Stock seat

[David]

If any of you have been around for a while I'm sure you've heard me complain about having to do the advertising seats for the bike shop that I work for. These are plain logo seats. Thin padding, no extra lace nothing on the seat but the company logo. I've been telling these guys for months that they need something else on the seats to get the seats back in the "custom" seat category.....an avertising seat just doesn't make it....besides they are boring to do.

Here is a sample of what I'm suggesting,

fancier basketweave around the seat,

small amount of extra lacing,

and some sort of art to go with the logo.

This is the first of three that I'm going to do.

We'll see how it goes.

They've done a couple bikes recently with Victorian scrollwork gold leafed on the tank, I thought this would be a perfect fit for bikes like that.

Anyway, here is the first of the three seats.

If the artwork looks familiar, just chalk it up to being the very LAST entry in the oak leaf carving contest....ha ha.

Dave Theobald

[Spider]

Wow David this is nice. I really like your seat suggestions. Your lacing is awesome and your tooling kicks ass. Is this already on a pan? Can I ask what foam you use for the seats? This is really nice and they would only win by using this.

[David]

Wow David this is nice. I really like your seat suggestions. Your lacing is awesome and your tooling kicks ass. Is this already on a pan? Can I ask what foam you use for the seats? This is really nice and they would only win by using this.

Is this already on a pan? Yes, it only remains to dye and add final finish and it will be ready to go. The foam is neoprene closed cell 1/2" thick. From Foam and More, 1925 W. Maple, Troy MI, 48084. Phone 1-248-284-0002. Great people and fast service. This is the stuff used in lawn furniture and boat cushions.

Dave Theobald

[Rawhide]

David,

Once again, that's a beautiful seat. What do you finish your seats with, not the stain but topcoats? Do you waterproof them?

Thanks,

Marlon

[David]

David,

Once again, that's a beautiful seat. What do you finish your seats with, not the stain but topcoats? Do you waterproof them?

Thanks,

Marlon

Marlon,

After the stain and antique paste, I use Leather Balm with atom wax....if the seats are tan or brown, I use Neat Lac if they are black. To prevent crocking.

Dave

[Rawhide]

Thanks David.

I've just recently started using Leather balm w/atom wax, and I like it very much. I don't know if it's waterproof or not, but I like the mellow finish.

Marlon

[David]

Thanks David.

I've just recently started using Leather balm w/atom wax, and I like it very much. I don't know if it's waterproof or not, but I like the mellow finish.

Marlon

I'm not sure if it is waterPROOF.....I suspect it adds water resistance. I would think that NeatLac would be closer to waterPROOF. But it has a rather harsh shiney finish....not the mellow finish of Leather Balm with atom wax. I think an interesting comparison would be to compare

Leather Balm with Atom Wax

Aussie Leather Conditioner with beeswax

Pecards Leather Dressing

I wonder which would perform the best. Opinions everyone?

Dave Theobald

[whinewine]

I'm not sure if it is waterPROOF.....I suspect it adds water resistance. I would think that NeatLac would be closer to waterPROOF. But it has a rather harsh shiney finish....not the mellow finish of Leather Balm with atom wax. I think an interesting comparison would be to compare

Leather Balm with Atom Wax

Aussie Leather Conditioner with beeswax

Pecards Leather Dressing

I wonder which would perform the best. Opinions everyone?

Dave Theobald

Just a comment: I have both the Aussie Conditioner and the Pecards... while the Pecards has no smell, the Aussie has a very definite 'petroleum' smell to it. I would give the edge to the Pecards, because I was taught that petroleum-based products can shorten (ie, rot over time) the life of sewn threads. I have used Pecards on my boots to waterproof them & it definitely does that. I'm going to use Pecards on a motorcycle seat that I'm working on. Neatlac is somewhat water proof, but I don't think it'll stand up to a full rain storm over time like Pecards would, IMHO.

