Roger

here is the seat with a couple days of sun on it. starting to darken up nicely!

here are a couple shots of the bike dave. these are not mine but wanted to post them here for you.

i have been using lexol on my seats. once after drying from tooling then after installing the cover and one more time after dying. just light coats. it does help to soften it up and make it easier to work with for sure!

thanks dave! i cover quite a few larger seats but, most of what you see are what the customer wants. i have found that most of the comfort comes from the shape of the seat and how well it supports you. you may find it to have more or less comfort with a thicker cover but once you break it in a bit it will feel better. your seat looks similar to the ones used on big dogs. i am covering one right now along with a p-pad and back rest. i'll post some pics in a few days. they do require quite a bit of effort to get the cover to lay right without puckers and wrinkles

i ordered 3/16" rivets to use on those pans. also got them in black. i'll send you some if you want to check them out david

very cool david! i really lke the design. i am at the smokeout and took a couple pics of "the bike" i'll have to post them when i get a chance

whenever i install an insert, i cover the whole seat in 1/4" foam and glue the cover to that. if the cover is thin, i would do as you are thinking and glue it to something a bit thicker but it should be glued down or you will continue to have the same problem

i use a 23oz poly head maul for everything. it was made by a member of another group. my next purchase will be a barry king maul

welcome art! there are a few familiar names here. i love those roses! i gotta try that one of these days

very cool! nice color

tandy has lots or free patterns on thier website. i usually look at a few designs and draw up my own pattern. i don't know if you saw the seat i just finished for my self.

very cool john! yes, chris let me go to it on that seat. i got some new tools not long after doing that seat for him that have improved my tooling. chris builds some good looking bikes. i ha ve known him from the forums for a few years and met him at the smokeout last year

thanks dan! there are many people here willing to share their knowledge. i am working on a seat, p-pad and backrest right now. i am hoping to finish some of it up before heading to the smokeout the middle of next week

good looking stuff! you have been quite busy!

looks good to me. clean and simple

very nice dave! if they want it black and i make the smokeout, i will make sure to give them a hard time

thanks for the lesson ken. i should have done some playing when i did my seat

the jiffy rivets are strong enough for what i am doing. you are dealing with a bit more thickness and they will be load bearing. tubular, solid or pop rivets may be the way to go. thanks dave!! thanks ken!! i would have liked to do a bit more tooling on that bag but was happy with it

any time ken! i didn't rivet mine as it is glued top and bottom.

interesting david... i make my hole a bit smaller than the jumbo needle and let the tapered head of the needle open the hole. it is wider than the 1/4" lace i am working with i had another thought what about making a 1/4" thonging chisel? then the leather would be tight with the lace and be easier to pull. also, what about trying a filligree punch? i have a diamond shaped punch that is .28" x .15" thanks for the compliment dave! i only wish i could demand $1800.00 minimum for a seat and have a 1 1/2 year waiting list... paul is a good dode and does great work but, i could never justify that kind of cash for a seat. i would love to have the tools that kind of green would buy

very nice! you should get plenty of business with that seat

thanks ed! i use solid brass double cap jiffy rivets. i wish i could have the parts pre cut for me. i don't charge near enough for the time i spend

welcome to leatherworker! lots of good people here

you have to have the end of the lace trimmed properly. the needle should screw on tight and not pull out. what size needle are you using? i have a jumbo permaloc that i use for 1/4" lace. the seat is coming along great! i had hoped to set it in person but, don't think i'm going to have the funds to make the trip this year. i have been to the last four smokeouts

the brown one got finished up mid week and the black one will be done tomorrow. i still need to burnish the edges on the black bag and give it a couple coats of pecards. i should really charge more for them as they generally take me about 8 hours