Distressed Wested Lamb

[Pyroxene]

Well, it's been some time since sombody posted pics of their distressed jacket. So, I thought I would add my contribution to the Halls of Gear.

Here is my Raiders Wested Lambskin distressed purely with 91% rubbing alcohol using cotton balls and cotton swabs. No abrasives were used in the distressing of this coat.





Here is the jacket outside in the overcast sunlight.





Pyro.

[Canasta]

Proxyne,
Great job on the jacket.
It looks real nice.
I just took some photos of some additional distressing of my Wested Lamb earlier this week. As well as my PB Fedora.
When I get them scanned I will see if someone can post them for me.

Again,
Great Job!
Canasta

[Charles De Broglie]

Hmm... Does the alcohol Lift the Color of the leather, or just the oil?

[Pyroxene]

Hmm... Does the alcohol Lift the Color of the leather, or just the oil?

Alcohol will lift the color. There was not a drop of acetone used on this jacket.

[Indy_Chris]

Nice job! I had no idea you could use rubbing alcohol instead of acetone! I have seen MK's posting on his website, and I have been dying to try this, but I am a bit hesitant, simply because I don't know what areas to work-over! Could you please advise as to what areas you go over? Specifically, how did you do your jacket? I can see you spent a good amount of time on the center-back, elbows, shoulders, etc... Do most just figure what sections of the jacket would normally get the most wear and tear, and then just go over them? Thanks!!!

[Indy_Chris]

P.S. How much alcohol did you go through, and how long did it take? My guess is that the alcohol is not as potent as the acetone, so maybe it takes a little longer? Thanks again!

[Charles De Broglie]

Well if the Alcohol Does moves the Color then As soon as you apply it, the Color will lift.

[Rixter]

It looks really well done, especially noticeable in the outdoor pics which bring out the depth and richness. You must have to possess a bit of an artists eye to know what spots to hit and how much to shade/blend et. al. I'm sure I missed something, but what was the reason you chose to use alcohol over acetone; easier to control, less damaging to the fibers, you don't have to work as quickly...?

[Pyroxene]

When I placed the jacket on order, I started my research. The jacket in LC is my utmost favorite. From the motorcycle chase to Indy standing on the beach was what I used as a model for my distressing.

The inside seam on Indy's sleeve as Henry Sr. saying, "I wrote them down in my diary..." is interesting. 1/2 of the seam is distressed while other parts are fully distressed. But it's just on the actual seam not on the jacket sleeve. For something as detailed as that, I used cotton swabs.

Different from the other movies, in LC, I like how the seams are really light on the collar and the storm flap. But, for example, inbetween the seams of the storm flap, the jacket still has some of the original color. I especially like the big wear mark on the back of the jacket when Indy is on the beach.

I started on with the alcohol just to break the varnish. I noticed as I rubbed the jacket, some of the color started to lift. I continued working certain areas, the chest, back, arms.

A few days later, I put the jacket on and rubbed where my elbow is in the jacket. I also rubbed the top part of the sleeves after the jacket started to flex where my arm bends. Similar to what we see on Indy's sleeve.(Example scene: Indy says, "Alright Dad, tell me.") That way the distressing matched my natural movements.

While I had it on, I noticed that the wear mark on the back was too small. So, I increased it to my natural width.

All in all it took about 2-3 weeks of just taking it a little at a time. I used 1 and 1/2 bottles of rubbing alcohol. It was a fun project. I hope to do it again someday.

Pyr.

[Charles De Broglie]

So Pyro,

How exactly did you do this? Did you take a Paper towel and rub on the Alcohol, and Then dab it off with more Paper towel?

I dont want to Rub away all of the Color....

[Pyroxene]

So Pyro,

How exactly did you do this? Did you take a Paper towel and rub on the Alcohol, and Then dab it off with more Paper towel?

I dont want to Rub away all of the Color....

Yes, but with cotton. I would use several of them at a time. I purchased several bags from the store.

