Basic Seats Question

[McJeep]

Hokay, so I thought I knew the process ... carve, braid together, colour, seal

Now I'm seeing more ... shape, carve, stitch etc

A) How on earth do ya carve leather when it's been shaped and you can't lay it on the marble

How on earth do you guys take the shaped seat and punch all of the stitching holes in it without ruining the artwork?

C) If you carved first, then molded, wouldn't the rewetting process for molding screw with the carving work?

Signed,

Confused in Canuckia ;0)

[David]

Hokay, so I thought I knew the process ... carve, braid together, colour, seal

Now I'm seeing more ... shape, carve, stitch etc

A) How on earth do ya carve leather when it's been shaped and you can't lay it on the marble

How on earth do you guys take the shaped seat and punch all of the stitching holes in it without ruining the artwork?

C) If you carved first, then molded, wouldn't the rewetting process for molding screw with the carving work?

Signed,

Confused in Canuckia ;0)

I think it depends on just HOW MUCH you want to mould the leather.

Dave

[McJeep]

guess it's gonna take some trial and error on my part to find out what works - I had always thought that folks just carved the leather flat, and that it took the shape once things started getting laced together and tightened up around the base.

Thanks for the reply David - always! love your work

[Jimbob]

Me no pro, but I have done some seats before.....I always do tool the foam seats! flat on marble then let dry, oil and let sit....then a few days later I wet lightlyfrom BACKSIDE! and start forming the seat shape...carefully....then glue it on shaped foam and start pulling the skirts to be stapled down.....let dry, done!!

On hardcore lead ass biker seats ( no foam ) I shape the heck out of the 13-15 oz wet leather, let dry, oil and then carve and tool on the pan directly!!! Let dry, oil done....

James

[McJeep]

Thanks Jimbob! Man, I dunno anyone who could ride long on the "hardcore" seat ;0)

[benlilly1]

I carve, mold, punch holes, dye, lace and protect. I only wet just what is needed to form it to the pan. The holes I punch carefully and rest just what area needs to be punched on board. It's tedious but it works. Here's a photo of my first seat.

Hokay, so I thought I knew the process ... carve, braid together, colour, seal

Now I'm seeing more ... shape, carve, stitch etc

A) How on earth do ya carve leather when it's been shaped and you can't lay it on the marble

How on earth do you guys take the shaped seat and punch all of the stitching holes in it without ruining the artwork?

C) If you carved first, then molded, wouldn't the rewetting process for molding screw with the carving work?

Signed,

Confused in Canuckia ;0)