Latest step by step seat build

[David]

first off great seat dave!! few questions: 1) i thought that you were supossed to dye before lacing, do you normally dye after its complete? 2) i looked up those seat pans, do you get the F-T-W seat pan type? their website is a little confusing! 3) also, could you speak a little on your dye methods, products, and the final buff etc...? thanks soooo much! this has been really helpful!

Not sure of the pan you mentioned, That (F-T-W) usually means something entirely different to bikers. West Eagle calls this pan their "narrow" pan. I hope that helps. I buy them through a local bike shop about a dozen at a time. That helps with cost.

As for your other questions.

1. I always dye after assembly. The leather becomes much too rigid after dying and doesn't lay correctly or lace properly. I know that is counter to what is done on belts and wallets, but it is what works for seats.

2. I use Fiebings alcohol based dyes. I order directly from Fiebings. The new eco stuff is worthless for a high wear item like a bike seat. It is too fragile and ends up on the riders pants instead of staying on the seat. I spray everything on with an airbrush. I use neatsfoot oil on my entire seat a couple days before spraying the dye. My last step is adding the antiquing, again I use Fiebings ordered through them. I spray a bit of water on the seat before beginning to rub the antiquing paste on by hand. After applying to the entire front or back, it is immediately wiped off and cleaned up before starting on the remaining side. Final buff is with a terry cloth hand towel, I purchase them about 100 at a time from Lowes Home Improvement, paint section. For a final coat I use Aussie Conditioner.... not sure of the manufacturer, probably Fiebings also.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for taking a look at this post

Dave

Edited December 3, 2009 by David

[bustedlifter]

Looks great, Dave! I like the way you used the background just in the middle to bring out the detail. I started trying it in select places instead of around the whole carving. Aussie conditioner is made by Fiebing's. I love their products,too,especially their oil dye. Have you tried their "Snow Proof" conditioner? I've been using it lately and it seems to work really well. It also adds some highlight to the tooling. One more thing; what's the deal with the wood tooling board? Once again, great work and thanks for posting your technique!

Edited December 3, 2009 by bustedlifter

[David]

Looks great, Dave! I like the way you used the background just in the middle to bring out the detail. I started trying it in select places instead of around the whole carving. Aussie conditioner is made by Fiebing's. I love their products,too,especially their oil dye. Have you tried their "Snow Proof" conditioner? I've been using it lately and it seems to work really well. It also adds some highlight to the tooling. One more thing; what's the deal with the wood tooling board? Once again, great work and thanks for posting your technique!

You're the first to notice the wood tooling board..... It is a butcher block made of various woods. It had been in our kitchen for a long time but my wife didn't like it because it is so heavy. The thing is about 1 1/2" thick very flat and just the right size for bike seats. Heavy but lighter than granite.

Dave

[leatheroo]

i am so inspired to do better....thanks

[David]

i am so inspired to do better....thanks

Glad you all enjoyed it.

Thanks,

Dave

[Sanch]

Thanks Storm,

This is pretty tedious cutting and tooling but that's the stuff I enjoy.

Keep checking back, it will eventually be finished.

Dave

I back the leather with packing tape and then rubber cement it to the wood tooling board. The board is 1.5" thick.

Dave

May I ask why and why not just tool on the marble?

Thanks Doc,

It will eventually get finished. I know it doesn't look like much now.

Dave

[David]

At the time I didn't have any small pieces of marble and my bench top Marble is 60"X24" It's kinda hard to spin a piece of marble like that around. But I now have a couple smaller pieces of marble so that is what I now use.

Dave

[Sanch]

At the time I didn't have any small pieces of marble and my bench top Marble is 60"X24" It's kinda hard to spin a piece of marble like that around. But I now have a couple smaller pieces of marble so that is what I now use.

Dave

[/quote

Lol ok makes sense! Hey by the way you sir do out -fng standing work! About the butcher block i just thought it was some sort of hidden voodoo I missed! Oh and thank you for sharing your process it definitely will help on my first seat when I'm ready.

[LilRay]

I'm in on this. Great job Dave!

Will you show assembly steps as well? I hope so. I'm a newbie too, and this may be an avenue I could go in leatherworking.

God Bless, Ray

[pellegrino]

...As usual your work is clean and sharp...showing your work in progress you proves to have strength of character and experience....Thanks David, again

Today I had a few interruptions, The Bengals and the Colts..... So I didn't get quite as much finished as I had hoped.

The tooling continued as did the swivel knife work. I alternate back and forth to give my hands a rest.

Today the Phoenix was almost finished.

Thanks for taking a look.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Dave Theobald