Edited February 20, 2008 by whinewine

[David]

Just a comment: I have both the Aussie Conditioner and the Pecards... while the Pecards has no smell, the Aussie has a very definite 'petroleum' smell to it. I would give the edge to the Pecards, because I was taught that petroleum-based products can shorten (ie, rot over time) the life of sewn threads. I have used Pecards on my boots to waterproof them & it definitely does that. I'm going to use Pecards on a motorcycle seat that I'm working on. Neatlac is somewhat water proof, but I don't think it'll stand up to a full rain storm over time like Pecards would, IMHO.

Whitewhine

Will Pecards stop crocking? Neatlac is my pref for stopping that rub off that comes with black spirit dye and also the new eco flo dyes.

Dave Theobald

[whinewine]

Whitewhine

Will Pecards stop crocking? Neatlac is my pref for stopping that rub off that comes with black spirit dye and also the new eco flo dyes.

Dave Theobald

Dave: I don't know if Pecards will stop crocking. I use neatlac almost exclusively with spirit & also the eco dyes (& my wife complains constantly about the smell wafting through the house when it's too cold or rainy or snowy to use it outside). My original post was meant to give my opinion as to the waterproofing qualities of pecards vs neatlac in the outside real world of a heavy rainstorm. I have never made a cycle seat, although I'm currently working on one & the man wants brown, not black.

What if you use pecards OVER the neatlac? Would this work? Or would this not absorb well?

[shirleyz]

Awesome work again David. I am going to ask this, because I have to. What is crocking? At first I thought it was a typo for cracking, but everyone else is saying it too. I'm not familiar with it.

Shirley

[David]

Awesome work again David. I am going to ask this, because I have to. What is crocking? At first I thought it was a typo for cracking, but everyone else is saying it too. I'm not familiar with it.

Shirley

Shirley,

Crocking is the tendency of some colors to rub off (it happens especially with black). For example I did a black praying hands seat for Jeff Cochran for last years Daytona Bike week....He ruined 3 pairs of jeans before he realized all the "dirt" on his butt was actually the dye from my seat..... He'll never let me live it down. Neat Lac seams to stop the rub off, but it does leave a very glossy surface.

Dave

[leathernut]

i have been using pecards for my seats,and havent had any rub offs with dye on anybody yet,thank god.i usually buff until i see no more dye come off,on a light color rag .and then i add couple light coats of pecards and let it sit for a day to then buff off.if i get a stubborn seat where the dye doesnt seem to buff off,i use a piece of denim and lexol..actually give the credit to roger on that secert,works great..just my 2 cents!!

[David]

I've found that leather balm with atom wax is only a temporary fix for crocking. After the wax soaks in or is worn off, the crocking starts again....therefore I go with neat lac

Dave Theobald

[David]

Here are all three of these new seat designs. The girl seat is a photo from one of their ads. They also are using it as a poster give away at the shows. Any guesses as to how many he will reject?

Oh sorry about the girl seat being unfinished. I've run out of lace....expecting more from Jim Downey.

Dave

Edited February 26, 2008 by David

[steveb]

I'm not sure if it is waterPROOF.....I suspect it adds water resistance. I would think that NeatLac would be closer to waterPROOF. But it has a rather harsh shiney finish....not the mellow finish of Leather Balm with atom wax. I think an interesting comparison would be to compare

Leather Balm with Atom Wax

Aussie Leather Conditioner with beeswax

Pecards Leather Dressing

I wonder which would perform the best. Opinions everyone?

Dave Theobald

i like pecards, clear shoe polish, neat lac, pitch blend - all of them - for a seat., i'd use neat lac due to durability, although it is a PITA with antiquing.

my .02

[David]

please see new pics posted above

Thanks

Dave

[ClayB]

Hey David,

If they reject any of the seats, you can send one of them to me. I'd love to have a piece of your art hanging on my wall. I dont get it. If you're gonna have a custom bike, why not have custom seats. And doesn't a custom seat mean "different" than everyone else's? They really need to let you run with your creativity! Do these people have an email address?

All your seats look great David!

Clay

[David]

Thanks Clay,

The encouragement is appreciated.

Dave