NoahL

Mine was on the opposite end of the spectrum from both of yours. I had "extra fine" steel wool and some steel nails soaking in vinegaroon out in the Arizona heat for nearly three weeks before I had a usable solution! Finicky stuff, but the results are fantastic! ~Noah

Thanks Ritch! This one I didn't lay down a coat of brown first because I wanted a more dramatic difference between the pitting and the worn surface, and it worked out exactly as planned

Thanks Tom! I actually have made a dee-ring belt in a similar style to this--I just made the distressed look a little more subtle. One of these days, though, I will probably make a regular belt in this style, as soon as I've gotten the process of distressing/aging brass down to a science . ~Noah

Not much to say about it, I suppose. Another punk-fashion item made of 7-8oz horsehide leather that I textured, dyed, and distressed to look old and beat up (and I only barely burnished the edges--just enough to make them not look like fur ). It's pretty simple, and adjusts with a leather thong that has been given one good rubbing with EVOO to give it an old look and some flexibility, but I like it. My lovely girlfriend was the model for the last two.

I definitely agree, sir! That most assuredly does have a "Scottsdale" feel--and I can tell that even after living here for only a year

You know, if you stitch some white fur/faux-fur trim on there (to imitate drow hair, of course!) then you won't have to fight anyone--they'll look at the drow faces on your arms and flee! They look great!

That is a very detailed write up, Bob, though a good bit of it is lost on me, as I am not a woodworker in any sense of the word. Do you have any specific proportions you used to use this milk paint as a leather treatment? How much olive oil? You explain that the borax should be added to the 2% milk until it no longer dissolves, then add more milk to dissolve the remaining crystals, but "enough oil to cover the top of the milk" seems a bit vague, since that is going to be different for differently shaped containers. The same goes for the second coat, containing the apple juice concentrate. Sorry if I am being a pain, I just really like the look you got on that leather with your milk paint treatment! Thanks! ~Noah

I use horse butt leather as well! Can you explain more about your use of milk, borax, and apple juice to treat the leather? I love that dark color you got with the leather, but I have never heard of using milk, borax, or apple juice, so I would love to hear more about it! Thanks! ~Noah P.S. Looks good to me!

They look very well made to me! I do have one critique, though... ... ...cases 3 and 4 are in the wrong spots... :D

Ahhh, I wish I knew that, myself! I had heard about how it doesn't stain fingers or clothes, and yet my fingers came away a funky color and while I was rinsing a belt off in the tub, there were all sorts of stains from splashes coming off the belt (bleach and scrubbing took care of them, though). Plus, after I had put that belt together, I put it on to make sure it fit and when I pulled it out of the loops (using my standard grab-onto-the-buckle-and-pull method) it left black stains on my nice khaki shorts! It seems to be done with the bleeding now, but it was still annoying, and I'd love it if someone has an answer!

Well, I'm not an armorer by any means, but I do know that armor is generally held on with buckles which, unless designed otherwise, do provide you with a certain level of adjustability. I have to agree with Chris ^. Find a friend that is about the same size as your husband and make sure there are some size adjustment holes in the straps to buckle the breastplate on. Good luck! ~Noah

It's simple, but not plain, and it definitely looks like a sturdy belt. I definitely like it! I would have to advise sticking a bigger buckle on it for use as a weapon, though

That is some really neat stuff! I may just have to head to a craft store and see if I can find some stuff like that--you have some cool steampunky items right there

Thanks Kevin! You know, I had thought about reinforced belts before, but I had always heard of it being done with heavy fabrics or special plastics--rawhide is simple and kind of a "duh" answer that I totally hadn't thought of--very cool!

I know, I'm not supposed to make stuff that isn't distressed! Well, I decided to make a simple, classic belt, and this is what I got out of it. This is a plain brown horsehide leather belt with brass fittings and double keeper loops. It's basic and sturdy, and I did burnish the edges (they aren't perfect, but they aren't too bad, in my opinion). I don't have any good pictures at the moment, but here it is:

Thank you, all! While I'm waiting for shears I can use to mold the little holster to go with this belt, I'm working on a nice, plain brown belt, and then a coworker of mine may want a plain black one, so we'll see how those go. I promise, I am burnishing edges on stuff that isn't distressed, and I'll prove it with pictures one of these days

I'm sure you guys are getting sick of my distressed/aged/beat-up lookin' stuff, especially when compared to the beautiful things you all make, but here it is anyway. This is a dee-ring belt for a stylist friend of ours--I'm in the process of making a matching holster for her shears/comb . Dorky, I know. Anyway, she said she wanted it to look similar to that "acid bath" cuff I made some weeks ago, so that's the kind of look I went for. 7-8oz horsehide leather, hand stamped, dyed, and distressed, and barely burnished on the edges. And for good measure, a bracelet and keyfob of the same style: Thanks for lookin'! ~Noah

Armour Archive has several: http://armourarchive.org/patterns/pauldrons_ab/ http://armourarchive.org/patterns/pauldrons_15thC_sinric/ http://armourarchive.org/patterns/sinric_o...auldron_sinric/ http://armourarchive.org/patterns/sinric_o...aulders_sinric/ http://armourarchive.org/patterns/sinric_o...ulders2_sinric/

Well that stuff is pretty darn neat! It makes me wish I could tool leather, because if I could, I can definitely see myself taking you up on that. As it is, I'm still really new at leatherwork and the only artistic ability I seem to have with it as of yet is to make it look old, worn, and beat up, and I don't think that's what you're looking for. Maybe some of the motorcycle seat guys would be interested? I really hope you find someone to work with on this, because I can't wait to see how it turns out!

That is some pretty neat material! If I could tool leather, I would be very interested in workin with you, but since I'm still pretty new at leatherwork and my only artistic ability with it thusfar seems to be my ability to make it look old, worn, and beat up, I don't think that I can provide what you are looking for. It will be pretty cool to see what comes of it, though! I'm wondering if maybe some of the motorcycle seat makers here might be interested?

I would also be interested in this piece, so I certainly hope the images can be restored

The post-apocalyptic fashion thing is definitely interesting, and I'm trying to develop some leatherwork along those lines. I would love to look at that website and see what they have on there, but I am at work for the next 3.5 hours and I have no way of knowing if that site is work safe or not. In any case, it might give me ideas for stuff

Maybe a deeper belly on the blade, or shorter "handle" portion of the "L"s, but that was the kind of thing I was thinking, and I like it--not sure about anyone else, of course

I don't know where you would get stamps for it, but you could definitely tool it--I'm worthless when it comes to tooling, but I would think you could just "write" the letters with a swivel knife and open them up with a stylus. As for a reference--that very phrase is written in the Greek alphabet if you search for "molon labe" on Wikipedia.

Wow my computer messed up. Anyway, I was just trying to suggest that rather than a "sword hilt" it could perhaps be a "round knife handle"? Please forgive my horrible MS Paint editing