chancey77

Dropped off the seat today and did a very ruff mount. The Custom rear fender and tank is just wicked! A new home for the ol' Shovel:) He was waiting on the seat so he could go ahead and see how the tank and fenders could be mounted.....That is what I am talking about! People really don't think about how IMPORTANT the seat is....that is where you actually ride and if the other stuff isn't built around that first you could be very uncomfortable, not to mention gaps looking weird if everything to go together before the lock down...but NO most bike builders wait till the last day at the last hour before they decide to even thing about the seat....STUPID! Then expect ya to crank out something original in 2 hrs that really takes 40, when will they learn! Apparently this guy listened to my warnings and thank God he listened! Now this week after everything is welded into place, off to paint and back on the road for this old shovel:) Makes me very happy to see such a happy guy today! On to the next one!

The clear is a brand called Grison from Paris.(the only type of clear leather pray I can actually get in Finland) Designed for shoe and bag makers. Since the gold is in the cut marks textile paint is perfect. Ya same stuff at the craft shops. Marabu Textile metallic series. There is one other Leather Spray that also works called Magic Color. But I only use it on the cut lines and tooling.

Aaron is right! Poly hammer! Cheap and won't destroy the tops of your stamp handles like brass will!

I'll dig in the boxes 2morrow and try to find the test pieces.

Righteous!

Another one for the books; it is so hard to hold back and maintain something extremely simple! Veg Tan dyed Black and Gold metal flake textile paint, with neats foot, clear matt gloss leather gloss and leather balsam. Wet molded top and bottom to fit the extreme rake in the top and back of the pan. There is a lot of Custom Brass on the bike and it is black so he wanted something that would really have to be looked at to see, not something that would jump off the bike at ya from 30 feet. I think I managed to hold back quite well. Even for me:) Frankly I surprised my self for my self control:) I did originally want it more tan and black with some red, a lot more like the original, but I am glad for the 2 color simplicity. I think it turned out pretty darn classy. For some reason in this photo the girls left eye didn't photograph well, seems black, but it is just like the other one...weird. Oh well, back on the door panels for the 51 ford this week:)

I did end up trying what I thought would be very similar. Antique wood wax about 2-6 tbl spoons 1-3 tblsp Neatsfoot oil Basic 50/50 mix or you could try 75 wax/25 oil, it might work as well. And enough black dye to make it all black/brown/red/blue/green...whatever color you want. Heated on the stove in an old metal pot for 3 bucks from the junk store. And I have to say it was pretty spot on!!!!!!!! I have also tried just shoe polish before, it did work but it gets hard and crumbles. The mix with the neatsfoot oil seemed to work the best. I still have not tried the Dr. Chase recipe yet, but one day I will. Until then I will stick with the antique wood wax recipe I listed above. Since they won't ship Feibings to Finland!!!!!!! I don't use anything like that very often so small batches is fine by me:)

Well... I learn that lesson still. Normal Bench rate is between 30-45 per hour and materials. Some people charge more, some charge less, but that is what I am comfortable with. I would guess that each custom halter would be between 90-100. Just because they order more at one time does not mean they get a discount, that only means more work, and wear and tear. I think I am pretty reasonable, and fair on folks. They want custom stuff and I give it to them; at a price I would pay if I where them. The general rule for carpenters is time and materials +30 percent on top of those numbers combined for oversights. Being a carpenter I like to take the same approach to leather. Maybe some other folks will chime in, but I think most people don't like to talk about what they charge, but it is something that should be talked about a lot more. I see people making custom guitar straps for 75 bucks when they should be charging 150+ so I guess it just boils down to what do you feel is a fair price for what you have done, and don't be afraid to show some pride in your prices! I give away a lot of small stuff like bracelets and little stuff like that all the time because I make those and wear them until someone says "Hey that is cool I like that"...then I just say oh ya , well here it is yours:) Normally almost every single time they come back for more real stuff. I call it leather chum...hahahaha LOL. Anyway, maybe this helped maybe it didn't, but I thought I would just throw down the hammer and try to make a dent for ya:) I would call them and tell them, hey after configuring out all the costs this is the price...but I am willing to split the difference. So 47 should be a fair enough upgrade for ya and still fair to them...and lesson learned. You used the best of the best materials; so it is what it is...the best! So now it is time for them to pay for the best! Whats a few bucks between friends anyway??? I am sure it won't be a big deal. Another lesson is not to give a final cost up front only a ball park estimate and tell people it could be more, but you really don't know until it is done and during the time you are working on custom items keep in contact with the client to let them know how it is going and send pictures that way they feel like you are doing everything in your power to stick with the plan, but they are a lot more understanding when and if you have to tell them the price is double what you originally thought. IT DOES HAPPEN! Anyway, best of luck!...to all of us:)

OK SO HERE IS THIS MONTHS CHALLENGE; Dragons!!!!! Rules; 5 Tools NO LIMITS FOR STYLE OF DRAGON! CELTIC,AISIAN,EUROPEAN, TRIBLE,TATTOO. SEWN, EMBOSSED, 3-D,CHISELED WITH A NAIL FILE... WHATEVER YOU HEART DESIRES...BUT YOU MUST ONLY USE UP TO 5 TOOLS! NOT CONSIDERED TOOLS: COMPUTER HAMMER DIVIDERS STRAIGHT EDGES STYLUS / PENCIL PAPERS / PLASTIC SHEETS

Ok So here is My Votes and Favorites for this month! Best Picture and Creativity PL01 and WScott Paul did an amazing multi piece layered Tiki Wall Hanger and Great Original Artwork and knocked it out the first week! Also WSCOTT did an amazing colored piece with Original Artwork! My top 2 favorites. Best Made useful Pieces WINTERBEAR AND DOMINO Both did a GREAT JOB making something very Useful and Creative...something someone will get to use for many years to come! Winterbear used an old Tandy wallet that is pretty standard but added some GREAT ARTWORK, but Domino made a VERY ORIGINAL SHAPED COIN POUCH!!! CUDUS FOR THAT! The only reason I didn't place Ms.V is well....you didn't stay in the tools that where allotted for the challenge:) BUT YOUR JAPANESE TIKI IS VERY COOL! I just want to thank everyone for trying this months challenge and when I finish my tiki baby diaper bag I will post it:) As for next month, I haven't had time to think about it yet, but in the next 5 days I will have another super fun project for everyone to try out:) THANKS TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sylvia PL01 WSCOTT Miss V Domino Cyberthrasher MAY CHALLENGE COMING IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope to see you all involved!

1 MORE DAY LEFT

Hablo suficiente español para conseguirse en y fuera de problemas!. HAHA que crecí en Florida, y usted necesita algún español a veces! Even this may be a little off...but at least I still try:) CHEERS!

over 414 downloads of this...wow I am surprised at the vultures! To the folks that appreciate it and have left comments YALL ARE SOOOO VERY WELCOME!...I know who my friends are:) I think we can all fill in the blanks as to where the rest can go!

Seems like the leather from me too:) Bad leather or chrome will do this every time! I see a lot of posts from people with the same problem, I see this a lot in the holster section. I would guess 100% not the right leather is the issue. IT MUST ALWAYS BE VEG TAN! Anything else will do exactly what has happened to you.