TroyS

If you REALLY want her to be Vargus like, there is only one option... Al Stohlman's Figure Carving and Figure Carving Finesse books are GREAT books!

I've been able to make the lace cutter perform in the manner in which it was intended, but in my opinion, that is the biggest piece of that Tandy sells...

You're 100% right! Tandy lace is garbage! If you're going to be doing High End Seats, I'd recommend using High End Lace. I use ONLY Kangaroo lace when doing the High End Seats...

Very Nice! Clean & Subtle! I'm also doing something very similar for a 1966 Honda Dream...

Very Nice! I'm working on something very similar!

That's nice! I really like the color and your edges are burnished very nicely! I bet she's proud!

Agreed.... However, they can be dip dyed, dried, THEN molded! Be sure to wear your gloves!

You did a FINE job! You nailed it!

MEGA-SCORE! Dozens of VINTAGE tools dating back to the 50's through the late 70's... stamps were $1.50 on average according to the catalog from 1970's that was in one of the toolboxes. Not too long ago I ran into a longtime friend I grew up with. Over the years we fell out of contact. Well, we were talking about things and we touched on careers and I told him about my business and how I got into it and he told me his grandfather was into leatherwork and had left him a bunch of old tools. He said he never used them and wondered if I'd check them out for him and let him know if they were any good or what their value may be... He showed up a few days later with these in hand! After I picked my jaw up off the floor and wiped up the drool, I told him (in my opinion) he had a pretty impressive collection of tools and they should fetch a pretty penny if he decided to part with them. He thanked me, gathered the tools and left. We spoke a few weeks later and asked if he had any luck in selling his tools. He said he decided to keep them for sentimental reasons. Then he showed up at the house with the boxes and says, "I don't have room to store these... can you hold on to them for me? You can use them if you want. If I ever need them, I know where they're at..." SO! I know the pics stink but the tools are incredible!

Look familiar?? (feeBay Deal! $15 delivered)

It looks like it might work, however, the handle pulls the wrong way for my preferences.

Still have these??

outstanding!!

FINE JOB!! That's a VERY nice seat! Clean, subtle, very sweet lacing!

That's a very nice tool bag! The idea is great! I just wonder if the ends are gonna want to sag after a while due to the weight of the piston heads... I guess only time will tell!

I would use 5/6 oz for the seat since there is no tooling involved. And you should be fine wet forming that leather. If you wanted to meet in the middle, you could cut a piece of 3/4" plywood in the shape of your foam, then mold the leather to the plywood. once it dries, you won't have to fight it as bad during final assembly... Hope it helps...

Jim Downey is out of the game... He sold his business to a woman named Barb Sorenson in Kalispell, MT You can visit her website at here... Great prices, LOTS of color options Hope this helps!

Every tank bib I've ever seen is held in place by the bikes own hardware and maybe a zip-tie or two. Most are designed so that the top section is pinched in place by the tank console and the bottom is either attached with the lower gas tank bolt or a couple of zip-ties through holes or grommets. Most of the time, by pinching the top of the bib under the tank console and tightening it in place, you can tug the bottom into place and it will draw down the edges of the bib and you shouldn't need adhesives on the edges. Hope this helps...

I agree with David. I'm not crazy about the hair dryer, but when a MASTER speaks, it's best to listen... I would wet the leather until it was workable, then lay it out on an old couch cushion or other piece of foam rubber, lay a brick on the pan and let it dry overnight without touching it. The brick is heavy enough to press the leather into the foam rubber cushion, pushing the buckled leather into place, then dries there... I wouldn't be too concerned with it, you've got a pretty easy fix, then you're back in business! Can't wait to see it!!

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there! Chain, if I ever meet you, I'm buyin' your first hangover!

Dayum! That's HOT!!

Firstly, let me say THANK YOU for the nice comments! They really motivate me! Secondly, I finally was able to get some awesome pictures of the bike! Whatcha think?? Thirdly, the bike is being featured as the centerfold of Cochise Chops Magazine next month! For everyone that can get the magazine, pick one up, it's a great read! For those that can't get a copy, Here's the Centerfold AD. And last, but NOT LEAST, here's a picture of the Seat I started during BikeWeek this year. I know. I know... you're saying "Will you finish the thing already?" But, in my defense, I've been so busy that I'm lucky to have gotten as far as I have! I am almost finished though. The bottom is going to be all Croc Belly and laced with Black Kangaroo lace. Here's where it is so far...

Outstanding! That bike is beautiful, but hat seat is INCREDIBLE! I really hope I can be as good as you are one day Dave!

That's SWEEEEEET!

I really like the colors! the stripes on the tiger are perfect... Can't wait to see this one!