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For leather tools to start out with. No need to spend lots of money... I did all the tooling on this seat witha crochet needle.

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First you go to a leather store and buy vegetable tanned cowhide..... Not chromed tanned. As it won't soak up moisture like you want. But vegetable tanned will.... Put some tape on the back of the leather while it's dry first then soak down the face with a rag or a spray bottle will work alittle better. Then press or carve your design into the leather while it's wet. Not soaked all the way through and gooie..... But damp... You'll get a feel for what I'm saying by trying a small test piece... After your design it carved... Your hands will hurt a bit from holding the tools......... So give a day or so to dry and harden. Get your seat prepaired.... Either by drilling and riveting or if your gonna lace a piece over the edge to hold it down to the pan... I usualy rivet or screw a piece about 2" all the way around the bottom. Letting it stick out alittle. Then after it's set to the pan and if you use screws. Cut off the pieces that stick towards your ass before you glue on your padding!!!!!!!!!!!

Then with a really sharp razor cut the leather around the pan to about 5/8" around the whole edge so it sticks out enough to work with but a nice clean flowing edge...... Glue your foam on with spray adhesive. I usualy use two layers of blue sleeping pad foam for camping from your local wally world.... Glue one layer on at a time with spray adhesive. Once it's dry. Shape with an angle grinder very carefully or if you have air tools a 2" sanding disk works great for this............. Glue a piece of heavy garbage bag onto the foam after all the shaping is done to keep your seat from being a sponge in the rain. If your water proofing fails.

Then start your sewing or lacing at the front or the back edge. Going equal amounts from your center point at the same time. Your top piece will also be pretty wet as your sowing it on. So it will dry and shrink to a tight fit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I use a small drill bit and a cordless drill to make my holes as I go. Just the way I do it............... And sew and pull it tight as your work along the edge. Pulling equal amounts and sewing both sides at once. Should keep it tight enough to hold your leather down in the curve of the pan. So there is no gap when it drys.... Let it dry for a day or two. (this can be sped up by putting it in a car with the windows rolled up on a sunny day)

Then water proof with several coats of oil or silicone spray. And let dry. Then ride it like you stole it;..

http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c384/wagouche/?action=view&current=Finishing3006.jpg

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The crochet needle I used I did nothing too. I made my desing by simply pressing it into the leather while the leather was wet. Then it drys that way and stays. I'm sure sarge is using stamps. Much more exspensive to buy. Found at tandyleather or fine leather supply shops. Sometimes craft stores will sell small get started kits......

Stamps are used by hitting with a small hammer or usualy a small wooden or leather mallet. I made the seat on my bike with the hondachopper logo this way a few years ago. But I had borrowed the stamps.

I've also made carvings using a fine wood chissel set. Very carefully cutting the damp leather just a little at a time...


The design if you can't draw it freehand. Can be transferred by tracing it onto the leather (that is damp but not soaked) by putting the paper drawing over your piece and tracing it with a dull object like a crochet needle lol... Or a pen with no ink. Then retrace the pattern on your leather that you've transferred to make it deeper and more permanent. Do some test pieces first to get a feel for these..


Also it's a good idea to put the foam on your seat and ride it a little to make sure the pan is perfect before spending hours carving stamping and lacing....... If the seat pan isn't perfectly comfortable on your tailbone. Modify it before you put final covering on it.............. Saves alot of frustration. Good luck and take your time.

I just traced my drawing with the chrochet needle I bought very thin ones too not the huge ones grandma uses lol.... They were pretty pointy right outta the package. And just rubbed the design into the leather.