Well it's raining in west Michigan this morning and I need/ want a new Armguard for the 2014 hunting season. Tik Tok I know so let's get going!
   

It will look great !  What sort of leather do you use for an arm guard ?
ChuckC

First case the leather with a wet cloth or sponge and wait until it turns back to its normal color.
Second  I trace the outline onto tracing paper by putting the picture underneath on a table use a Pencil or pen.
Third tape the tracing paper to the leather so it doesn't move and trace with a pencil.

QuoteOriginally posted by ChuckC:
It will look great !  What sort of leather do you use for an arm guard ?
ChuckC

Thickest stuff I can find usually 8 or 9 oz. then back it with pig skin. Can use thinner but if I put a compass in them it helps hide the thickness of the compass and is nice for tooling.

Well the weather got nice so I took, the boys out for some fresh air. I got 5 trail cameras moved and checked one card with 1000 pictures on it. It had been out a month and the card was full one nice 6pt trying hard to be an 8pt.
Got the letters and deer carved.
Cut hole for compass and straps.
Did some color highlighting.
Off to bed.
 
 

This gonna be sweet.

chimed in.. IT already looks better than my attempt at making pocket quiver.. haha

Enjoying this, real nice Chad.

Looking good Chad!

So I wanted a little contrast on this guard mainly on the deer and the Michigan text.
So got the 3 coats  of stain on.
Darkened the edges
Burnished the compass hole.
 

Now I need to cut the antler burs and attach them with brass
Write some scripture that's on my heart.
Fit and stitch in the compass
Cut the pig skin and glue it on.
Stitch the backing finish with neets foot oil
Add the straps.

Fill the freezer with vitamin rich lean protein venison!!!

What dyes, paints, techniques do you reccomend using for the tooled artwork?

QuoteOriginally posted by GDPolk:
What dyes, paints, techniques do you reccomend using for the tooled artwork?

Water based leather dye is what I use it holds up the best and cleans easy. I mix and match to make colors I like. I have heard you can use acrylic paint if you seal it good but have not tried that yet. I use fine paint brushes for the tight spots and go over big areas with pieces of dipped cloth, sponges make to many air bubbles.

QuoteOriginally posted by Chad Orde:
 

QuoteOriginally posted by GDPolk:
What dyes, paints, techniques do you reccomend using for the tooled artwork?

Water based leather dye is what I use it holds up the best and cleans easy. I mix and match to make colors I like. I have heard you can use acrylic paint if you seal it good but have not tried that yet. I use fine paint brushes for the tight spots and go over big areas with pieces of dipped cloth, sponges make to many air bubbles. [/b]

Thanks.  I think I am going to make myself something similar, but with a reproduction of the woodburned arrows on my bow limbs' backs and my name on it.

Sweet looking arm guard! Thanks for the build along.  

Well I was in Denver for work last week and yes I went to Rocky Mountain Specialty Gear and shot a boat load of bows. Wow that place is cool and a hoot! Over a hundred new & used bows I would guess. Well hunting season is almost here Oct 1 and I have tabs to make and break in plus stands to hang, arrows to finish, etc.

That's really awesome! Would love to do the simplest version of that... Thanks for posting the picture Chad!

Chad, that looks great.  Thanks for taking us on the build.

Sweet!!!

A compass, what a cool idea!!
Great work!

Very nice!