Leathersmiths.....show us yer stuff, (#1) THIS THREAD IS NOW CLOSED

Irish Dave · December 16, 2008, 10:35:49 AM

Thanks guys, you're very kind.
And coming from this talented bunch, it's even more meaningful.

Ace Lungger · December 16, 2008, 11:00:54 AM

:)Howdy Pards,
Sorry I havn't been on much! Lot's of things that i didn't need to bother you all with! I will try to catch up! Dave, very pecissice and elangant design on your spurs starps, very perfection at it best! Great color, flowing design work with the perfert stamping and the nice conohs.
very nice stitch work on your holster, also very complimentory stamping! But I exept no less from you.
Keep the form rolling, for I havn't been working on anything! have a complete rig all cut, one holstered stamped, 1/3 of the belt stamped, the other holster cut out, just havn't felt like sitting down and working on it, and also trying to get my R.R.B. 45-70 finished!

Dave thanks for sharing for all of us to see!
It won't be long before TW will be kicking it in high gear, and doing some stuff, he is getting stronger everyday, and i know he is ready to get to making something.
It takes you Pros, showning us rookies the awesome work you do, and then giving all of us help and couarge to jump and try something new.
Keep it coming guys!
Devoted but slow, Rookie!
ACE

RollingThunder · December 25, 2008, 06:26:46 PM

Irish Dave. Dadgum you! I think I'm doing a good piece of work and then you go and post that. You dratted confoundigan you!

And yes that's a word. I done wrote it in my Funk and Wagnall's myself!

Anyway, I thought I'd finally get brave enough and show some of my playing around on here.

Hope ya'll find it interesting, and be gentle, I'm not particularly perfect yet, but gettin' closer by hairs every day!

Be gentle now ... heheheh.

Dr. Bob · December 25, 2008, 06:48:10 PM

RT,

That's mighty fine looking work!! Ya don't need to worry about posting good looking leather like that!!

I really like the roping cuffs!! Primo!!

RollingThunder · December 25, 2008, 08:17:35 PM

Thanks very much Dr. Bob. Anyone ever tell you that you look a lot like Gene Hackman?

santee · December 25, 2008, 08:58:29 PM

Seriously nice stamp work there.

RollingThunder · December 25, 2008, 09:17:02 PM

Thanks Santee. I dunno about nice. But there's a lot of Stamping in there. I'm not really good at carving (still working on it), so I'm sorta left with stamping as my only real strength when I want to do something that's a little fancier. So on those cuffs, I wanted to do something that would resemble lace. When I first did it, I absolutely hated it, but just kept building on it, and it kinda turned out OK.

The finish was a long time coming. I alternated a light coating of EVOO, a light coating of Carnauba Creme, a light coating of Pure Neatsfoot Oil, a light coating of EVOO, a light coating of Carnauba Creme, a light coating of Pure Neatsfoot Oil, a light coating of EVOO, a light coating of Carnauba Creme, a light coating of Pure Neatsfoot Oil ... well you get the idea. Then I stained them with antique brown transparent stain, then hit them with a coat of Super Shene, then a light coating of Carnauba Wax, then a light coat of Super Shene, then a light coat of Carnauba Creme.

All to see if I could get that built-up look of leather that's been rode hard, put up wet, and rode hard some more.

Dunno if I succeeded, but I sure learned something along the way.

And that would be that there would have to be a lot easier way to achieve that end.

Ten Wolves Fiveshooter · December 25, 2008, 09:46:59 PM

RT beautiful work Pard

tEN wOLVES

Marshal Will Wingam · December 25, 2008, 09:51:44 PM

Great stuff, RT. You don't need "gentle". Your work is first rate. All the straps and the cuffs are very nice work. Each one had a little something I liked better than on the others. I really would be hard pressed to tell which one I liked better. Thanks for the pics.

Johnny McCrae · December 25, 2008, 10:31:30 PM

Howdy Rolling Thunder,

Well if that's "playing around" I'd sure like to see what you can do when you get down to business!

Seriously, those are beautiful designs and excellent workmanship! We look forward to seeing more of your work. Many thanks for sharing this with us.

RollingThunder · December 26, 2008, 08:11:13 AM

Thanks much pards, I appreciate the encouragement ... I still have lots to learn, as like I said, tooling and carving is a real weak point for me. But I'm practicing as much as I can. Keeps me out from in front of the computer, which makes the War Department happy here on the homefront.

I'm probably gonna have to be real frugal as to how I go about affording this hobby, though. Just got hit with a pay freeze and a pay cut before Christmas. But hey, I still have a job. For that I am grateful. Just gotta figure out a way to make up what got cut.

I hear circus clowns are in demand ...

JD Alan · December 26, 2008, 09:41:55 AM

Let me echo Johhny's comment: If that's playing around, I can't wait to see your serious stuff! I especially like the "Frog Skin" look on those spur straps, but everything is outstanding. I've been practicing stamping and spot setting, and I see I still have a long ways to go before posting anything here. Thanks for sharing your inspiring work, JD

RollingThunder · December 26, 2008, 09:58:52 AM

Hey JD ... if I can post here, anyone can post here! Throw up some pitchers, pard!

HorsePen Henry · December 26, 2008, 10:59:24 AM

Yep JD. Go ahead and post them pictures of yer stuff on here. None of us can laugh at yers without first laughing at our own.

Real nice billfold, Marshall. Lucky Seven,eh? I can't remember which set my folks got me started on. It had all kinds a projects in it though. After that Dad would come home with a side at a time or sometimes a shoulder but he kept me in carving/tooling leather for quite a spell. Fond memories came back with that billfold ya made.

Thanks for showing us,
Horse Pen

cowboywc · December 27, 2008, 01:00:26 PM

Howdy RT
Yu got nothin to hang your head about around here. Your work is very good. I really like the
straps and cuffs.
Keep up the good work.
WC

Marshal Will Wingam · December 27, 2008, 05:15:26 PM

I split the posts on making tools off so we wouldn't hijack this thread.

You can find it here

Wiley Desperado · December 27, 2008, 06:37:02 PM

Man, that is great looking leather crafting there Rolling Thunder!! Very impressive. If you were playing around you won't ever have to get real serious about it. Thanks for sharing when is your next lesson? Sign me up.

RollingThunder · December 27, 2008, 07:39:42 PM

Gorsh Wiley! Ya'll are gonna make me blush!

Actually, the next lesson I'll be involved in is over at the tool making post, learning how to recycle old bolts to make my own custom tools. LOL. And Marshall Will is the professor.

RollingThunder · December 27, 2008, 08:08:52 PM

Alright fellas ... so here is a question for you. Do you think it would be a bit uppity of me as a newby leatherworker to have a maker's mark?

Here's what I designed. The design around the edges sorta represents the stamping that I do better with than tooling.

Thoughts? I'd sure appreciate any advice.

Dalton Masterson · December 27, 2008, 08:22:21 PM

Looks like a fine stamp to me! I think if you are making something and are proud of it, heck yeah, put your stamp on it! You going to Grayghost graphics for the stamp?

I have made a few I want to take my stamp off of, but they never leave the house, lol

DM