TomBanwell

Studacious!

Here is a Celtic inspired cap with cut-outs. I started with the trefoil knot design, and made four identical panels to make the cap. The two different sized faux ivory buttons also reflect the trefoil design, and were cast in resin. Hand-stitched veggie tanned pigskin, painted with aniline dyes, cased and vacuum formed over a plaster hat form.

I like solving puzzles, but that motif has go me stumped!

I look forward to seeing some photos of your work. Welcome!

Gorgeous work! What a talent. Looking forward to seeing more of his work. Does he ever teach in California?

Beautiful!

A very nce stubby! Love the braiding on the bottom.

OK, thanks. Now what the heck is a pinker?

I found this tool at a yard sale several years ago, and have always assumed it was a leather embosser. It works well for that purpose. It appears to be at least 100 years old, and came with a single embossing wheel which is a large zig zag. Is anyone familiar with this tool? The manufacturer's name can only partially be deciphered and appears to be something like "Schul Sund." I'd love to be able to get other embossing wheels for it. Thanks for any info.

I cast resin in my business so I am very familiar with it and I'm happy to answer any questions and offer advice. The resin (cold cast or other) requires a rubber mold to pour into, so it is most appropriate when you need multiples of something. I haven't used the precious metal clay, but I've read about it, and it works best when you want just one of something. It is similar in that regard to polymer clay like Super Sculpey. Here is a tutorial on making a set of resin berserker head buttons as shown on the Rus Viking helmet pictured. This one without the controversial horns! http://www.tombanwell.com/howtoivorybuttons.html More information on this particular helmet here http://www.tombanwell.com/rusviking.html

While it is true that no Viking going into battle woud wear a helm with a protruding horn that would only serve to catch a sword blow, there is some evidence of ceremonial Viking helms having horns. Plus it's a lot funner.

Hi Peter, Cold cast bronze is bronze powder cast into a mold using resin as the binder. As opposed to "hot cast bronze", where the bronze is melted and cast, cold cast is cheaper to do because it uses less bronze and doesn't require the high temperatures. It can still be polished though.

The pattern pieces were cut from 5-6 oz vegetable tanned cowhide, cased and handstitched together while damp. The crown parts were laser burned with the basketweave pattern. I also sculpted, molded and cast the horns, buttons and medallion in cold cast bronze. Behind the front medallion is a piece of fox fur. Around the base of the horns is garment cow in a four-part edge braid. More photos and info here Anyone else into this sort of thing? The kid in me loves it! Thanks for looking.

Very nice. I love it!

Thank you all for your kind words. Tom, I'm sure you know that the tales of the Vikings stirs the imaginations of small boys everywhere as much as any. I had a large poster of fighting Vikings on my bedroom wall growing up. I will keep on looking through all the posts, and I definitely look forward to further interaction with the board.

Thanks, rdb. I'm always happy to share. Here are a few "how I did its" on my website. http://www.tombanwell.com/rusviking.html On making a Rus Viking helm http://www.tombanwell.com/how_to_dragoon_helmet.html On making an American Dragoon helmet http://www.tombanwell.com/makingadragoonhelmet.html On making a British Dragoon helmet I'm sure I'll be posting more later.

I have been doing leatherwork off and on since 1971. At that time I got a job at a retail leather shop in Lake Tahoe where I lived. I was taught how to sew sheepskin leather coats, work with latigo, and make key fobs and such. I fell in love with the material. I branched out on my own after a year and made custom sandals. I have always loved hats and helmets since I was a kid, and just for fun I started making Viking helmets and reproductions of 19th century military helmets, specifically a dragoon helmet and a shako. By 1976 my wife and I were living in the SF Bay area, and both of us worked at a leather store in Oakland. One day the boss brought out some Western style leather hats that he had bought for resale. I was appalled at the poor workmanship, and knew I could do better. I made a couple very similar style hats, but better designed and better workmanship. My boss was impressed and agreed to buy them from me. I decided I wanted to go into business for myself making the leather hats, and so visited the San Francisco Gift Show, looking for a rep. I knew I could make them OK, I just needed a market. I met a rep who upon showing my sample hat to some retailers immediately got an order, and agreed to take them on. My wife and I were anxious to get out of the city, and so moved into the Sierra Nevada foothills, and starting up our business. Eventually we were selling nationwide with ten different reps. We named the business Igors, later changed to Cornerstone Hatworks, and ran it until 1980 when we sold it. Since then I haven't done any leatherworking for a living, but strictly for fun. I have a website with much of my artwork (I work in other mediums as well) at www.tombanwell.com. The leather helmets can be found at http://www.tombanwell.com/leatherhelmets.html I look forward to meeting everyone and learning and sharing leatherwork. Tom Banwell

Gorgeous work! Tom