Latest step by step seat build

[Storm]

Thanks for the question MadMax.  I hope this doesn't start some sort of firestorm.

One of the many things I've discovered that goes against conventional wisdom.  I know I'll catch heck for this so I'll tell you now that I'm not trying to start an argument or even a discussion.

It has been my experience that whether the leather drys out or not makes very little difference.  Tests have proven that the leather hardens with each drying.....by .003%.  That isn't enough to be noticeable by carvers.  This hardening accelerates after about a dozen dryings....but I'm finished long before then.

If I really want to keep the leather damp I simply turn the tooling board face down on my marble top workbench.

Try it.

Dave

David...I find that for the big ones I will also wrap it in Saran Wrap or something similar.

Storm

[David]

David...I find that for the big ones I will also wrap it in Saran Wrap or something similar.

Storm

I'm sure that works, Storm, I just don't work on any large bike seats. I do springer style solo seats exclusively.

Thanks for taking a look,

Dave

[Storm]

David...I find that for the big ones I will also wrap it in Saran Wrap or something similar.

Storm

I'm sure that works, Storm, I just don't work on any large bike seats.  I do springer style solo seats exclusively.

Thanks for taking a look,

Dave

Dave,

What I am also talking about are projects  that may take awhile to carve because of intricacy and so forth. I really do like where you are taking this one. You are going to get this puppy in more than a few publications.

Storm

[kytim]

Hey Dave I am confused. Do you let it dry out and then re wet it? How do you recase with the backing on it?

[David]

Hey Dave I am confused. Do you let it dry out and then re wet it? How do you recase with the backing on it?

Hey Tim,

I never case by submerging the leather. I spray my casing solution on, seems to work fine for me.

Thanks for taking a look.

Dave

[workingman]

Hey Tim,

I never case by submerging the leather. I spray my casing solution on, seems to work fine for me.

Thanks for taking a look.

Dave

Ok now I'm confused, What is casing and casing solution? Thanks Matt

[hidepounder]

Beautiful, David, as all your seats are! I think your designs are great!

Bobby

[TroyS]

I'm like Dave.

I never submerge my leather to case it. I do, however, run it under the bathtub spout with the hottest water my water heater can provide. It only takes about 15-20 minutes before I'm able to start molding the leather with any success. I don't cover mine with anything to retain the moisture. I simply spray it again tomorrow and it works great.

Troy

[David]

Ok now I'm confused, What is casing and casing solution? Thanks Matt

Hey Matt,

I guess the broadest defination of casing is dampening the leather to get it soft enough to begin transfering the design and also begin tooling.

I do it with several applications of casing solution. I've applied the solution with everything from a sponge to a spray bottle. I have used plain water to case for years, on this seat I added some Lexol to the water to help with conditioning the leather. It worked fine so far, I like the way the leather carved with this solution but, I'll withhold final judgement until it is completed.

I hope this helps

Dave

Beautiful, David, as all your seats are! I think your designs are great!

Bobby

WOW, coming from someone like Bobby, this is a tremendous boost for me. Thank you so much, I'm sure I've said about a hundred times, how much I admire your work.

Thanks again,

David Theobald

Edited November 28, 2009 by David

[Kustomizer]

Great work as always!!! Very cool design!