David

Thanks for all the supportive comments guys....this has been a long project for me. All the tie downs are gone now and the edge lacing is completed. All that remains is to stain, antique and final finish this project....I promised I'd post this before staining and finishing so, here it is. Thanks again, Dave

To stop crocking, I use NeatLac. I rub in one or two coats depending on how shiny I want it. Dave Theobald

If you are going to all the trouble of building your own saddle bags, go the extra step and buy the leather natural, then you can dye it yourself and can even tool the bags if you want. I know they SAY you can tool the black motorcycle leather; but don't try! It takes and impression but looks like crap....jmho of course. Dave Theobald

Ok, here's the scoop, as I see it. The side(s) of this seat can't be cut from a straight strip. It is sort of like trying to cover a baseball with straight strips.....it won't work. With your seat back cut the way you want it and your seat top the shape that you want......attach the back and temporarily glue the front to the foam. Now with the back and front attached to the seat.....create your side pattern using tape to find out the exact shape of that side piece. Use several layers of tape to prevent it from stretching when you remove it.....Hope that explains how I would approach this. The alternative of course is to do a Bezza style seat. Good luck, Dave

Thanks for the comments guys. Glad no one had their nose out of joint because I ingnored the poll.. I just love to lace.... Got some good news today, the seats that went missing at the convention, turned up in Arizona....the boys from SPS just packed them up and took them home with their bikes. I should get them back this week. I'll post this thing before I stain and finish it. Dave

Hey guys, Well I secumbed to the temtation of lace on the front....but I did keep it to a minimum. It is now tied on to the seat pan and ready for some serious kangaroo lacing. I've shown various shots with and without flash. More later. Dave

Well, that was a pretty definitive poll. Guess she goes to the show without the lacing....thanks to all, I'll post more pics as I go. About those free seats.....right.....and the free bikes......uh huh.....as for the Indian and such......contact shirleyz.....she is our local Indian expert. Saw one of hers last weekend and the pics do not do it justice. It was on this amazing "barn find" chief that would have made you drool Jordan. Complete with leaf type springer front end....a real classic. Dave

Question for everyone who cares to express an opinion Should I put an extra edge of lacing around the front and back of the seat like this? I'm interested to hear what everyone thinks. Thanks for taking time to respond Dave Theobald

Thanks Steve, I appreciate the comments. It took me a while to come up with the artwork for the back....I finally drew a modification of the koi on the front.... So here it is. I think it looks ok; I just hope I can tool it that small. Dave Theobald

Don, I know nothing about saddles and even less about horses. But that leather work is beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing your accomplishment with us. It is terrific job. I'm envious. Dave Theobald

SteveWhen you build a seat with this dry lacing technique, there is about zero tolerance for shrinkage. And this leather will shrink, It is the way most seat builders work. As a matter of fact now that I look back....I don't dye anything before assembling. I know is seems strange especially if you build cars or motorcycles....but that's the way it goes.DaveWhen you build a seat with this dry lacing technique, there is about zero tolerance for shrinkage. And this leather will shrink, It is the way most seat builders work. As a matter of fact now that I look back....I don't dye anything before assembling. I know is seems strange especially if you build cars or motorcycles....but that's the way it goes. Not sure about the gel thing....they are a pretty pricey option on a seat that is already over $400. I don't think it would work too well you would still have to back the suede with something it is too thin to stand on its own, it needs to be adhered to something.Dave

Here is the finished product on the Black/Black seat for Donny Loos. It should make for a pretty classy looking ride. Dave Theobald

Hey Freak, I'll share a secret with you....this was MY large piece that was sitting in the halfway stage for MONTHS! My sketches were large they started out as two pieces each 14" X 17"; one was a dragon and the other was a koi. I looked at them every day (it seemed like forever) before it hit me to combine the two. Then the question was, will I be able to tool it when it is reduced small enough to fit a bike seat? I'm still considering adding additional decorative lacing, like the narrow black lacing near the edge on the "Donny at Sucker Punch seat". (The one with the suede applique.) This decorative lace will cover the design in a few places, that is why I still considering. There is no bike for this seat YET! It was strictly something that I did for me, on a seat pan that I owned. Thanks for taking a look at it. Dave Theobald

Many thanks Spider, your comments are appreciated. Dave

Beautiful Kevin, You have found your "leather" calling for sure. Dave

Hi Kathy, The short answer is YES. Especially when you turn them over to a biker who has NO clue about leather care. They look well used in pretty short order. Every time I see one of my seats at a show, I think man, a little saddle soap and oil would go a long way. Dave

Hey Kevin, I have about 3 days in the tooling. There are LOTS of tiny cuts that needed beveling. Dave

Hey Kate, I'm sort of up in the air about color so far. Not too sure. Dave

Ok Wolfie I see where you are getting confused....There are three pieces to this seat.....The suede applique, the seat top and the seat back. The suede is an applique....it is glued to a recessed area (beaten down with a beveler and matting tool) on the seat top B. Lacing A just holds the suede to the seat top B. Lacing C is also on the seat top B. It is just decoration. Lacing D fastens the seat top B to the seat back which you can't see in this picture. Here is a seat back with the same kind of decorative lacing C. Sorry I didn't take pics of this. It is done the same way on all my seats with decorative lacing. Hope this helps. Dave

Hey Wolf, The inner lacing is a flat lacing pattern to hold down the exposed edge of the suede split. It is narrow black 1/8" lace from Tandy. The next one also black is 1/8" lacing from Tandy in a single loop pattern is purely decorative. The natural color lace is 1/4" kangaroo from Jim Downey...this is a structural lacing pattern in Mexican Basketweave or Round Braid. It actually holds the seat together. Hope that helps. Dave Theobald

Here is the most complicated seat design I've done thus far. Comments welcome. Dave Theobald

This "in progress" seat will be a different. There is no tooling on the front. The black suede split will be surrounded by black leather....All black veggie leather will be Neat Lac'ed to make it glossy and contrast with the suede insert. Should be pretty classy looking. Dave Theobald

Roger, Do you have a pic of the back of this seat? How do you attach those.....hanging down flaps (I'm sure they have a name) at the rear? I've seen it before and I'm just curious. Thanks, Dave