Some progress on the leather.  Wet forming is not too difficult but I found out if you clamp the pressure needs to be well distributed.  It dents easily when wet and does not relax even with re-wetting. Drying on convection at very low temperature seems to work okay.

Ruttly wrote on 12/29/17 at 19:05:52:


Yes, started finishing today.  I plan to dye it and then waterproof it. Dyeing didn't go too well  .  The front or top accepted the dye reasonably well but the back drank it up.  I splashed some on the back to try to get it on as it was soaking in so fast and I was struggling to get even and that was a big mistake.  It soaked right through to the front.  It's not as bad now a after drying for a few hours but it's pretty uneven.  I'll sleep on it and decide what to later.  I might re-make the sling or try to salvage by going darker or just leave it for a while, plenty of other things to do and it's certainly good enough for shakedown runs.  The screws are temporary, once I get it finished I'll use copper rivets.

I'm not a leather working guy,but it looks like natural oils are in it where the stain didn't go.
Talk to someone who does leather for a living.
Or, hit the leather with something that would knock out oil.
Or, go with a veneer,

It got a little better with another coat.  Good enough to let it be for now.  If I was to do it over there would a bunch of things I'd do different but it's actually pretty comfortable especially supported by the air shock.  There are rings at the edges of the areas I slopped it on the back that probably won't ever even out.  They have topcoats that range from oils and waxes to acrylics and laquers.  I'm think laquer is a pretty good choice for the bottom and edges but might go with a wax or an acrylic on top, the laquer looks kind of faky.

Smokin Blue stopped by the other day to take a look and among all his other valuable input gave me a concept that got me fired up about handle bars.  So even though it's frickin cold in the garage I got a first draft started.  As with some of the other elements of the build this is something that's not easy to for me to draw on paper so I'm drafting in steel again     If I can get a geometry that's pleasing for looks and grip I'll clean up and cap the point  with carriage bolt head to finish it off.

Looks LOW!!What is the seat height, freestanding, and sitting on it?
Post a picture sitting on it so we can see where you have to reach to grip the bars. Sometimes things that look ''cool'', or ''right'' just don't work out after 50 miles down the road. (apehangers come to mind)
The old board track racers had low swept back bars to get the rider down and out of the wind, and they never had to turn them very far cause of the banking, they would hit the tank. Clip-ons weren't thought of yet.
I know you are going for the boardtrack style, not a exact replica. The tank is where you will be challenged to look period, but still be useful however you intend on riding it.
Are you going with a hand shiftier and foot clutch?
Looks awesome so far!

I wish I could express what it feels like to see you have it so far along so quickly.

So very cool , you must be itchin to ride it !