Best Paints To Use For Seats And Final Finish

[troy]

Finally finished the seat and I feel sooo glad its over.

ref's the placing of the leather, that was one hell of a task, cause did'nt help myself by using 3.5mm leather but to get the carving i wanted..........any how had to first re wet the sides of the leather, soaked em completly using warm water from a kettle leaving the carving area as untouched as possible. let is soak in a plastic bag while I had to run to town and do some important xmas stuff, then soaked again upon my return. The started the great task of moulding it around the foam and steel base. originally the foam was square cut but due to the ease a bevel would make and the fact that due to this square cut, it tended to cut into the legs over long distances, I bevelled the top edges which really shows to me on the finished seat, it did also make the moulding marginally easier. Way i did it was punch holes around the leather then used paracord to thread through them and pull the whole thing together. This I did again and again until after various cuts, swearing, panting and aching knockles I had the leather the sixe I needed. took it off punched holes for the lace and used an awl for those places that would be stitch underneath, then threaded the lace and (I used sinew) the thread loosly, replaced the leather onto the seat and tied them up. I had actually placed a plastic bag over the foam to stop it getting wet and due to the hordes of wet weather we get here, I decided to keep it on.

Dying it came next, and I started by covering it in black stain, rubbed it off then covered it with black dye, rubbed it off again, then coated in aussie conditioner and boot polish after that had all dried. As can be seen, there are a few faded area's, which is what I was after, I did'nt want solid black as...well I find that boring, plus I thought the different tones would match the colours of the bike. Due to using thick leather, it did want to be a pain putting it back on, but thats what happens when you play with things. Have sat on it and it feels really fine but have'nt ridden it yet and probably won'e while ourt usual scottish weather plays havak with everything.

Overall this task was different for me. Have moulded leather before over saddle forks but given the 2 inches of foam, this was slightly different in that their was only one solid side, the steel base. But in the end I think I'm gonna feel great crusing the roads on this and can't wait to see what the harley riders at our local gathering next year make of it. If someone wanted one done, I think I'd enjoy doing them, they are different and slightly reberious......

[mikesmith648]

Nice work on that seat....ride safe

[David8386]

Looks good on the bike. Nice job

David

[Cozee]

If you are still looking for paint, the Wicked line of airbrush paints work really well on leather vests and coats. I like it far better than Etac. SEM also has paints for automotive leather that works great also. SEM also has prepping materials that I recommend.