasn't sure how to do it without messing them up! Since I have to finish this before Christmas, I'll have to practice on some more later. I think when the guys see these, I'll get some orders. I hope they'll like their Christmas present. Thanks for looking, Bobby

Thanks Reavesleather, I was actually being lazy and was hoping to find something to copy with tracing paper! But that is an option. Tina, I had tried a Google search, but I guess I didn't really know what to search for. I will try Victorian Scrolls and see what happens. I had been using different searches related to the fire dept. in hopes of finding it that way. I was hoping that there was a how to book on leather working that had some patterns. A lot of the scroll work looks like what you'd see in some of the Western tooling. Tina, I'd like to ask you another question off topic. I admire your carvings and especially your use of colors and dyes. I am making some firefighter style key fobs for my guys at the station, and would like to use some WHITE and RED color that is dark and stands out. The Fiebings dyes that I've been using just look kind of see through and in this application I'm not really interested in seeing the leather. The white especially needs multiple coats before it starts to cover, and even then it's still not very dark. I've read where I think some people are using acrylic paints, but wasn't sure if that was something I could buy in a craft store, or if it was specifically for leather. I was also concerned about paint rubbing off since it was on a key fob, and carrying it in your pocket will be rough on it. I do plan on putting a clear finish over it....suggestions? I may make some more later on, and just finish in shades of browns and black, but I would like the option to use some bright colors as well since I plan on making some custom helmet shields as well. I'll post a couple of pictures so you can see what I'm wanting to do. I started this thread about the key fobs in the dyeing forum but didn't get any responses. Thanks to all for the suggestions and help. Bobby This is a commercially done key fob. They are using stick-on vinyl letters on top of the red panel and sew on numbers. This is the first two I've been working on. You can see how the white kinda washes out. Is this normal with dyes? I have another one that I've finished, but haven't taken any pictures yet. I think it turned out better and will post some pictures later.

Tom, I really like your collar....but not for me, maybe my dog! Thanks for posting your pictures of the collar. The red letters gave me inspiration to try using some red dye on my current project. I tried the red on a couple of samples and I think it will turn out good. I was undecided about trying to paint my project, but after seeing your red letters, I think I liked that better than how the paint would have turned out and I'm thinking that the dye will hold up better than paint. I'm using it on some key fobs for the guys at the fire station and I was scared that the paint would rub off while carrying keys in your pocket. My initial attempts at dye were not very satisfactory. I was using some white, and even after multiple coats, it wasn't as dark as I wanted. Is there a trick to using white dye in order to get it dark. I tried dampening the leather before applying and it seemed to work a little better. I think dampening the leather kept the leather from just sucking it up and running to areas I didn't want the dye. Thanks, Bobby

Well, I've been trying some different options on this project. I wanted to post some pics of what I've done so far and ask for some professional opinions. The black one on the right is the first one I was playing around with. The spacing is not right, but I wasn't trying to center everything, just playing with how it would look. The black fiebings dye did fine, but the white was not what I expected. It didn't cover very well, even with multiple coats. I'm thinking of using paint...maybe something like Testors Model Paint??? Suggestions? I also have some red dye...wonder if it will cover darker than the white? I stitched around the edge with my machine but I didn't wait long enough for the black dye to dry good, so it stained the white thread. Note to self: wait longer next time! The one on the right was second. I'm debating on coloring or not. Suggestions? I don't think I like the line that I cut and beveled under the name. Maybe leave the line off on the next one? Trying to decide if I like the background stamping. On the next one I think it will be just a bit bigger which will allow me some more options. I think I will also make it double thickness with some cut outs. I'm VERY new to leatherwork and only know what I've read and seen on here, so ALL critiques and suggestions are welcomed. Thanks, Bobby

Luke, If you were casing leather to mold like this, would you just submerge it in water for several hours and let it just get REALLY pliable? Thanks, Bobby

What would you guys use to make the form out of or fill in the back with? I guess using veg tan leather, it would harden and hold shape after casing and forming? This leather does look like soft leather. I was thinking some kind of closed cell foam like landau top foam, layered with glue and then shaped down by sanding? Am I close to what ya'll are thinking? Thanks, Bobby

I want to make some shields for firefighter helmets and some key fobs with the same pattern...just smaller. I would like to make a die to be able to cut them out exactly the same each time and also increase my speed/production. I saw somewhere a while back about cutting a shape out in wood, and then wrapping the edge with a metal banding strap....I think. Does anyone know how to make a simple shaped die? Thanks, Bobby Here's a picture of the shape. This is a small key fob, but the helmet shield is the same shape, nothing intricate.

