1St Seat And Some Finishing Questions

[Cyberthrasher]

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.

Always practice on some scrap first. I forgot he had mentioned brushing it in. So yeah, do that and see how it comes out. I would get the dye on your brush and then "paint" it onto a paper towel or something to get a lot of it off (dry brushing) so you can feather the amount of dye you're using on the piece. Do it all on a practice piece to determine how much color and what color you'd like - as well as getting the hang of the technique. I'm picturing a darker brown, like the default brown on the forum header here. Maybe do the background the darker color and the tooling highlights the lighter of the two, with the bulk of the actual artwork being left natural. Or, even if it's all the lighter color with the natural artwork, it would still look good (in my head anyway).

Oh yeah, and if you get really handy with that brush technique you could feather a halo around the tooling too

Edited February 21, 2012 by Cyberthrasher

[Santo]

What backgrounder did you use? Looks great

[chancey77]

SEAT IS LOOKING WICKED!!!!!!!!! HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR NEW TOOL????????!!!!!!!!!!???????

For the dying if you are going to use black, do not thin it down unless you are attempring to shade some things, but in my experience I want things the are black to be BLACK! So no need to thin down the dye, and it will take longer to dry and might leave the color kind of dull instead of vibrant.

Almost every single piece I ever work on I wish I could leave it plain, and sometimes I am right, maybe it would have looked better just natural, and hen I make the background black and the lines with a brush, it really comes to life.

If it where me I would make that seat Black and Natural, then do the oil/beeswax finish...And then make the lace black...but that is me...it is your seat and the artist:)

It is a lot more work to build up black dye then to just dye it black from the beginning...DO NOT THIN IT DOWN! Just go straight for the throat and don't try to shade it...it will look cheesy!!!!!!! As they say at surfing meets and tattoo shops go big or go home:)

PS.

You still have some work to do on the nose and lips...practice it on a scrap piece, cut them with the swivel knife and beveler, and give a little shape to the lips they look to flat still, I know you have been putting it off in fear that you might overdue it, but it must be done..like pulling off a band aid:) hahahahaha---_=)e

Edited February 22, 2012 by chancey77

[Miloradovich]

Cyberthrasher,

Good suggestions, I will need to start practicing with the dyes. Thanks for the tip on dry brushing. One concern is definately what to do if the dye "bleeds" into the leather at all and what steps to prevent that.

Santo,

Thanks a bunch and I did the background with the E294. I started with the pebbled looking one, I think M882 but didn't like it as much as the way I was picturing it so I went over it all with the new one and hit it in there pretty hard to get more contrast. I followed Chancey's advice and twisted it back and forth with each strike with an even rhythm. Maybe a quarter turn or so between hits and rolled it back and forth. I think I was jamming to the Bastard Suns though instead of the Ramones.

Chancey,

Thanks, I am pleased with the outcome for sure even though some steps I didn't think I wanted to do. I like the new tool a lot but I definately need to practice and get a little "smoother" with it. I can already tell it would have sped my tooling up considerably in some spots and prevented the overalp marks from my beveler, which was just what I was after. I can tell it will be one of the main ones I reach for in the future.

As, for the dye, the thining I meant was for the brown. Originally I was picturing multiple shades of brown on the background and flowers to make the bone sections stand out. Now I like the flowers light too so I am thinking they need to stay natural with any dye just in the depressions. I bought a dark dye figuring I can make it lighter as need be and not have to buy a bunch. Any black I will want dark for the contrast and will definately be using black lace (already have that one ready).

I was considering myself done with the tooling but I do see what you mean about the nose and lips. They did give me some trouble to make they stand out but I didn't want a whole lot of extra texture around them. The more I look at them though I probably will play around with them some.

Not getting a lot of time to spend on it in the evenings but I am making progress here and there. I got the base riveted to the pan and the foam glued on. Next step is punching the holes in the top peice and getting it ready to lace. There are quite a few more steps in a seat than I had imagined when I starting it and like everything I do, it takes longer than I anticipate, but I am really enjoying it so far and learning a lot as I go.

I really appriciate all the input and advice I recieve here.

Milo

[Cyberthrasher]

Cyberthrasher,

Good suggestions, I will need to start practicing with the dyes. Thanks for the tip on dry brushing. One concern is definately what to do if the dye "bleeds" into the leather at all and what steps to prevent that.

I think the dry brushing is the best way to prevent it. Obviously there's large open spots in your background that you could use more dye on the brush because you don't have to worry about it bleeding. Once you get a feel for how it spreads, you can move onto the smaller areas. Most of the videos I've seen have shown them using up the dye on their work and then once most of the dye is off of the brush, using it to feather and make a transition into the non-dyed area. I think that would be the best time to brush the tooling, when it's empty. But, I've only used the eco-flo crap so far, so you may get less bleeding with a better quality dye.

Now, who votes for Chancey to write a new Leathercraft book for us non-traditional types????

[chancey77]

I think the dry brushing is the best way to prevent it. Obviously there's large open spots in your background that you could use more dye on the brush because you don't have to worry about it bleeding. Once you get a feel for how it spreads, you can move onto the smaller areas. Most of the videos I've seen have shown them using up the dye on their work and then once most of the dye is off of the brush, using it to feather and make a transition into the non-dyed area. I think that would be the best time to brush the tooling, when it's empty. But, I've only used the eco-flo crap so far, so you may get less bleeding with a better quality dye.

Now, who votes for Chancey to write a new Leathercraft book for us non-traditional types????

together we will conquer all!I have been thinking about it...but when do i have the time ????:*

Edited February 24, 2012 by chancey77

[Cyberthrasher]

together we will conquer all!I have been thinking about it...but when do i have the time ????:*

I'll keep scavenging your posts here until we find some of that "time" stuff.

[chancey77]

I'll keep scavenging your posts here until we find some of that "time" stuff.

Up to my eye balls in work, but I will hopefully be able to finally get around to starting that patina video this weekend. I already had an old seat pan bottom that was cut out so I put the death before dishonor logo on it, now it is just ready to get whacked beaten,dragged played with by the kids and general bad luck for the greater good:) hahahah INSERT EVIL LAUGH HERE!!!!!

[Cyberthrasher]

Up to my eye balls in work, but I will hopefully be able to finally get around to starting that patina video this weekend. I already had an old seat pan bottom that was cut out so I put the death before dishonor logo on it, now it is just ready to get whacked beaten,dragged played with by the kids and general bad luck for the greater good:) hahahah INSERT EVIL LAUGH HERE!!!!!

Work comes first....but I'm definitely eagerly anticipating it when you get there

[chancey77]

SO HERE IS A BRUSH PICTURE AND EXPLANATION FOR YALL:)

PAGE 5 IN MY NEW BOOK...HAHAHA.