Tooled Leather jacket or have i lost what little mind i have left?

[Windrider30]

Ok have this idea in my thick skull that is rattling around, of doing a tooled leather jacket (once I find a pattern and figure out how to adjust said pattern to fit me, or figure out how to draw one up for myself) but the question I have is what kind of tooling leather would be the best to use? I know I can't do a chrome tanned one as that wont fly but if you went with say an 8 or 9 oz leather you would be walking around like spongue bob square pants unable to move your arms either raised or lowered I would thing lol. So what would be the "best" leather thickness or should I tell the idea to take a flying leap lol.

[bikermutt07]

I'm interested in the answers.

I would think you would lose the ability to tool when you go down to something light enough to wear.

You could probably make some tooled accents or even a "backpatch" to add to your jacket.

Just my thoughts.

[Dwight]

If I was doing your project, . . . I think I would start out with a vest, . . . one that would closely emulate that portion of the jacket.

I bought some leather from Tandy a few years ago, . . . it was called "milled vegetable tanned" and was a really soft leather, . . . and I think it was like 6/7 oz, . . . which would work quite well I would think for your purposes.

AND, . . . when you get it done, . . . please put a bunch of pics up, . . . sounds like something I too might be interested in doing, . . . "some day".

May God bless,

Dwight

[Windrider30]

14 hours ago, Dwight said:

If I was doing your project, . . . I think I would start out with a vest, . . . one that would closely emulate that portion of the jacket.

I bought some leather from Tandy a few years ago, . . . it was called "milled vegetable tanned" and was a really soft leather, . . . and I think it was like 6/7 oz, . . . which would work quite well I would think for your purposes.

AND, . . . when you get it done, . . . please put a bunch of pics up, . . . sounds like something I too might be interested in doing, . . . "some day".

May God bless,

Dwight

Thanks dwight i saw the veg tan you mentioned from tandy and was wondering if you could use that as well will have to give yhem a call. Biker i had that same thought about the thinner leather, great idea about using a back patch will keep that in mind as well.

[byggyns]

My thought is that you would get the most out of your efforts to use patches of tooled leather attached to a chrome tan garment leather. Thin veg-tan does not give much depth of tooling, and as it flexes, the definition becomes lost. Even 4-5 oz, which holds tooling well for things like notebook covers would be too heavy and inflexible to wear. You could get a small piece of 2-3 oz and experiment, but I don't think it will work too well.

[Windrider30]

On 25/10/2016 at 11:11 PM, byggyns said:

My thought is that you would get the most out of your efforts to use patches of tooled leather attached to a chrome tan garment leather. Thin veg-tan does not give much depth of tooling, and as it flexes, the definition becomes lost. Even 4-5 oz, which holds tooling well for things like notebook covers would be too heavy and inflexible to wear. You could get a small piece of 2-3 oz and experiment, but I don't think it will work too well.

Yeah i know the 2 to 3 oz won't work well as it is way to thin and its way to easy to cut through even with stamps 

[leatherwytch]

If you wanted tooling on the front, I would do a yolk on the front and the back patch, make the sleeves out of garment or even Chap leather.

 

 

[cjartist]

Find a cheap second hand jacket that fits you well and then dissect it to use as a pattern. I think you could do a solid back piece in tooled veg tan and I like LetherWytch's idea for a yoke on the upper front. Those areas don't require as much flexibility. I'd love to see some pics if you do decide to create this.

[Windrider30]

So far the idea is to make an actual waist coat instead of a full jacket might be just a tad easier though not sure if i will make a double breasted waist coat or a normal on. as for pattern will be sharing that idea in a few days. will do a little tooling on some scrap.

[HobbledCobbler]

I believe, what you should research is a "Leather Doublet".

They are usually laced together in sections. Some have sleeves and some are simply over-vests. Some are really great!

And then you could use either Calf Tooling Leather in some sections for stamping or go with a heavier leather for some of the sections. They are also made in varying lengths.

[Windrider30]

1 hour ago, HobbledCobbler said:

I believe, what you should research is a "Leather Doublet".

They are usually laced together in sections. Some have sleeves and some are simply over-vests. Some are really great!

And then you could use either Calf Tooling Leather in some sections for stamping or go with a heavier leather for some of the sections. They are also made in varying lengths.

I will have to look into it but i do not want to just stamp i am thinking full tooling swivel knife and all