Leather Tooling Vintage Saddles

[Petrohead]

I have been learning the lost art of leather tooling. I have been teaching myself using vintage spring seat saddles for my rat bikes. Here are my first three seats.

for the wifes bike

and this seat....

..for this bike...

...and this seat is from a 20" West Coast Chopper bike which has already been hacked up for the Rat-Racer I'm building next....

 

[JLarkin]

Super nice!

 

[Road Master]

Hi John! Man, what do you do for a living? First that recent paint job with all the detail and now this? I sure hope you're using your artistic talents to make some bucks. I've got some seats you can practice on - as long as you give them back when you're done. Fabulous!

 

[Riverbend Bicycles]

Those look amazing. I used to do leather work when I was a kid in 4-H. Your work makes me want to try it again.

 

[mrbill]

Hello Petrohead,

That is a great talent you have there,
Appx how much time to do the seats?

Cheers.

 

[spinman]

Man oh man! They are works of art! I can barely draw those images on a piece of paper, let alone carve them into leather.

What did you use to treat the winged hand seat? It looks so deep and rich when compared to the bare leather.

Spin

 

[tikiharl]

Exellent work!!!!! Amazing detail. If you ever decide to make and sell one we should talk. I am in Tempe,just right down the road. :wink:

 

[Petrohead]

Hi John! Man, what do you do for a living? First that recent paint job with all the detail and now this? I sure hope you're using your artistic talents to make some bucks. I've got some seats you can practice on - as long as you give them back when you're done. Fabulous!

This is not John, and I haven't painted my bike yet but thanks for the kind words.

 

[Petrohead]

Hello Petrohead,

That is a great talent you have there,
Appx how much time to do the seats?

Cheers.

Well, I am on a learning curve with it right now. The hand seat was the first one. It was dyed and antiqued to match the bike a bit. I would say the tooling itself took the better part of a full day, then another for touch-up, dyeing and finishing. The The skull and knife took about a full day but it still has to be stretched over the seat pad and then finish coat (prabably another two hours). The Bird seat was my third and it took less than a day to tool but I am learing actual dyeing of the colors (exept the white, which is paint) and I am spending too much time figuring out how that dyeing works but will probably have the better part of two days in her. It's getting a litter faster with each seat. Thanks for the kind words and the encouragement.

 

[Petrohead]

Man oh man! They are works of art! I can barely draw those images on a piece of paper, let alone carve them into leather.

What did you use to treat the winged hand seat? It looks so deep and rich when compared to the bare leather.

Spin

Thanks so much sir. I finished that with a dark brownish reddish dye that I mixed up then rubbed a couple little parts with some blackened antique then rubbed some parts a little thin to try to give the antique patina to match the patina'd bike. Then I sealed it with a semi-gloss sheen finisher. It's all trial and error right now but I am figuring it out.

 

[Petrohead]

Exellent work!!!!! Amazing detail. If you ever decide to make and sell one we should talk. I am in Tempe,just right down the road. :wink:

Sent you a message.

 

[spinman]

"....It's all trial and error right now but I am figuring it out....."

You're darn right you're figuring it out. All that and more.

Keep showcasing your talent. I wish I had a nice piece of leather for you to work. Maybe ssoemday....

Spin

 

[karfer67]

any info on where to start? like what tools are needed etc and how to do it? i want to play around with it too and amazing work your doing there

 

[bigj]

Fantastic!

 

[Slick Rick]

I would say your being a bit modest when you say your "learning" its quite obvious you have learned.I would say at this point you are perfecting your skills! I too have tooling skills and very interested in the techniques you are using to fit the covers to the seat frames.I just happen to live in the same city as you and would love to meet uup some time and view your work/techniques if you are so inclined!Later & PEACE!!!!!

 

[Petrohead]

any info on where to start? like what tools are needed etc and how to do it? i want to play around with it too and amazing work your doing there

There is a "basic 7" set of tools from your local Tandy Leather dealer (approx $25). You will need a knife (approx. $25). and a mallet (approx. $15) That will get you started as far as tools. They offer a very basic beginners class(free at some stores) that's all I did. I have stuck alot into tools and supplys but you can really check it out with a fairly in-expesive beginers set-up and add on as needed. Let me know if you need anymore help.

 

[Petrohead]

I would say your being a bit modest when you say your "learning" its quite obvious you have learned.I would say at this point you are perfecting your skills! I too have tooling skills and very interested in the techniques you are using to fit the covers to the seat frames.I just happen to live in the same city as you and would love to meet uup some time and view your work/techniques if you are so inclined!Later & PEACE!!!!!

Well I am certainly learning as I am screwing as much stuff up as I am making nice. Thanks though. I would be happy to meet up sometime. Send me your info on a private message.

 

[Petrohead]

So, I go to test ride this 'ol 1950 Higgins I just got and 2 minutes in, flat tire on the back. GOAT HEAD. Any of you living in the desert know these relentless SOB's. So I pull the back tire off, repair it and finish my ride. Came out this morning and wouldn't you know but a flat on the front now. GOAT HEAD! Dammit!
Well this bike was purchased for the sole purpose of a rat bike. It shall be named.....GOATHEAD.
Well I had to start on the seat while I was so inspired. Here is the start.

Time to get some more tire slime.

 

[CYRUS]

Yep good ole goat heads, I did a lot of desert riding in my younger days, them and the lil jumpin cactus in the side walls. Great work, I cant wait till I relocate to Kentucky, my father inlaw works with and does custom leather, hehehe, so I can use his tooling and learn real cheap.... But once again outstanding work...

 

[Petrohead]

Almost done with the "Goathead" seat. Now to get to work on the bike.