- Messages
- 353
Today I started a tooling job, a custom for a tall fellow. Patrick has a really swell wine red paul he wants so sling on a wide padded custom strap. However, he maintains me he needs up to 67" long, but 63 is his home position! That's extraordinarily long!
and after some discussion... my old Ace of spades series tickled his fancy, with some modifications something like this one... something I made quite a wayws back in 2021 - This new one now would be #9
So, here we go! First some technical stuff. He wanted my Ace of Spades sawtooth to stop before it hit bottom, like the others do... and for me to tool in a much larger version of the stamp as beste I can requiring a bit of computerin'
digitally enlarge it, so I can trace it onto the leather. Then commence with the arbor press - I actually need this 2 ton press to get the impression... hammering alone just won't do it with stamps that have a lot of surface area. and I gotta put a snipe on the press handle besides and put all my weight on it too! It's actually pretty hard work.
Then, trace in and swivel knife in the larger representation...
While it's still sligtly damp... first dye stage. My red dye seems to be getting a bit old, I think it might take a couple of applications. I want it richer yet. It's gonna darken down with antiquing, some black burst effects and clearcoat too. But overall, the plan is to creep up on the right colours and how he wants it.
New in the store today, another Shakey, this one with super faded denim. 45-62" wide and padded.
Happy hump day!
and after some discussion... my old Ace of spades series tickled his fancy, with some modifications something like this one... something I made quite a wayws back in 2021 - This new one now would be #9
So, here we go! First some technical stuff. He wanted my Ace of Spades sawtooth to stop before it hit bottom, like the others do... and for me to tool in a much larger version of the stamp as beste I can requiring a bit of computerin'
digitally enlarge it, so I can trace it onto the leather. Then commence with the arbor press - I actually need this 2 ton press to get the impression... hammering alone just won't do it with stamps that have a lot of surface area. and I gotta put a snipe on the press handle besides and put all my weight on it too! It's actually pretty hard work.
Then, trace in and swivel knife in the larger representation...
While it's still sligtly damp... first dye stage. My red dye seems to be getting a bit old, I think it might take a couple of applications. I want it richer yet. It's gonna darken down with antiquing, some black burst effects and clearcoat too. But overall, the plan is to creep up on the right colours and how he wants it.
New in the store today, another Shakey, this one with super faded denim. 45-62" wide and padded.
Happy hump day!
