staub58 Report post Posted February 9, 2009 Hello everyone! My name is John and I am BRAND new to leatherworking. I have been a member of this site for a little while, but only as a learner and observer. I am very interested in learning the art of leatherworking, but I don't know where to get started. I am a firefighter/emt from a small town in NJ and I would like to make my own leather front piece for my leather fire helmet. I have many questions and ANY information or help would be greatly appreciated. I have done research of my own, so I am not totally in the dark. I am guessing that the design I want to go with is going to need to be carved or tooled. The design is VERY basic because I am brand new (see photoshopped pic below). It is also subject to change as I get started and learn what I am getting into. The website of a professional leather fire helmet front maker stated that he used 13-14oz veg tanned leather sewn onto a 4-5oz piece of veg tanned leather. Where can I buy leather to practice with and then actually go with my design? The entire background of my piece is white. Is this accomplished by painting? Or is there a white dye? I hope someone can point me in the right direction. I am very excited about this. The first attached image is what I want to do. The second image is a blank that is sold on ebay. This is what I am looking for, but unfortunately that size is too small for my helmet. Thank you all, John Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jbird Report post Posted February 9, 2009 Howdy John And welcome the place you can get everything you need is Tandy leather they are the place for starting out with , As far as doing something white that's hole mess but for my money go with leather paint use with thin coats Good luck sir Josh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomBanwell Report post Posted February 9, 2009 Hello everyone!The website of a professional leather fire helmet front maker stated that he used 13-14oz veg tanned leather sewn onto a 4-5oz piece of veg tanned leather. One thing you may want to do is to curve the front piece to fit the shape of the helmet. The veg tanned will shape easily of course. You can take advantage of the two pieces of leather by making the front piece slightly wider than the back piece. When sewn together it will naturally curve. That's how I made my steampunk helmet pictured. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
