Okay, this is my first post in the Distressing section so I'm not sure if this has been discussed, but I thought I would post how I distressed a new pair of Wells Lamont gloves.
I had a pair of Wells Lamont gloves that hadn't seen too much use so I decided to distress them. I took rubbing alcohol and dampened the gloves with it. (as seen on Todds website) I did this while wearing them, balling up my fists, etc. to get creases and wrinkles in the fingers. Then I took some pieces of coal (there are RR tracks near my house) and crushed them with a hammer. I put the crushed coal in a bucket and then burned some paper and took the ashes and mixed them in with the crushed coal. I mixed the ashes and coal up into a granular/powder mix. Then I put the gloves on and ran my hands around in the bucket, balling up my fists and grinding the mix into the gloves. Then I took the gloves off and beat them on the pavement. Then repeated until I was happy. Here are the pics. Artificially distressed pair compared to another pair that I have that are naturally distressed.
The naturally distressed pair look great, but how long did that take, compared to the artificial distressed pair? I don't live near a railroad track, but I guess I could use some charcoal briquettes from the BBQ.
Indiana MarkVII wrote:The naturally distressed pair look great, but how long did that take, compared to the artificial distressed pair? I don't live near a railroad track, but I guess I could use some charcoal briquettes from the BBQ.
Uh, one afternoon of regular yardwork accomplishes this much 'distressing' for me.
I think both pairs look good! The problem I had with my Wells Lamonts is that the work I did with them only got the palm side distressed. I had to distress them so that the backs of my hands wouldn't be bright white!
I think also that it speaks well of the job you did that the artificially distressed gloves look like they could be the naturally distressed gloves, but just several months earlier! Have you distressed other gear?
The problem I had with my Wells Lamonts is that the work I did with them only got the palm side distressed.
Come on down here and cut some grass with me, Shane! I guarantee you'll perspire clear through those gloves and they'll be just as dark, distressed, and SA as what you see Indy wearing on screen in Raiders.
Happens to me every time I work outside in our Southern heat and humidity.
Come on down here and cut some grass with me, Shane! I guarantee you'll perspire clear through those gloves and they'll be just as dark, distressed, and SA as what you see Indy wearing on screen in Raiders.
Happens to me every time I work outside in our Southern heat and humidity.
Michaelson, as usual, is correct. Unlike many of these items we want to distress which have low everyday utility, work gloves "work" exactly as advertised. Get a pair and wear them. Gardening, lawn mowing etc are great. Do not use a briquette for "distressing"! Rather, put on your gloves and clean out the ashes from your cold grill (or fireplace, wood stove etc.) When you are ready for a barbeque, dig deep into the bag of charcoal while wearing your gloves. Leave them on and pull weeds while the coals ash over. Let your sweat soak the leather. Take them off wet and dirty and leave them by the door outside in the sun. When you need them again, put them on, clap off the loose chunks and get right back at it. Change or rotate your tires...whatever, WORK in them. You will soon be getting a second pair since your first pair will not be fit for a stuntman.
I thought of this thread when my Wells Lamont goat-leather gloves wore out on the last day of the dig, and thought I would share photos of my gloves with "natural archaeological distressing" (they were brand-new before the dig):
The "distressing" was mainly from the pickaxing as well as moving this large ashler stones used for the citadel's walls:
I would think one afternoon of yard work would distress them quite nicely. When I worked in construction I would go through one pair of gloves per day when I was doing masonary work. The abrasion from the bricks and blocks would wear them through. My boss actually kept a big box of them in the back of the truck, I guess he bought them by the gross or something.
What I found to work real well to give my gloves a good distressed look was brake dust from the front wheels of my car. I took a fresh pair of Wells 1130's, used the rubbing alcohol to get the creases good and set then the next day after they were dry I nicked them up good with a rough file and gave my brakes a good check. In my opinion they look awsome. The brake dust will not rub off which at first I was worried about. They look like they have been run through the mill.
rubbing rusted anything, i.e. wire, barbed wire, nails etc. will help a LOT. also try diluting slightly some black paint and lightly dabbing it with a sponge, then rub together
](./images/smilies/Indy_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
Well.... we'll see. 
