Dusting up....

IndianaBogart · Post by **IndianaBogart** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:49 pm

With Halloween just around the corner, I was wondering how any of you guys dust up your gear. Last Halloween I didn't have any Fullers, but this year I do! At the KotCS premier I dusted up each piece of gear individually. But I was wondering if you guys do it differently. I was thinking about putting some fullers in a sock and letting my girlfriend or brother or somebody hit me with the sock, but I dunno how well that would work. Any ideas? Anybody???

Britt · Post by **Britt** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:42 pm

I am fortunate to live on a farm where we have had no rain in sixty days, so dusting up is simple run across the dusty pasture and maybe roll on the ground a few times. Amazing. As to having some one beat you with a sock it will probably leave sock shaped dust marks. Maybe stand on a sheet and let them throw it at you?

knibs7 · Post by **knibs7** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 4:37 am

all my gear is ALWAYS distressed and ALWAYS looks dusted up. I don't just do it for special events. I HATE having everything look like it still has the receipts.

Nibs

Britt · Post by **Britt** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:29 am

I have to agree Knibs, my gear looks well used! I guess because I use it! No better way to make it look good than wearing the work boots to work!

IndianaBogart · Post by **IndianaBogart** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:48 am

I have to agree Knibs, my gear looks well used! I guess because I use it! No better way to make it look good than wearing the work boots to work!

Oh I definitely agree with you guys. My boots and gloves and web belts, etc do look like they have a lot of mileage, and thats because they do - I use them. But I was referring more to stuff like my holster (which after being at school for two weeks, I'll finally get to open when I get home this weekend) and other things like that which I don't use frequently. I just needed to know what you guys considered a good way to put fuller's on ALL of my gear for halloween, to avoid part of it looking well used and the other part looking like if just came off the shelf. I might be a little confusing here; I'm sorry guys. But I was just wondering which gives the best effect: to put it on one peice at a time, or to somehow wear all of my gear and then put fuller's all over me? This might be kind of a dumb question, I know.

serrecuir · Post by **serrecuir** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:37 pm

I'm actually not a big fan of Fuller's earth. It's very fine (too fine, IMO), with the consistency of flour. It's a real pain to clean gear afterwards. I prefer, like Britt, to dirty up my gear the natural way (and less expensive way) - using real dirt. I live in Southern California, so the dirt is nice and light and dry. I prefer to put all of my gear on and literally roll around in the dirt. That way, the dirt sticks in the right places, like on the knees, elbows, etc.

If you dirty your gear on a mannequin or as individual pieces, the effect won't look realistic - it will look "applied" and not natural.

As a word of caution too, be careful applying Fuller's earth to your fedora. I've read it can be very tricky to remove. I've only dusted my hat with real dirt, and it's come out every time.

Kind regards,
Craig

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 7:40 pm

I use Fuller's when I dust up my gear, and I've done it several times.

Other people HAVE used the sock method and it seems to work. I use a powderpuff to get fine edges (ie. around the ribbon on my hat) and a blush brush (or whatever it's called) to do the rest of my gear. I do my boots, pant leg cuffs, knees, behind, gunbelt and bag strap (just a little), holster (along with sanding, some black paint, a pocket knife, and black pencil for distressing), and of course my jacket and hat. I don't ever put it on my shirt because it just doesn't show up very well. I don't dust my gloves either, but they are distressed.

I've never had trouble removing Fuller's from the felt of my Akubra or rabbit AB, and though the ribbon is a little difficult to remove it from, it never looks bleached or dusty after you try and remove it. It's just a tiny bit lighter.

Shane

IndianaBogart · Post by **IndianaBogart** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:24 pm

Thanks guys. Serrecuir, believe me, I would love to put all of my gear on and roll around on the ground, but in NC all we have is brown soil or red clay.

And I already have fuller's on my hat and I'm not worried about it coming out, cause I don't need it to come out. But it does wear off over time.

But yeah, I guess i just need to find somehwhere nearby that has sandy colored "Indy dirt".

Thanks guys,
IndianaBogart

maboot38 · Post by **maboot38** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:28 pm

Anyone ever notice the warning on Todd's Fullers bottle that says the product has been found to cause cancer? What's up with that? Makes me think twice about dousing myself with it.

IndianaBogart · Post by **IndianaBogart** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:53 pm

There's a thread about that somewhere. Basically its just required by law, but in reality it's harmless.