I was looking around on Etsy and ran across a really COOL checkbook cover. I would love to know how to do this type of leatherwork. Anybody know how this is done and what kind of leather to use? Thanks, Bobby http://www.etsy.com/...?ref=v1_other_2

We're giving our daughter a Kindle for Christmas. I'd like to make her a custom cover. Any ideas on materials, patterns, design, construction? Thanks, Bobby

I want to make some leather carving similar to the designs that are put on fire trucks for gold leaf. I may try to gold leaf after carving...I may just leave them alone or paint them. This is similar to what I'm looking for: http://www.firegold.com/images/HalfHB.jpg http://www.firegold.com/images/FAfarm2.jpg http://www.firegold.com/images/FAsr400d.jpg http://www.firegold.com/images/FAjr400seat.jpg http://www.firegold.com/images/FAfend400.jpg Can anyone point me in the right direction for patterns? Thanks, Bobby

Any idea of how to do a search for it?

Thanks! Man, I would have never figured that one out. I just didn't see that shape in there until you told me what it was. I went to Tandy and looked it up....now I see it. Is there a trick to laying out the pattern? I like the end effect! It's so cool that you can achieve soooo many different designs with simple stamps, just depending on how you use them! Thanks, Bobby

I want to make some FF mini helmet shield key chains for the guys that work with me. I want to customize them with our dept. name, their last name, and their FF #. Any suggestions on what to use to color the leather with? I need to color part of it RED and part of it BLACK. Should I buy some letter stamps or cut and stamp it into the leather? All suggestions welcome. Here's a couple of pics, so you see what I'm talking about. I've got to get these made in time for Christmas! Thanks, Bobby

I looked all over Barry Kings site and for the life of me, I can't figure out which tool you're using. What is it called? The closest one that I see is the angled basket weave. http://www.barrykingtools.com/images/basketstamps_angle_lg.jpg Is that it? It really looks more like a rope stamp, but I don't see one on his site.

Buying the gun makes sense. But I would think it would be nice if you had a cheap easy way to reproduce it as a dummy for your own future use...especially if you decided to cash in on your investment! I don't know if the link I posted would be the answer, just posted for thought, which it seems to have generated.

Randy, What do you use along with the saddle soap? I got one of those little plastic discs and use that with the Tragacanth. So far I've just used it by hand, but the plastic disc has a hole in the middle, I guess for a shaft. I thought about putting something like a 1/4 20 bolt in it and using it with a drill. What speed should I use? Slow, med, or fast?

That site just looks like it has so many possibilities! I read on here where some guns were hard to find dummies for, so I thought it might help someone. I've thought about using it to make castings for use in embossing a design into leather. Maybe someone will post some insight from actual experience with it. I also thought about calling the company. Bobby

Arno, I've done several searches but can't seem to find anything on J Watt or the tool. Do you have a link you could share? Looking closer, is it the same tool that you did the edge detail on the back side around the basket weave? Thanks, Bobby

I think that had something to do with getting a partial refund if you had bought something from him separately and was gonna purchase it in a kit too?? In one of the videos, he mentioned that he would sell the tool itself separately. Since he doesn't list it on eBay, I imagine you could contact him for pricing. Bobby

NICE! I like the detail on the belt clip. It looks like there's some stitching on it. How did you do that little detail? Bobby

I know this is a n older thread, but nice job on the wallet! I would love to see your write up with explanations. I use this technique on binding carpet edges for auto work. I'd like to see how you got such a nice straight line when you trimmed the bottom side. GREAT JOB! I use some seam tape that I get from Sailrite. If you have a business license, you can open a commercial account to get better prices. Here's a link to the tape in case anyone is interested. http://www.sailrite.com/Seamstick-3-8-for-Canvas-60-Yds This is a pretty cool site. Most prices are competitive, especially with wholesale prices. They have lot's of "How-To" videos that you can watch for FREE. I don't have a problem with the glue building up on my needle. Bobby

Sounds Cool! Can't wait to see it!

That's what I was gonna say. It looks pretty simple, and you've already got pieces to make your patterns from. Shouldn't be too hard to make your own. It looks pretty thin. I'm thinking some scrap sheet metal and some sheet metal shears would do the trick.

I'm sure we're not the first ones to think of this. I would call the number on the site and talk to someone. I'll bet they could tell you exactly how to do it! Let us know if you find out anything. I know someone that has used their pour in place foam to make motorcycle seats. They just poured the foam right on top of the seat pan. They have a lot of cool products with limits only to our imaginations!