Daggrim

Darrel, As we say up here in Minnesota, oof-dah. That's some beautiful and inspiring work. I sell some leatherwork at Renaissance Faires, and just devoted November to learning to make turnshoes. So, I've made 7 pair, and they're all wearable, but I don't feel so cocky after seeing your work. There are about a dozen ideas I see in your pictures that I haven't even thought of yet! Love the antler buttons, but what are those other ones...petrified potato chips? Some of that looks like buffalo hide, too. Well...hate ya, dude . Not really. I see I'm in the appropriate niche here, charging $45 for a pair of really basic shoes. More pictures! Daggrim

Ha! It's from some superfunky 50's retro streamline table ornament I found at a thrift store. It's about 2 pounds of solid brass...needed the leather lobster tail as a counterweight.

Thanks for the good comments, people. The horns are on solid! I use Bondo to set a wooden block inside, then run a wood screw thru the bottom of the horn and into the block. Then I use 2 long wood screws to fasten the horns from inside the helm, and they also penetrate into the wood. A piece of plumber's tape acts as washers. The wood blocks are just a coarse fit...no real precision needed, but I tap 'em in, and then use the bondo. Thanks for the cookies! Why no donuts? Dag

In 2004 I decided to go visit a friend who draws portraits at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. I wanted to dress up, so I decided to make something as close as I could get to a Viking helmet. Since metalworking is way beyond my experience, I got an old felt hat from a thrift store and went to work turning it into a faux leather helmet. I cut the brim off and used it to make a face guard. Then I painted everything with epoxy and superglued the parts together. I used upholstery tacks for rivets, and wood stain for the color. Funky! I was blown away when people actually thought it was leather! So...I decided to try making one out of real leather...uh, still funky. But three years later, I'm making them and selling them at Renfaires, and they're not funky anymore. I'm told. Daggrim

Okay, looks like I have got this figured out. Posting some helmet pics. Daggrim

Randy...Jeeze, I Googled Masters Glue and found nothing I could use. Does it only come in caulk tubes? Dag

Okay, I'm going to try posting a picture here. If it works, I'll add a few more in another section of the Forum. Thanks for your help, people! Leatherhelms helmet picture.

Thanks for the posts Peter and Randy. Yes, I do sew the shoes together...or rather I just glue them and bring it to a shoe repair shop for the stitching. I hope to make these in some quantity and sell them, so I can't take the time to be as accurate as the Living History people, and hnd sew. I don't have a sewing machine of my own, yet, but it's in my plans. I never asked my shoe repair guy if he could sew the sole on afterwards! Duh! I just assumed it couldn't be done. But actually, it would probably be easy if he did it before I sewed up the side of the shoe. Hmm...I'll ask him tomorrow. Thanks!!! Dag

Thanks for the replies. All those things should be in my bag of tricks, I suppose. The Aussie Leather Balm is a soft wax that contains some beeswax. I dunno how much, or what the other ingredients are. No info on the jar. I use it on all my helms, and then after about a day, give it a coat of Atom wax for sheen. If anybody has any more experience for finishing items that will be outdoors, please let me know. Daggrim

Great idea. I actually tried using a scroll saw for awhile (with a reciprocating blade). It even worked, but not well enough to continue. Some good folks on a scroll saw forum helped me as much as they could, but I was a poor fit...the redheaded stepchild. I just saw today where Northern Tool has a meat cutting band saw on sale for $189, but I think there'e just not enough throat there to do the job on my long pieces.

Hi, I've read a few items in the Forum about clickers and arbor presses, and it's helped tremendously. At the risk of asking for answers that have already been given, I'm looking for something that would cut a pattern 28" by 9" out of 12 oz skirting. That would be the frame of my leather medieval helmet. Production numbers are low, only about 50 cuts per year, so I need economy tools. Why don't I just cut it by hand? Well, I suppoe I could, but most of you know how diabolically difficult it is getting into your shop when you have a regular job, and a family. So, would the Horbor Freight 15 ton arbor press do this job? I'm thinking the size of my die would be the main problem. Daggrim

Where do I go here to find out how to post pictures? I'm not high-speed on this stuff. Daggrim

I make leather helmets and sell them at Renaissance Faires, and I'm looking for a way to waterproof them, or at least make them water resistant. I've seen some get rather spotty looking from a light drizzle. I'm not too concerned about the leather getting soft, as it's hardened in hot water. Mostly, I'm concerned about the finish getting ugly. I've tried Atom Wax, Fiebings Leather Sheen spray, Aussie Leather Balm, and Eco-Flo Satin Sheen, and have gotten inconclusive results. The Leather Sheen is an acrylic, but in my rain tests, it didn't seem to repel water. Actually the Atom Wax seemed to work better, but I don't even know what Atom Wax is made out of. I'm trying to avoid the acrylic products, if possible, because they're so waay not from the right time period. Thanks in advance for the helpfulness I see as characteristic of this Forum. Daggrim

I noticed a discussion of glues here, but it seemeed inconclusive. I'm making some medieval turnshoes...think moccasins...but I'd like to add a heavier outer sole to the 5 oz sole. I consider sewing as beyond my capability, so I hope to be able to glue it on. Barge cement seems good, but I'm looking for something even stronger. Anybody ever tried that Shoe Goo? Daggrim

Hi people. I just found this site today. It was mentioned in Armor Archives, and I scurried over here because I'm a leatherworker, not a metalworker. I make leather helmets modeled after the metal helmets of the Middle Ages. I sell at Renaissance Faires, so I make other leather things, too, but the helmets are the main attraction. I'm self taught, except for a little advice from my leather supplier. I'm not sure yet how to post pictures and links, so if you want to see what I make, please go to "leatherhelms.com". My leather experience is narrow, so I'm glad I found this site. I feel a little overwhelmed by how much is out there that I didn't know...that I didn't even know I didn't know. Daggrim