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

[Matara]

Rock on Tom!

Nice work

Freddie

[The Major]

Welcome to the board. Really like those cuffs. That cig box is pretty cool too. Nice

[TomSwede]

Hi there all of you, Mike Phelps, Abn, Beaverslayer (again), Don 101, Matara, The Major!

Thanks for all your positive response on the items shown. Most bracers I've done are unphotographed due to lack of camera. Some of them were really nice, mostly I've been sticking to dark brown/Mahogany antique finishes, just love it really much. Black is mostly just spoiling good work but for metal people it IS the preffered choice so I've unwillingly done some allblack items aswell. Twocoloured items are difficult but I'm currently experimenting with some techniques and studying the forum about the art of dyeing. I have sold some black bracers with blue or red viking/celtic style patterns. The only thing i produced in a series. It's a a little prank I played with the ones who bought them (all friends). That particular design is actually from a very visible tattoo that is done as an armbracer on my left underarm. I also have an really big celtic tattoo covering my right frontside underarm and a lifesize bracer with an exact duplicate pattern tooled out that fits right over the tattoo.

If anyone would be interested in stuff concerning Vikingculture or the mythology, just go ahead and ask. I'm not an expert but nows a bit about that and any missing information I can probably lookup pretty fast. Scavenging websites about such information can easily present some misinformation since there sure are alot of people that's more interested in "cool bloodthirsty Northmen" than studying agrocultural facts in a document requring a glossary to strange old words forgotten alongtime, or whatever.

Well about that cig.box I just wanna say you can be glad you cant see UNDER the bottom of it. Practical and fully functional-will last longer than the lid BUT NOT a neat sight. At least I know from experience now how to manufacture the bottom next time. The lid is also a funny little experimental thingy. The thinner leather is rolled over the topedge and then folded under and stitched to the tooled round 4mm top piece so the outward pressure from the round piece against the rolled edges is what whats keeping it in place. Just thought I'll try and see how long it lasts, it saved me some stitchin time and I believe timesavers are really valuable in this line of work. I'll just have to keep in mind to make that piece a bit oversize next time (if I find it works ok during tear and wear). This box will take some beating during fishingtrips, wildlife and nature photography, and even some metal concerts. OOOh Iron Maiden tickets will be available on Monday so I might sit in front of the 'puter all day, trying to get tickets. I get shaky hands by just thinking about it. Have to go and take a suspitory (beer and scotch whisky) right away.

Bye for now!

P.S. I do write long stuff about nothing sometimes and my rusty English is enjoying being dusted off again.

Edited November 6, 2007 by TomSwede