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• #277
I have recently molded a new leather top for a 1948 tensioned saddle frame. I used a plaster mold I made for the shape (cast from the old cover). From online researching you need to leave the leather soaking in the water until the tiny bubbles stop rising. The leather I used was over 6.5mm thick and took an hour in the bucket. It was very pliable at that stage. As Skully advises, the water should lukewarm and not be over 60 degrees C or the leather will shrink and becomes brittle as the structure of the leather changes.
The leather was then vacuumed formed over the mold, dried slowly, butchered, edges burnished, proofided and then beeswaxed and hand buffed.
It would have been cheaper to buy a new Brooks, but this bike is being crafted not rushed. Thanks for the inspiration and entertainment. -
• #278
Show us some pictures BigBlock?
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• #279
Skully, rather than hijack this post I have started one detailing my project of a New cover for an old saddle. I would welcome your comments.
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• #280
Hey,
hopefully you can all see the job Skully has done on my honey B17, I think it looks fantastic, cheers fella, beer coming your way when you want it,
Phil
http://static.londonfgss.com/memberpics6661-albums441-picture3723.jpg
3 Attachments
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• #281
A revival of this old thing.
I just re-shaped MrJones' B17, i.e. hammered the 'cantle plate' (the horseshoe-shaped thing that the rear rivets go into) so that its more curved, as the B17s are quite flat, unlike the other more expensive Brooks. It looks brilliant, I'm going to do this on a B17 of mine that feels too flat across the bum area.
I've also tied this one, with lots of holes drilled through the skirts of the hide and a bootlace criscrossing underneath, as this one was super soft and saggy, having already soaked and stuffed it, and trimmed the ends. Now if I can just find my stamping letters ...
Before and after Pics to follow when I've stamped it. It'll be like the plastic surgery ads in the back of crappy magazines.
@Mr Jones and Ved, sorry about the long wait. Shouldn't be long now, I just have to find the letters, got packed in the move and haven't unpacked everything yet.
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• #282
Skully - can you recover saddles - i have a Concor that needs doing?
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• #283
I can do that, easy
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• #284
Good stuff - just scared of botching it my self - will pm you when i know what i want doing!
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• #285
Have fun together you two.
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• #286
VV, ok, just let me know
Skully, sorry for the hijack -
• #287
In approximately an hour and a half I also intend to attempt a reshape of the cantle plate ( or Mangle as I prefer) on my B17, I'll let you know how it went after lunch ;)
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• #288
My Brooks is about 25 years old and has been cut a long time ago
unfortunately it was cut asymmetrically and the nose is twisted, when I untwist it it looks really odd because of the lopsided-ness
Do you think I should do the newspaper thing and when it's flatter just try to make it more symettrical before it sets? Do you just use a Stanley knife?
I don't want to ruin the most comfortable saddle I've ever owned
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• #289
Stanley: yes. Change the blade so it's razor-sharp. Score your line lightly first. Keep the angle that you score at the same each time. After two or three scoring strokes you should be able to cut. Use tape to mask/template what you're cutting off.
Not sure what to say about it being twisted... they often are, a little. I guess wear/stretch sometimes makes this worse.
I don't think the stuffing will make much difference, at a guess. But yeah I suppose if you're going to stuff it anyway, do that first.
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• #290
OK I've been wondering about doing something with a bit more of the skirt left on at the back, like the Brooks Swift, but tied underneath like the Swallow.
I'm going to call it the Skullyswift.
Probably could have left a bit more on. Its a first attempt so Joel's going to get a bargain.
Sorry, the photos are crap.
Two more saddles up shortly, that I have stamped and laced the skirts (rather than chopping them off). On one of these I have also reshaped (i.e.hammered) the plate to make it less flat and bring the side bits down and in a bit. Looks pretty good.
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• #291
i will bring mine down on frider, wilderness.
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• #292
cooley dooley.
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• #293
Here's some new work I just started doing, re-shaping the flat cantle plate of a B17 to make it curved, like a Team Pro or others have.
This is my B17 I've been riding a good amount for almost two years. It was soft and comfy to start then once worn in a bit, even with more tension added, it started to feel a bit like sitting on a very thick paper plate. Thought I'd try introducing a curve in to the catle plate, as well as soaking it and stuffing it to make it look like new. Its still got the stuffing in as it's not dry yet.
Before:
After:
Am probably going to trim this one a little too (nose and tail), and re-stamp the stamped letter now I have a new solid shoe-last to get a really good clear stamp more easily.
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• #294
Today's ride in to work has blown me away, the siginificance of this alteration is amazing ... So much better to ride now, it's tension is better all over rather than just a strip down the middle of the hide.If you have a B17 that feels soft, a bit broad or flat, get your hammer out or ask me to do it, cost: £5.
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• #295
still stamping for beers?
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• #296
Ummm I'm sort of off the beer. So yes, for £3.
Meet at a drinks or Soho / SE london.
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• #297
Skully, will contact you soon (next week) for some chop-chop, if you´re still up to it.
Beware of PM please. -
• #298
Skully do you chop by post still? I'm up in Northampton. Have a Black Team Pro waiting to go on a new project, that's begging for the Skully Swallow treatment.
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• #299
Hellooo northampton.
Yeah sure, I don't mind posting it. £20 for chop, with any lettering you fancy stamped on there.
I'm going to PM you now.
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• #300
this thread is a wonderful document of one mans obsession with hard leather, metal studs and mens arses.
Aah...i see.