Introduction

[TomSwede]

Hello Leatherworkers!

I'm a 35 year old young man from Sweden. Being a part of the Swedish heavy/death metal scene just grew me tired of those spiked armbracers so I decided to make a few for myself with tooled patterns instead. Altough a very crude apperance on my first ones people around me was amazed and wanted to buy. So it began in the late 90's. I have so far made about 40-50 armbracers that was custom made and sold. A couple of book covers been done too.

Now I've had a long break from it and are slowly returning. Looking back at the stuff I've done I realize I could have done better actually but as the train was rolling it just kept on back then.

Now I have a hunger to learn more advanced techniques like the art of dyeing, lacing, stitching but also perfecting the art of the swivelknife- get those long curved lines really nice and smooth aswell as the tiny narrow ones.

I'm really glad to find this site and hope to pickup lots of new information and learnful resources and hopefully contribute with something back aswell.

Actually I have already found wonderful help here. Yesterday I tried to dye (yet another armbracer) with black spirit dye and the leather just wouldn't take it. Looked like a streaky old mess there. Scavenged this forum and found others peoples problems with this and what they done to help the problem and, phew, now I have dared to slightly oil the surface and gotten some nice rich black dye down there.

Thanks a whole bunch for that Leatherworkers.

Posting a few old pics that represent my work in the bracer department also.

[Beaverslayer]

Welcome to the forum Tom, glad to hear that you've already been able to get some help.

Nice looking bracers there also, thanks for sharing.

Ken

[oldtimer]

Hej du TomSwede!

Jag registrerade mej igår och säger välkommen, här finns tydligen mycket att hämta.

var bor du?

mvh/ knut

[TomSwede]

Thank you Beaverslayer! I have seen your website before finding this site so I've seen your work. Must have been some good stuff there since I remember the visit;-)

Have a couple of Indian saddle frames incoming so I think I ran across it searching for inspiration for that.

[TomSwede]

Tjenna Oldtimer! Gävle är min hemvist!

Kanonställe detta, känner att det kommer att leda till helt nya erfarenheter!

Kul att det finns någon Svensk här också!

[TomSwede]

Here is a complemantary to my original presentation post.

Two items I made just recently so you can see where I'm heading now.

First up i a molded sheath for a laserpointer with a thin flap for fast access. It has now a metal skull on the edge of the flap to weight it down a bit.

Second is a cigarette box. A bit crude in size and apperance but it was made only as an experiment to gather learning from so carving, tooling and dyeing was a bit rushed through. The main course here was to learn about how fix various problems in the construction and stitching section of this piece. It's all lether and no plastic box inside. Main piece is a rolled 4mm leather that is stitched together in the back (not showing in the pictures) with a loop stitch that holds it together. Not the nicest solution but it works.

This is my first real Sewing/stitching experience.

[Mike Phelps]

Nice work Tom.

The cigarette box is cool. Liked the construction of the top portion of the lid and bottom of the cup.

Mike

[abn]

Great to have you here, Tom! Be sure to post any questions you might have about leatherwork... There are lots of really helpful folks here that are sure to steer you in the right direction.

Best, -Alex

[Beaverslayer]

Thank you Beaverslayer! I have seen your website before finding this site so I've seen your work. Must have been some good stuff there since I remember the visit;-)

Have a couple of Indian saddle frames incoming so I think I ran across it searching for inspiration for that.

Well I'm glad my website came in handy for you, I'll look forward to seeing some more of your work.

Ken

[Don101]

Hi Tom welcome to the forum, there is some great and original stuff there i like the way also how you did the lid, looks realy good, Don