New To Bike Seats

[chriscraft]

The seats I'm making are for vintage bicycles and use a springer undercarriage. I'm only building the seat and attaching original undercarriages that are supplied. I plan to slowly move up to vintage springer type motorcycle solo seats and my 17 y/o son will take over building the current bicycle seats.

[chriscraft]

Here is my basic non tooled seat in black using 4oz veg tan for the top and 8oz on bottom. Stitched with size 346 bonded thread top/bottom. What leather thickness are most using on these custom solo seats?

Edited July 7, 2013 by chriscraft

[benlilly1]

If you're going to use those weights of leather, I'd put the 8oz on the top and 4oz on the bottom. Are you sewing with a machine or hand?

[chriscraft]

If you're going to use those weights of leather, I'd put the 8oz on the top and 4oz on the bottom. Are you sewing with a machine or hand?

Just wanted to make the non tooled seat a little softer ride by using 4oz. on top. On my tooled seats I'm using 8-9oz. HO on top. These are being sewn by machine.

[chriscraft]

Another tooled seat I'm working on. It's not dry yet.

[chriscraft]

Here is the dried leather seat top. Gonna take a stab at antiquing this one today.

[chriscraft]

Tried a water base antique gel on this one. Then when dried used Pro oil dye applied with airbrush and faded my edges with dark brown pro oil. Will have to see what others are using and get better at this. This was tooled on 8-9oz. HO and will be stitched with a wheat colored 346 bonded tread at 5 stitches per inch. Chris

Edited July 16, 2013 by chriscraft

[Madhatterxlch]

simply beautiful work.

[chriscraft]

Finished the bicycle saddle today. Right now I'm cutting my own steel pans but will be farming out the work and get them water jet cut locally. I'm waiting on the cost quote for these 10g pans.

[chriscraft]

Here's a pic of my Springer Basic Saddle installed on this custom vintage 1940's bike.