Dragon Armguard

[stringnstik]

Here is my latest armguard.
Made it before Wisemans but didnt get the time to show it off.

[billb]

Having seen this armguard in real life it is absolutely fantastic workmanship.
A thing of quality & beauty!

[M.Hogan]

nice work!!
Do you cut the design into the leather???

[Coach]

Very trendy , well done

[pdccr]

Exquisite! Did you do the design by hand?

[Stickbow Hunter]

Nice craftsmanship but sorry I don't like the artwork.

Jeff

[Coach]

Nice craftsmanship but sorry I don't like the artwork.

Jeff

I thought we said only nice things here

I thought he did a good job on it ,,especially seeing as how it is a symmetrical design . These are hard to get perfect ,, I know I hate doing them as tattoos

Dont worry stringnstik ,, just ignore the MEANIE

[Stickbow Hunter]

Dont worry stringnstik ,, just ignore the MEANIE

He wouldn't be the first one to.

Jeff

[Coach]

Dont worry stringnstik ,, just ignore the MEANIE

He wouldn't be the first one to.

Jeff

So you're mean to a lot of people

[Stickbow Hunter]

So you're mean to a lot of people

Jeff

[Coach]

I thought so ,, thats what I have heard
OK enuff spamming

[Trad Bound]

That is really nice, mate 9 months ago on a hot windy day( Black saturday) to be precise a young fellow( in your dreams) and his wonderful family visited me to learn about leather work. Mate it is time for me to return the visit to learn from you. Like everything you do you have perfected it. Be very proud of your work . Psst I like the art work and I look forward to seeing some more. Well done.
Broken arra

[Longclaw]

I'm the very happy owner of this is a beautiful armguard and I can tell you that as well as looking good it also works really, really well!

Many thanks to Stringnstik - my arm is now bruise-less

[Len]

Hey great work Mark, very nice !

[stringnstik]

nice work!!
Do you cut the design into the leather???

Yes I vector an image then play with it in inkscape or corel draw then draw/trace the design onto the leather. Using a leatherwork swivel knife I cut the design in. Then stamp down the leather. I paint the indent with black to really make it stand out.

Nice craftsmanship but sorry I don't like the artwork.

Jeff

Geesh your a hard man to please Jeff. arnt I lucky it wasnt designed for you :lol

And yes Coach you right on with symmetrical designs being a tad tricky. The eye so easily picks up little "skirmishes' when it has two to compare. But that was the challenge I set myself for this one.


Tony, this padawan still has a lot to learn mate.

thanks for the encouragement and posts people...except Jeff :lol

[Wolfgang D]

Awesome armguard mate! I now take pitty on my plane, hairy armguard!
Atleast mine, like your's does the job I suppose!

[Dragon]

Hey, I'm the Dragon here!

You're gonna get some compition, I've just recently invested in some leather tools, and I plan to make myself a dragon armguard. Along other projects.

Very nice work, by the way. I like the design

Barnham

P.S.
Question: where do you get your transfer paper?

[stringnstik]

Awesome armguard mate! I now take pitty on my plane, hairy armguard!
Atleast mine, like your's does the job I suppose!

Why thanks Wolfgang.
To me its more than an armguard, its more than keeping a clean sleek thoroughfare for the string to pass by..its like this thing that "points" the bow and then arrow to the target. In archery the armguard is everything, the spiritual center..each guard contains a hair from Merlin and the astrosymetric guidance system of a lost alien race.


..................................and if you believe that youll by one of my armguards :lol

[stringnstik]

Hey, I'm the Dragon here!

You're gonna get some compition, I've just recently invested in some leather tools, and I plan to make myself a dragon armguard. Along other projects.

Very nice work, by the way. I like the design

Barnham

P.S.
Question: where do you get your transfer paper?

