Chief Filipino

I have experimented with making conchos out of quarters. I used "Alpha fry" non electrical repair solder and flux kit. I domed the quarters, brushed flux on it, cut off a tiny bit of the solder into the quarter, torched it, let it melt, then stuck the chicago screw in. It seems fairly sturdy though I haven't had a project to put it on as of yet. I may just try to tear it apart and see how much force it takes. I'm definitely not an expert though.

You could also try a stitch groove on the next project, that may eliminate the wrinkling issue. Doesn't help you on this one though

There is a reason why this question keeps popping up. Have you tried to search for something on this website? A simple keyword search brings up the thousands of threads with that word in it. Then you have to try to sift through that to figure out the answer you are looking for. I have done research for many things and after going through a lot of the threads and still not finding the answer I find it easier to ask the experts. If you have any tips on how to refine the search to make it easier and more efficient since time is a precious commodity, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you! Thank you! The motorcycle masks are held on with velcro that goes around the base of the skull. The helmet straps help secure it vertically.

How deep does it go with the light spray of water? I tried that but seems like I still have to put on a ton of coats. I almost want to get a tray and just soak the piece in it.

Hi everyone. I picked up a bottle of Eco-Flo 32oz coal black leather dye. It is a water based dye. I normally go for oil dye but it is expensive. I am trying to give this a shot but I am frustrated with it. It seems like to get any decent coverage I need to put a bajillion coats on and even then it doesn't penetrate very far into the skin. Has anyone used this before? Does anyone have an tips to get better penetration/coverage? Thanks for the help! Teo

Thank you all! I appreciate the support. Alpha 2 I will look into the decorative cuts. My tooling game is still weak.

Here's my first purse I've ever made. I used a kit from Tandy that I picked up at a local used book store. I replaced a few of the parts with better hardware than was included. Thanks for checking it out! Oh and if anyone has any pointers on my tooling I would greatly appreciate it!

It's been awhile since I've posted anything. I've been fairly busy though! There's always room to grow so I am eternally grateful for everyone's input! I've been creating a lot of masks lately. Here's just a few.

Magaling Kapatid! The pieces look good. Keep at it!

Nicely done! Congrats! I hope you have many more sales in the near future!

Nice work! I think that I do see what you are talking about. Thank you for the input and picture!

That sounds cool! Do you happen to have any photos? Thank you!

Thank you biker and kiwi! I still have a lot of room to improve and so many different projects I want to start but haven't gotten there yet. I greatly appreciate everyone on here!!

Hello All! Thank you all so much for taking the time out to be active on this forum. Without your input, views, comments, feedback, advice, and most of all patience, I would not be where I am at now without you. THANK YOU! With that being said I've finally updated my gallery to show my progress from when I started in November 2016. ... or was it 2015... any who. Thank you all so very much. I'm from Tucson, AZ and I am really into making masks at the moment. I make plenty of other things to continue honing my skills, but overall masks are my favorite. Feel free to check them out! ....ummmmmm... I just realized I don't know how to attach the link for my album..... hopefully you can get there from my profile!

Yay! that was the look I was going for was that moss had grown over it. To color it I used a pear shader to add some texture in certain areas in addition to the tooling of the teeth etc. Then I used the water based Eci-Flo "Forest Green" I got from the local Tandy, mixed it with distilled water... at a like 3:1 ratio (water to dye). I then hand scooped the mixture onto the mask randomly, trying to spread it out in some areas and letting it soak in some other areas. I would randomly wipe off the excess at random intervals and then just repeated that a few times until I was happy with the result. I also added some aging solution to the copper rivets to give them that aged look as well. Bikermutt was suggesting adding some brown into it to add an aged look but I'm honestly afraid to touch it and screw it up.

Thank you! I am working on improving almost daily. I haven't posted much up here lately so it definitely makes it seem like a massive jump in skill level hahahaha. I need to add some more pictures to my gallery. If it wasn't for everyone like you on here giving the amazing tips, feed back, advice, etc I wouldn't be where I am at now.

Thank you for the input! I am/was hoping the spots of the veg-tan color would come through and be enough. I guess I wanted it to look more moss covered than old... I will give the brown some consideration though sometimes I don't like the way something looks and I mess with it only to ruin the whole thing! sometimes knowing when to stop is a weakness of mine.

Here's the finished product! I greatly appreciate everyone's input! I haven't really done the textured leather before but I really like the way it comes out and plan on playing with it in the future! Thank you! Well almost finished. I am impatiently waiting for some copper aging solution to arrive so I can age the copper rivets to complete the look.

Thank you Tob and Boriqua! I will play around with some scrap first and see what I can come up with. Great ideas!

HI everybody! I am working on a mask and I will be attaching a horn core to it. This core has been out in the elements for awhile and so it has some green tint to it. I want to try to give the mask a similar weathered/aged look to it. I want it to look like the mask itself has been sitting out in the elements along with the horn core. I want to give it a "spalted/mottled" look. I don't want the dye to be dark but just give it a tinting. Does anyone have suggestions about how to achieve this? I don't have an airbrush. The dye I have is a Tandy Leather Eco-Flo water based Forest Green. My thoughts: 1. Put some neatsfoot oil spots then dye the piece 2. Put dye in a spot and almost immediately wipe it off Let me know what you think or if you have done it please let me know how you achieved it and include a picture please. Oh I also have some kelly green Cova Color also from Tandy, which is an acrylic paint.... I'm not sure if that would give me the mottled look I want though...

I am soooooooooooooooooooooo jealous!

Awesome! Thanks for the input!

Thanks Tom! Hello Wantedleatherworks! Thank you for the info. I am not sure what a double burner is so I want to clear up my confusion. Is that where you have a pot of water heating, then insert a jar/bottle with the wax and oil inside of it? If so do you store it in the fridge then? What is the best way to apply it: heated/liquidy or solid-ish like saddle soap?

Awesome thank you all for the input! I greatly appreciate it!