Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Cameroo on March 07, 2011, 12:15:04 am

Title: "Chief" Arm Guard (Finished)
Post by: Cameroo on March 07, 2011, 12:15:04 am

Just started another arm guard tonight.  I was really worried about whether or not I could pull of this kind of detail, but it's actually going surprisingly well.  I found that I have much more control of the stamping tool when I just apply pressure and slide it along, rather than the technique I've used in the past, which was continuously tapping with a hammer while moving the stamp along.

I'm feeling really good about this one now.  I'll probably add some arrowheads or something to fill in the empty space on the sides.  That's it for tonight though, T.V. time now :)

(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/cbergerman/Chief/P1010450.jpg)

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Elktracker on March 07, 2011, 04:22:38 pm

WOW that is really nice!

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: John K on March 07, 2011, 05:20:19 pm

Looking good, i look foward to the finished product !

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Pat B on March 07, 2011, 05:25:38 pm

I used to have a tool(s) that was about the diameter of a pencil with a different shaped burnisher on each end just for working around these lines like you are doing. I don't remember if they were bought from Tandy's or another commercial leather working supply house. That was about 35 years ago.  ;D
  Nice start on this one, Cam. Looking forward to your progress.

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Lee Slikkers on March 07, 2011, 06:12:35 pm

Wow!  That looks excellent...so you are not using the mallet at all, just hand pressure as you move along the cut?

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Cameroo on March 07, 2011, 08:48:24 pm

Thank you guys.

That's right Lee, haven't touched the mallet yet on this one.  All I've done so far is print out a picture of the design, taped it onto the cased (dampened) leather so it doesn't move, then traced the major details from the picture with a scribe (I'm assuming that's similar to what you are referring to Pat? It's a scribe on one end and spoon shaped burnisher on the other).

I actually haven't made any cuts with the swivel knife either.  I'm just sliding the beveler along the scribe mark (you can see the scribe marks in the hair, I haven't got there yet with the beveler).

These are the only tools I've used up to this point.  95% of it so far was done with the beveler on the left.  I used the middle punch for the eyes. The scribe I used is on the right.

(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/cbergerman/Chief/P1010456.jpg)

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Elktracker on March 07, 2011, 08:58:58 pm

Thats really cool I have never seen this done nor do I know much about it, is there any good videos or other info on how to do this or get started doing this? What is it called so I know where to start my search? I have some saddle leather like what you are useing and i would like to try an arm guard like this, im guessing the tools are pretty cheap if you get them used?. Thanks

Josh

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Pat B on March 07, 2011, 09:45:33 pm

Cam, the one with the red handle is what I was talking about.
 Josh, it is called leather tooling.

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Cameroo on March 07, 2011, 09:48:46 pm

Josh - The general name for this type of thing is leather carving or tooling.  There are a lot of videos on you tube, but probably the best way to get started is to just dive in and fool around to see what the different tools can do.  I've only been doing this for about 2 months and am still learning with every piece I do.  

You can buy different leather carving kits from Tandy from beginner to advanced.  That's a good place to start.  I got the deluxe kit on sale for around $60 (regular price was around $250).  The kit has all the basic tools you'll need, different stains, and several projects to practice on.  Tandy has some really good sales, you just have to watch for them.  Also, a member card will save you big $.  I've seen the stamping tools as cheap as $4 each on sale (with a membership).  It would be hard find them cheaper than that, even used.  I'm not try to push Tandy down your throat, just telling you how I got started.  There may be better sources, I just don't know of any.  Some people make their own punches using large nails or bolts, but it would be very hard to make some of the tools with different textures on them.

I'm still pretty much a novice myself, but I'll answer any specific questions that I can if you need help.  I'm not sure if you were following my earlier posts, but you can find a bit more info there regarding some of the techniques I used and the different tools. Check these out:

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,23397.0.html (http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,23397.0.html)

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,24297.45.html (http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,24297.45.html)

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Elktracker on March 07, 2011, 10:06:13 pm

WOW that is some amazing work!!!!! Looks time consuming but well worth it, ill be watching out for more of your work for sure. Thanks

Josh

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Cameroo on March 08, 2011, 02:03:02 am

Made a bit of progress tonight.  Pretty much finished Chief, then added a couple arrowheads to fill in some space on the sides. Wish I woulda paid a bit more attention to centering him, so that arrowhead on the right wasn't so close to him.  Oh well.

Next is some background filler, then check everything over, and start staining.  Here's where I got to tonight.

(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/cbergerman/Chief/P1010470.jpg)

(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/cbergerman/Chief/P1010475.jpg)

Looks like he's pouting a bit :)

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Rick Wallace on March 08, 2011, 02:20:56 am

He is pouting because you missed the target!!   he he     That looks great! Leatherwork is another thing on my list to learn,,,One day...... ;D

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Elktracker on March 08, 2011, 02:28:13 am

I think him being slightly off center looks good imo gives it more character once you get the filler in there it will look like you meant to do it. I like it allot

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: skyarrow on March 08, 2011, 07:40:17 pm

Man that's lookn good  ;D

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Cameroo on March 09, 2011, 01:35:29 am

Got a bit more done tonight.  Filled in all the empty space with the seeder tool (good times! :P ) and the did some of the staining on the face.  Pretty happy so far.

(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/cbergerman/Chief/P1010481.jpg)

(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/cbergerman/Chief/P1010485.jpg)

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: GregB on March 09, 2011, 09:48:06 am

Beautiful work! I've been doing some leather carving myself mostly on knife sheaths. Kinda of difficult for detail work because I don't have a lot of room to work with on such a small piece of leather as a sheath. I especially like the results of your dying combinations.

