Crocodile Tooling Pattern for Belts

[Reegesc]

This is a really easy project where the result far exceeds the effort, IMHO.  

 I couldn't find other examples of carving a crocodile pattern on this site (or anywhere on the net for that matter)  and so am reposting this from the Show Off section in the hope of (a) helping someone who is looking for some ideas to snazz up the basic belt design and (b) to build up karma credits.

This is a 1" wide pattern that will work with 1.25" - 1.5" belts once you add borders.  But you can easily modify these dimensions by either shrinking or stretching the image to suit your needs.   Or heck, just draw your own.  Not much to it really.  

The belt on the left was finished using Fiebing's Tan Antique Finish which I mixed with a splash of Dark Red Oil Dye.  The antique finish does a great job of highlighting the carved lines and tooling impressions.

Surprisingly, however, the carving and tooling looks just as good  without the aid of antique highlighting as shown in the solid black example (Fiebing's Oil Dye).  Just guessing that with such a basic pattern and where all the cuts and impressions are deep that it holds its own regardless of the finish.

Seems like there's no way to screw up on this one.  I think you  can get by with any finish you want.

 

 

                                            

 

EDIT:  I just remembered that for the belt on the left with the mahogany finish I first painted a resist stripe down the middle using Super Sheen, then applied the antique finish.  That's gives it a fade look.  I also hit it with black on the borders using an airbrush.  If you don't have an airbrush, get one.  They are super easy to use.  Just like painting with a can of spray paint.  Easy easy easy.  

Edited December 8, 2016 by cseeger

[TonyRV2]

Very nice...thanks for sharing.