1St Seat And Some Finishing Questions

[Miloradovich]

I found them on Springfield leather's website. Item #011-43. I couldn't find anything similiar at Tandy's.

[Santo]

Milo-keep us posted on your seat. Gorgeous design. Good thread

[OdinUK]

This thread had been very useful to me too, thanks for taking the time to explain the finishing process and hits with the tooling Chancey77..

Miloradovich, Iook forward to seeing more of your work:)

[chancey77]

This thread had been very useful to me too, thanks for taking the time to explain the finishing process and hits with the tooling Chancey77..

Miloradovich, Iook forward to seeing more of your work:)

No Sweat!

[chancey77]

Whats the latest on the update about this seat...we are all wanting to see some updates.....

[Miloradovich]

Sorry for the lack of updates. The seat pretty much has been on hold for a few. I raise and breed snakes as a hobby and had a reptile expo to get ready for and most of my evenings have been taken up with cage cleanings and feedings. On top of that, I've been slammed at work and my 10 month old has been sick so I have made very little progress.

I did get the hair and background done. I started to just border with the background but wasn't happy with the effect so I did the whole background. At first I was really dissapointed with it and regretting it but when it was all said and done and I stood back for a while I am very pleased with the overall look. I think it makes the figure and flowers really pop.

Here's a shot

Now I am re-thinking dyeing it at all. My wife as well as my friend I am making this for think I should leave it natural. I will still use black lace but even if I don't dye I think it will still fit the bike well. The sheetmetal is all copper colored with black line work on the tank and a black frame.

I plan to rivet back peice of leather to the pan this week and start learning to lace. I have no idea how long to expect that to take but once done I will make the final decisions on wether or not dye. Originally I was wanting to use it to make certain aspects stand out more but the background went a long way towards that already.

Thanks, and I will try to get updates posted sooner! - Milo

[Cyberthrasher]

I love it. I was kind of hoping to see what you did with bordering it, but this works really well too. As for dying it, I think some highlights would really benefit it - something to make the tooling and individual lines in the design really pop.

[Miloradovich]

Thanks! I just couldn't get the bordering to come out even enough when I tried to feather it out away from the tooling. I was afraid I ruined it when I started doing the whole background but it has definately grown on me. I keep going back and forth on the dye. By highlights, are you suggesting just dyeing in the depresions from the tooling and nothing else? That may be a good way to do it, maybe with a medium to dark brown. My first plan was to do the eye sockets and depression around the jaw black and the flowers and leaves brown to make the bone parts stand out lighter but as I mentioned I think the background has brought them out a lot and I may loose the flowers a bit if I do the whole of them any darker. On the plus side to not dyeing, I don't run the risk of screwing up the work thus far or overdoing it since I have no experience dyeing yet.

[Cyberthrasher]

I was thinking something similar to an antique paste - but that Chancey guy will have some great ideas on the actual execution. Picture something like this where the lines are darkened up.

http://www.clubchopper.com/forums/794381-post24.html

I'd also contemplate doing the background a darker color, even if it is just a slightly darker color than natural. If you do it that way, try not to make the eye socket the same color as the background so it doesn't look like it's just a hole going all the way through the head.

[Miloradovich]

Thats not a bad idea. I like that seat. The color is subtle. Chancey recommended brushing dye in the tool marks as opposed to antique paste which seems like a much safer bet in my opinion. I could always start with the dye thinned down to make sure I don't overdo it and then darken it as I think its needed. Maybe practice on some scraps first.