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Pappy on March 09, 2011, 09:53:08 am

Just beautiful,I like that a lot. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Cameroo on March 09, 2011, 10:13:18 am

Thank you Greg. I saw a sheath that you made with the squirrel.  Looks really good!

I found with the stain, if I dilute it with water it makes it easier to control the darkness of it.  It works well for areas that you want to be highlights.  Then in the shadow areas you can either go over the same area several time with the diluted stain and build up, or just use the straight stain undiluted.

Thanks Pappy!

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Lee Slikkers on March 09, 2011, 11:21:42 am

Hey Cameroo, that is turning out awesome...the dye work really provides some depth and makes the work "pop."  Love it...when you did your initial layout what/how did you do the stencil work or put the pattern down on the cased leather?

Anyway, stunning work as usual...

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Cameroo on March 09, 2011, 12:37:53 pm

Hey Lee,  thanks!  I don't have a picture of the "picture" that I used for the pattern (I'm at work  >:D ).  But usually what I'll do is just draw something out (or in this case I cheated and found a picture of "Chief" on google.  I am kinda artsy but not that great at drawing).  There are different ways to make the pattern.  For example, in the arm guard I made with the 2 deer, I used trace paper, put the outline of the arm guard on it, and then just filled the space by tracing different examples of leather carving from a book I bought.  In the case of Chief, I just printed it off on normal paper.

Then it's just a matter of casing the leather (wet it down with a sponge and let it sit a few minutes till the color goes back to normal, then the water has been absorbed and it's ready to tool), laying your patter on top (I tape it down so it doesn't slip), and then go over your lines with a scribe to transfer the design on to the leather.  With good veg-tanned leather, you don't have to press very hard at all.

Hope that answers your question. Better get back to work ;)

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Lee Slikkers on March 09, 2011, 01:08:45 pm

Thanks bud, I'll give that a try...your work has really got me motivated to try a project I've had in the back of my mind for a while now.

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Cameroo on March 09, 2011, 01:57:20 pm

Quote from: Lee Slikkers on March 09, 2011, 01:08:45 pm

Thanks bud, I'll give that a try...your work has really got me motivated to try a project I've had in the back of my mind for a while now.

Glad to hear it, keep us posted when you start!  One more tip - if you're unsure of whether or not something will work, just try it on some scrap first so you don't ruin your project half way through.

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Elktracker on March 09, 2011, 02:11:27 pm

That is looking really nice! The more I look at that the indian isnt off center I think it just looks like it a little because of his hair blowing in the wind to the one side ;D
GREAT WORK!

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Cameroo on March 09, 2011, 02:36:11 pm

Quote from: Elktracker on March 09, 2011, 02:11:27 pm

That is looking really nice! The more I look at that the indian isnt off center I think it just looks like it a little because of his hair blowing in the wind to the one side ;D
GREAT WORK!

Ya, that's actually what I meant to say before.  The face is actually centered perfectly, but I wasn't really paying attention to how close the right arrowhead was when I layed it out. I was just looking along the outside edges to make sure they were the same distance in from the sides. No biggy though, I think it looks OK now :)

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Elktracker on March 09, 2011, 02:42:26 pm

Ya it sure does!

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Postman on March 09, 2011, 10:52:29 pm

Excellent work!

Title: Re: Another Arm Guard - I'm calling him "Chief"
Post by: Cameroo on March 10, 2011, 01:25:42 am

Thank you Postman.

Here's the latest update.  Pretty much finished staining tonight.  Gotta put a finish on it and then put some eyelets in for the lace or bungee cord, and that should do it.

(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/cbergerman/Chief/P1010503.jpg)

Title: Re: "Chief" Arm Guard (Finished)
Post by: Pat B on March 10, 2011, 11:54:12 am

Your detail work sure makes these jump! Gives a real 3D effect.  8)

Title: Re: "Chief" Arm Guard (Finished)
Post by: mullet on March 10, 2011, 12:04:44 pm

Truly amazing, that is Super Nice!

Title: Re: "Chief" Arm Guard (Finished)
Post by: Cameroo on March 11, 2011, 12:27:24 am

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback, and your opinions mean a lot to me.

I put some Super Sheen on tonight (makes it hard to get pictures without glare), put the eyelets in, and laced a bungee cord on, although I'll probably swap it out for leather lace.  Here's the final pics.

(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/cbergerman/Chief/P1010513.jpg)
(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/cbergerman/Chief/P1010516.jpg)
(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/cbergerman/Chief/P1010514.jpg)

Thanks for looking!

Title: Re: "Chief" Arm Guard (Finished)
Post by: NTD on March 11, 2011, 12:36:37 am

I used mine for the first time tonight Cam.  I Love it!  And it didn't get scuffed up at all.  I think the finished you used will hold fine.

Title: Re: "Chief" Arm Guard (Finished)
Post by: Cameroo on March 11, 2011, 12:46:56 am

Good to hear Nate.  I put about 4 coats on this one  ;) Don't want it to get ruined!

I'm not sure yet what style I prefer - the lace-up closure like this one, or the boot hooks like on yours.

But I'm glad it's working for ya!  You'll have to model it when you post your next bow! :)  Keenan keeps threatening to post a picture of his, but I haven't seen it yet ;) hint hint... :P

Title: Re: "Chief" Arm Guard (Finished)
Post by: Elktracker on March 11, 2011, 04:50:15 am

That turned out awsome man, great job! :o

Title: Re: "Chief" Arm Guard (Finished)
Post by: bucksbuoy on March 17, 2011, 11:41:03 pm

you are really good with leather man!

Title: Re: "Chief" Arm Guard (Finished)
Post by: Jesse on March 18, 2011, 03:21:00 am

Quote from: bucksbuoy on March 17, 2011, 11:41:03 pm

you are really good with leather man!

I second that