MADMAX22

Well decided to pic up that airbrush combo deal at harbor freight. Wont have much time to play with it but did a couple of quick test pieces to see how it would turn out. One thing I noticed is that it doesnt seem to penetrate like using a dauber or other method. So the question is now you guys that airbrush your work do you dauber (or brush or whatever) first and finish up with the airbrush. Or do you just do several coats until it finally soaks in a bit more. I do like the nice even color that you get out of it. I am just worried about scratches and such showing the light leather. When you dip or daub a scratch has to be pretty darn deep to show the natural leather color.

Grabbing a airbrush set will be your best bet. Other then that I think I have scene some printed leather but it is upholstery or chap style leather.

Well it turned out great Tim. I can see why she would want one. Thats why you gotta be careful showing off your work, without fail your friends will pic the hardest thing to make.

Nicely done Butch. I love that book, there are so many things you can do with what they teach in it including variations like what you did.

Turned out very cool. Love the colors on this one. Has a nice older sinister look to it that goes very well with the carving.

I think you achieved your goal very well. Nice pro looking and they look very well made. Great stitching as well.

Thats a bummer, hope the guy wasn't to pissed off. The refinished one looks really good though. Wanted to add that is how I learned to apply my neatlac when I use it. 2 or 3 thin coats rubbed in they dont peel or crack. Takes a little longer but works better.

Agree its looking great so far. Sounds like a interesting ol lady as well.

It will darken vegtan leather. If your leaving it natural it gives it a real nice darker color.

Someone posted this a while back. Not sure if this is what your looking for. http://home.windstream.net/henryh/Make_Handmade_Leather_Belt.html

Agree with Luke, also it doesnt hurt to look around the holster section, I think several people have posted there should rigs. Another good idea is online, check out the suppliers of such things and see how the mass marketers make theirs if even for ideas.

Good start, the human figure and face seem to be the hardest art wise to master. You are on to something, go big as you can so your not fighting the detailed small work and the figure itself.

Great job Dave, looks like it came straight out of that time period. On the inside of the sheath is it form fitted to the knife or does it have alot of room to move around in?

Yeah it could be, or by hand. Either way it was definitely burnished a little.

My first thought would be a rein rounder, you pull the leather thru to round it out however I am not thinking that is how this was done. I think this is just pretty thick leather, guessing maybe 12oz or so, edge bevel both the flesh and grain side, then form your edges. You can see in the natural finish one where the person ran the edger on both sides. If it is thick enough leather this will give the desired effect. Then its just a matter of your edging practice. The edges in the above picture were not totally finished to give the slightly rough look.

I think its called RIT dye or something similar. Can be found at craft stores and is suppose to work pretty good for dying fabric of various sorts and will work on leather for some decent results. I think it is pretty stead fast. Worth a shot to play with.

That turned out awesome. One of a kind bags for a pretty rare motorcycle. Looks great on the bike.

I think Bob Parks has a great how to down in the holster making section on burnishing edges. Its kind of a trial and error and personal preference thing. I dont have any power tools yet to do the edges so I do them by hand. Some people dye them after burnishing but I usually dye the edge first, get the edge damp or slightly wet, work in some saddle soap then start burnishing with a cocobolo edge burnisher I made. Once it is nice looking and properly formed I come back with a bees/parafin wax mix and rub that in with some canvas. They turn out pretty good for doing it by hand. I dont know if the direction matters just I tend to once I get a direction going keep to it but not sure if it is really necessary. Here ya go http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=16609

Turned out real nice cowboy. This is that design you came up with a little while back right? I gotta try that two tone lacing, it does add to the overall look of the project.

I know what ya mean Colter, money well spent in my book. I wanted to add that yes the stand does hold the mauls at an angle. I also wanted to add a couple of Ed's pics as his are better then mine, he just didnt have the mauls and stands together at the same time to take pics of the whole setup together.

Thats way cool Ed. I could see those being great gifts for any leatherworker.

I have not started airbrushing my work yet but on my projects have had the best results with the pro oil dyes or the angelus dyes. I think you would do good by experimenting a little with the different ones, just buy a couple of small containers of each and try them out. I get mine from springfeild.

Gotta show this set off as I think Ed deserves it for making something this nice. A little while back I decided I wanted to try that brown head mauls that Ed started making. They work wonderfully, the best maul or mallet I have tried and more then likely the last one I will need. Well at the time I did not get a stand to go with them but they looked to good to be sitting on a bench without a proper home so I had Ed make up a stand for them. All this design and everything is Eds artistic talent at play. The only thing I said I wanted was cocobolo wood and the weights for the mauls (14oz and 20oz). The rest was Eds imagination. Anyways here they are enjoy.

Thanks Tom. I am really liking the inverted carvings, looks good and makes some things a little easier.