Clockwork Report post Posted May 26, 2009 Hey everyone. First off, I'd like to say what an awesome resource this forum is; I've already gotten a lot of questions answered just from reading through old boards, and I can tell it will be invaluably helpful as I try to learn this craft. Thank you for providing this. I have an interest in learning leatherwork for a number of reasons, but for now, my primary interest relates to costuming. I make sets and costumes for a series of recreational microbudget folk story/fairytale film renditions that my brother and I make with a group of kids. A lot of the costumes include leather accessories like bracers, scabbards, sword frogs, gauntlets, etc. and as we have continued to make the films and more people have gotten involved, the number of leather items has increased to the point that I can't afford to buy them anymore, and I want to start making them myself. Whenever I start teaching myself a new craft, I find it most effective just to jump into it and start toying around with making practice projects. In this case the materials are fairly expensive, so before I buy anything, I'd like to get some advice from experienced artisans. So, with that lengthy preamble out of the way, here are my questions: 1. leather. I did some looking online for different types, and all i found were a variety of upholstery leathers, and that didn't seem like what I'd want for making stiff bracers, or other light armor pieces. It seems like I need something thick like 9-10oz, but I don't really know where to find it. Basically, I just want to know where you guys would get your leather if you wanted to make a simple pair of bracers. Something fairly thick and hearty, but reasonably affordable. 2. chemicals. Lots of people talk about oils, waxes, backgrounders, dyes, stiffeners...I understand to some extent what these are, and I get that different leatherworkers use different processes, but I was wondering if somebody could tell me briefly what sorts of chemical products are necessary to have before I start screwing around with simple patterns. Thanks guys, I hope this post wasn't too annoyingly long or newbish. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rdb Report post Posted May 26, 2009 Welcome to the Forum clockwork! There's quite a few people here into costuming, you'll find them, I'm sure. For suppliers, the advertisers here are well known to all of us. Plus, Leatherworker.net has a front page (in case you missed it), with all sorts of pointers, and a list of suppliers. Here is a good start: http://www.leatherworker.net/suppliers.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clockwork Report post Posted May 26, 2009 (edited) Wow, I can't believe I overlooked that main page and the supplier ads. Thank you for taking the time to point out the obvious to an extremely unobservant individual. I'll check those out. Edited May 26, 2009 by Clockwork Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vreedonsett Report post Posted May 27, 2009 here is a link with some patterns/templates also, just incase the bug gets you and you want to make some for personal use... http://www.armourarchive.org/patterns/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RuehlLeatherWorks Report post Posted May 31, 2009 http://www.montanaleather.com/catalog/prod...oz-546-101.html Here's where I get mine. Great quality stuff and a good price. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
