treybecca

Midas tools were discontinued in 1980, but are definitely worth their "weight in gold" (pun intended). Noel Kelly no longer makes the Midas brand, however he does have limited edition tools available on his website. I have managed to collect 30 vintage Midas tools...I love their crispness and that they are a bit unique to the traditional Craftools out there.

I second Blackriver. Great pricing, super customer service and super fast turn around.

After struggling with white for over a year...I found the only thing that really works is white paint. After being almost driven to the point of insanity was Cova, I found Angelus. I've never had to dilute it, and just finely brush it on. The paint dries almost instantly, and is super flexible. This is a white wedding belt I did last year, and the customer still wears it to other fantasy events with no issues.

I dye first then paint...both with Angelus dye and angelus paint. I have never had a problem with angelus cracking or peeling...which can not be said for other traditional acrylic paint.

Cyber thrasher how many coats of latex do you recommend? I recently used the latex process on your recommendation and unfortunately found the latex diluted the penetration of the color but still let it pass through. I used two very thin coats...thinking next time ill go more....

I've been lurking here for years now, making, and replying to some posts and thought it was time to come out of the shadows. I started leather working almost 3 years ago now, when I decided to make an all leather Halloween costume. Never in a million years did I know I would stumble upon my true calling, and where I am the happiest. Since then I have done a few projects for friends, but it wasn't until recently I took on my first commission in doing a Khal Drogo costume from "Game of Thrones". I have since created my own lil leather name, Valkyrie Leather Collection, with the dream of someday looking into having leather someday pay some of the bills. I will be partnering with a gentleman this summer who has done war reenactment products with over 35 years of experience to learn another side of this amazing craft. I can't wait to learn all I can! Here is a. Link to my new fb page https://www.facebook.com/ValkyrieLeatherDesign . Please feel free to take a look at what I have done, like and share, and perhaps one day this girls dream will come true!! Thank you all for the inspiration and fellowship I have found on this page. I couldn't of made it this far without y'all!

Unless the leather is already white you are pretty much out of luck. I had a horrible time coming up with white for this set of armor I did. I tried Fiebings leather dye which only came out mottled no matter how I did it and in the end I went with LOTS of Cova acrylic paint...which I definitely do not recommend for anything that is going to go through any amount of stress. After one time of wearing it the color was already starting to crack and peel. I have had much better luck with the Angelus leather paint, but even then I don't think it would hold up on a sole. God luck, and hopefully someone else has some better insight... Silly picture didn't attached to my last post...

I've actually had no problem with the Bicks/RTC/fiebings combo. I actually mix the Bicks in with my dye. Once it sat for a day I hit it up with RTC fairly thick, and then once it was dry I did the Fiebings antique. I have attempted to use the RTC as a sealer but it did pull-up some antique, so I now just go back to my trust Leather Sheen.

IMHO get the heck away from that darn Ecoflo stuff!! I've never had anything but bad luck with it. I know some folks swear by it, but for me it never behaves as real antique should. Looking at the picture I would definitely say its Fiebings Mahogany. I'm no sure about diluting it with oil and lanolin, but I do know some people use Tan Kote. Mahogany is probably one of my favorite colors out of the fiebings line.

I second sharpies. I actually have started using them for all sorts of applications with great success. Best thing to do is test on scrap leather first of course.

I think Luke is referring to applying the white paint into the depressions of the leather and then quickly wiping off any excess paint that isn't perfectly sitting in the indents. Gets the white outline nice and crisp.

I was thinking the same thing as Cheryl it definitely looks printed on. Perhaps stencils instead. There is no depth to the lettering like there is on the 14.

Check out deviant art. Search for leather armor tutorials and there is some good info. I also agree that the sca sites are a good source.

Can I please join?

I use angelus extensively and it does on on thin...but that is what I think makes it adhere to the leather better than say Cova. I do not use it for high detail multi colored work like it sounds like you are describing but I have painted entire pieces of armor with no problems. It does take multiple thin coats, but when dealing with acrylic this is the way to go over one opaque coat to reduce the threat of cracking. I still think angelus is superior to Cova....I'll take 5 coats of angelus over 15 Cova anyway....and it's cheaper per ounce

Silly Ipad..switched to the laptop...this try this again...

I completed the tooling on an ereader cover for someone very near and dear to me. This has to be the most tooling I have done for one piece.

I'm in need of a custom embossing wheel much like the craftool embossing wheel. I have no idea if anyone knows of where I may be able to get one made.

I am looking for a Chocolate Latigo Hide or a hide with the same kind of consistancy that will not break the bank. Some range marks and such are perfectly ok as the piece will be distressed. Any suggestions?

So after a few years of quietly going about my business in Fantasy/Cosplay world, I have decided its time to put on my big girl pants and try breaking it out in the "Real World". I have experienced dealing with pretty much every color of the rainbow except browns. I would love to know what colors of fiebings are ya'lls favorite, both in the dye and the antique paste for those of you who use it. I have the Fiebings Medium Brown Oil Dye, which is a bit orangey for my tastes, and the medium brown antique paste...which may as well be called slightly less black. Im looking to run the whole gamut from a light saddle tan to chestnut to chocolate. All your feedback is greatly appreciated!

I will give my two-cents for what it is worth. I currently make reproduction medieval type armor. I use dye as my base, and then use Angelus Acrylic paint as my next layer. I then use antique to pull out the tooling marks and seal it. Still working on the "perfect" formula, but Im pretty happy with my results. My biggest suggestion is not to waste your time with Cova, which Tandy supplies. In my experience it just cracks and peels, or doesnt even adhere to the leather and peels right off in a sheet. I personally recommend http://turtlefeathers.net/text/product-index.html for all your paint needs....super fast delivery and resonable pricing.

I guess it helps to post a pic of what I am trying to replicate....again this will be on a Roper Wallet Kit.

I have piece of tooling I want to execute on a wallet, but I am looking for some very fine detailing. I have the smallest bevelers and such you can get from Tandys, and they are proving to be a bit large and awkward. Any other suggestions for tools to help get into the tight spots would be greatly appreciated.

This costume started almost a year ago, when I was thinking of a cool halloween costume. I always loved the Mord'sith characters both in Terry Goodkinds "Seeker of Truth" books and in the TV show "Legend of the Seeker." Of course I HAD to be different then the normal red and decided to try the white. I had never touched leather before I gave this a go, but now I am firmly bitten by the leather bug! This costume represents over 120 hours of research, design, tooling and color with many MANY bumps along the the way! All the buckles and findings are the same that were used in the production of "Legend of the Seeker." It definitely was a labor of love and I can not WAIT to debut it this year for Halloween and other Conventions down the road. Please let me know what ya'll think!