Blondie

[Kevin King]

Thats coooooooooool! Just put some neatsfoot on it. Don't dye it. Or as Clint Eastwood would say: "Dyin' aint much of a livin' boy".

KK

[freak]

Thanks all. I think the neatsfoot oil is what i'll try.

Kani if you look at the pictures you can see it as i did. I can't figure out how to get the pictures to post in the order i want them to. So i'll try to do it this way and maybe it will help you. Remember there is no wrong way , just different ways. but here's mine.

In this picture i've done all my carving with the swivel knife. Most lines are cut, but you have to pay attention cause some are not i just use a modeling spoon on those. I started beveling then took the pic.

The start pic 1

click here

Then i "inverted bevel " , i beveled on the inside of the line instead of the outside. Again paying attention to where and what side of the line you're beveling. If it was just a single line , i beveled it on the outside. Like the 2 short lines at the top left of the hat.

Pics

click here

and click here

Then once i did all my beveling i used a background tool to fill in with. I used a pebble backgrounder tool from HideCrafter, PA004 & PA003. Then i added a few lines with a modeling spoon and lightly used it like a pear shader in a few spots.

[Kani]

Thanks Freak this is just too cool. Gotta play with this and see if I can do any better on this than that flower thing.

Thanks all. I think the neatsfoot oil is what i'll try.

Kani if you look at the pictures you can see it as i did. I can't figure out how to get the pictures to post in the order i want them to. So i'll try to do it this way and maybe it will help you. Remember there is no wrong way , just different ways. but here's mine.

In this picture i've done all my carving with the swivel knife. Most lines are cut, but you have to pay attention cause some are not i just use a modeling spoon on those. I started beveling then took the pic.

The start pic 1

click here

Then i "inverted bevel " , i beveled on the inside of the line instead of the outside. Again paying attention to where and what side of the line you're beveling. If it was just a single line , i beveled it on the outside. Like the 2 short lines at the top left of the hat.

Pics

click here

and click here

Then once i did all my beveling i used a background tool to fill in with. I used a pebble backgrounder tool from HideCrafter, PA004 & PA003. Then i added a few lines with a modeling spoon and lightly used it like a pear shader in a few spots.

[ETW Grumpy]

That's very cool, freak.

[rdb]

I'm having great success using the Pure neatsfoot oil, and mixing with spirit dyes..I start with 3 parts oil, and 1 part dye. Test on scrap (same hide scrap) and then either add oil, or dye accordingly. If you finish it once, and want it darker just make a darker mix, but rub it on with a cloth not a dauber...that way you aren't over oiling. Make sure it dries for at least 24 hours before doing anything else, like a top coat.

It doesn't darken any backgrounding so, either you have to paint with a brush, or use an antique over it.

[Clay]

That was a cool post.... my employees are gonna hate me tomorrow cause I will be whistling that all day long!! Whaa whaa wha!!!LOL

ClayM.

[Spider]

Freak, like everyone has said "very nice work". I like it. You made our eyes get the pic with pieces of Clint missing. Nice. Please let us know what it looks like when it's done.

[freak]

That was a cool post.... my employees are gonna hate me tomorrow cause I will be whistling that all day long!! Whaa whaa wha!!!LOL

ClayM.

Well they'll be a hattin ya again.

Thanks all for the kind words. I decided to go ahead and add some color like i originally planed. I wanted it to look a little rough, you know like a old saddle. Anyway i like the way it turned out . I think he'll be more then pleased with it. I also added a little extra feature . You'll have to watch the video to see it. It can't be captured on picture.

Not sure we can code you tube videos on these boards so you'll have to click the link

Now on to the pictures James !!

[abn]

Now that's just plain awesome. Nice workmanship!

Alex

[Bob]

Freak, are those Colt Walkers? One of my customers uses Colt Walkers and I made holsters for those monsters. He said Clint used guns like this. I forget which movie he said... Nice Work Freak... nice color too

bobcat