Hey Dragon you go for it I enjoy it too much to be a competition Get some tools and get pounding. I warn you its addictive tho

RE Transfer ha well you see thats a trade secret I dont generally use transfer paper.
simply print the design out at size, place paper over a sheet of waxd paper (ie from the kitchen dont tell the wife and place this on the lightly wet leather. Using a "modeler" tool, which is just like a metal ball point pen. trace the design. no need to push hard at this point. It will come up on the leather. You dont need the wax paper either I just find its better.The paper doesnt stick to the wet leather and does not tear thru .

Happy pounding!!

[perry]

stringnstik, good work there. Striking pattern, smooth stamping and good contrast. What type / number of stamping tools are you using, are you just finishing with a modeling spoon. I have several differant textured stamping tools for knocking down designs. I've been thinking of filing smooth some of the textured stamping tools I don't use often.

I'm also wondering about where you got the buttons for your elastic to hook over, they finish off your armguard nicely. I have been modifying small bone buttons and using long rivets.

regards Jacko

[Mububban]

Nice work mate.

Any chance you coud take a closeup pic of the tool/s you used for stamping, and your swivel knife? I've done some basic leather depression designs before, but my friend's swivel knife is either rubbish or I am rubbish with it I ended up using a scalpel to cut the lines, then a small stamp tool with an angled head to depress the border, but I couldn't get the knack of depressing a larger area with the flat stamp he had. Edging was fine, but I made it look lumpy over a larger area.

[stringnstik]

Hey guys,
Ill answer you both at the same time if you dont mind.
Im still learning re tools. Still trying different techniques but hopefully this info will help you and save you a load of time.
I use the Tandy site
http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/default.asp Leather Stamps page as an index to stamps numbers n such. IF you use the "show all" option and then browser search (F3) you can quickly identify tools.

I had been using a B200 bevler but often found it left light lines. These can be smoothed out by the spoon tool but its always best to not make the mark in the first place So lately, especially after doing the larger job on the buckler
http://www.ozbow.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9417
I use the F890,F895,F896. They dont leave those edge lines behind. I need an F891 to complete the set especially in tight spots. Those and the F902 are my dominant tools.

For larger areas, I hear your pain. The photos hide mine a tad. Its all about leather depth, wetness and time. MAny runs of light pounding instead of fewer runs of hard. I think its just practice. Like going from a large stamp to a fiddly little stamp. The big one hardly makes a mark and the little one promptly puts a whole in You kinda learn to adjust your tapin to suit . PRACTICE :lol

Background. There seems to be two sizes of "waffle" or cross hatch. One is quiet sever (like A104) while the other is much finer B198. I prefer the finer. But I dont use them much like you mentioned.

buttons I believe they were from Spotlight. Not cheap either. Wooden buttons are getting hard to find. I have made a few and then poker (hot iron) burnt a design in. The other day I punched a dozen round "buttons" out of leather. Im going to stamp a design in them then case it in hot water to harden the leather to woodlike consistency.

Swivel knife Sharp sharp sharp and practice practice There are different blades too. Mine is a straight like a HCS1055. I strop it whilst Im using it to keep it sharp. I'ts a little nerve racking, your sure its going to slip but so far its never gotten away from me. Tight turns still give me a little trouble. Nice technique here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6siJ_tZ2lfw
basics here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP_aoQofORc

Round knife...now there is a tool to handle

hope this helps

[perry]

Thanks for the reply stringnstick. Since I started gatherering the correct tools my carving has improved no end. Just wish I could afford to buy quality leather more often, would be getting even better results.

regards Jacko

[Chase N. Nocks]

Perry, I've got an armguard you made for me that is bloody beautiful...my arm too fat at the moment for it too sit proper. Between the book I bought you and the armguard I got the bargain mate.

stringnstik says

buttons I believe they were from Spotlight. Not cheap either. Wooden buttons are getting hard to find. I have made a few and then poker (hot iron) burnt a design in. The other day I punched a dozen round "buttons" out of leather. Im going to stamp a design in them then case it in hot water to harden the leather to woodlike consistency.

I like this idea mate, thanks for the tip and the link to tandy leather. Perry is soon to start teaching me a bit of leather work...poor bugger.

[Mububban]

Brilliant, thanks mate Very much appreciated.