Members McJeep Posted October 27, 2008 Members Report Posted October 27, 2008 Can I use this for tooling at all? I'm brand new at this and just picked up a bunch of tools and leather from a friend who decided to get out of it. Building a pair of engine guard chaps for a buddy's bike. The guard bars have a compound arch to them (they go out and around the case, but also have a bend upwards when you look at them from the side. Because of this I wasn't keen on doing a full wrap chap for them (I think it's be almost impossible to get the front and back to fit together and not have void space without a lot of snaps etc to hold them together - aesthetically ugly imho. So I've come up with the idea to make them as in insert that is laced around the crash bars themselves. The templates took a while ;0) Gonna do them double layer so that I can put pockets on the rider's side and plain on the back side - this will hide all of the stitching/lace work from putting the pockets on. So that's the background - the leather I'm using is pre-dyed black - my question is whether I can dress these things up a bit by tooling some eagles on the front side (away from rider) before gluing/stitching the front and back together. Will pre-dyed take ad hold the stamping? Using around 10 oz leather (I think ;0) so these should be almost like flexible plywood when I'm done and last a good long time. Wide open to advice here folks! :0) Cheers Rob Quote "I gotta have more cowbell!" Cristopher Walken - SNL
Moderator Johanna Posted October 27, 2008 Moderator Report Posted October 27, 2008 Take a scrap piece, wet it, and give it a try. If it's vegetable tanned leather, it will take an impression. Some of the dyed veggie tans have a lot of wax in them and they do not tool well, but they will stamp some. If it's not vegatable tanned leather, you won't be able to tool it. Perhaps some conchos would spark it up? Johanna Quote You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. - Mark Twain
Members McJeep Posted October 27, 2008 Author Members Report Posted October 27, 2008 Perhaps some conchos would spark it up?Johanna Yup, thinking of that as well - really not too keen on the idea of carving/stamping an area that is gonna be full on exposed to the elements like these will be. I see it as just another factor that can allow rain/weather damage due to the surface being irregular. Thanks much :0) Quote "I gotta have more cowbell!" Cristopher Walken - SNL
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