I wanted to be as soft as possible with this leather. I didn't want to damage it at all.

One thing I didn't encounter was being able to "just push some color over from a darker area" as described on MK's site. (http://www.regular-guy.com/jacket.htm) So, yes, you do have to be careful and try not to rub away all the color.

But, thanks to our friends in Green Bay, WI, they have a new product out with some tint in it. I would really be interested in trying some ideas I have. Like, what if you over distress and then bring some color back with the dressing? I am trying to use up my current supply of Pecards to try some of this new stuff.

I distressed this jacket after only having it for 6 hours. Why? Sombody posted some pics recently of a Wested Lamb that was 2 years old and had been distressed naturally. It was laying on the hood of a blue car, etc, etc. It looked really good. However, I thought to myself that surely it has a few scratches on it. I remember reading on the site "...raw leather will absorb the color and will never have that light color..." I figured that if I didn't do it now, I wouldn't have the opportunity the get exactly what I want in the future.

Besides, the jacket I am modeling it after, Indy's jacket, is, in fact, a new jacket that has been artificially distressed.

Whew.

Rabittooth's thread Care and Distressing and Care IN Distressing he said, "...I always seek the advice of more learned folks here before I do it, or am willing to suffer the consequences of potentially destroying a highly expensive and sought after gear item."

I have followed all the posts from Michaelson and MK and others and tried to take all the best advise and then add a something of my own. For me, that's the adventure in Indy Gear.

Best Regards,
Pyroxene

[Chamorro]

Why did you opt not to use acetone? Is there a specific reason?

[Pyroxene]

Why did you opt not to use acetone? Is there a specific reason?

I saw that alcohol was removing the color very nicely as well as breaking some of the sheen on my test area. I had the can of acetone there ready to go but never used it. The alcohol gave it a very nice blended or gradient color(s). It may not work on this other leathers but this batch of lamb it worked very well.

[Captain D]

Hey! That jacket looks excellent!

I too am in love with the "Last Crusade" look of the jacket as it distresses. I've got an old Wested Lambskin, Raider's style. that I may use the same techniques. Thanks for posting the pics along with all the very helpful info!
Captain D

[copper]

Hey Pyro that was my jacket on that blue hood I got to hand it to ya you did an excellent job.Itll proabally last longer than mine.Since the summer months my jacket is geeting a little break.Im still a little crazy tho when it rains down here I wear it out in the rain on purpose.Thats my artificial distresing.You deffintly got a great jacket looks like the bike chace scene from Crusade,love that part.Untill next time Copper.

[Bogie1943]

My Wested, it's a Raiders Cowhide with cotton lining, very nice!



My Wested when I first got it!



Distressed!



Ahh the close-up!

[Dr._J]

Hey Josh,

What did you use for your distressing job? Sandpaper? Looks good. I, too, have a cowhide and want to distress it; However Acetone doesn't work. Thanks.

Dr. J

[Doctor_Jones]

Great distressing job! Love it a lot! Wear it in good health!

Kind regards

Doctor Jones

[Captain D]

Yes Definitely!...

I too have a New Finish Cowhide and although I'm not too big on "artificial distressing," I'm curious to see how you distressed yours!

Captain D

[MK]

Looking good gentleman. There was a time when I was the only guy here with a hand aged jacket. Now there are plenty of us.

[Pyroxene]

I too have a New Finish Cowhide and although I'm not too big on "artificial distressing," I'm curious to see how you distressed yours!

Captain D

Thanks, MK.

My New Finish Cowhide will not distress. Amazing stuff that leather is.

[Michaelson]

....as time passes. In my business, I have to use solvents such as alcohol or the like for cleaning sensitive video equipment. All tech's recommend using liquid Freon over the use of alcohol as the alcohol will leave a residue on the surface after evaporating. This is still on your jacket, and will eventually dry the leather out faster than usual. Watch the areas especially around flex areas such as elbows and arms, as that's where cracking can occur due to the left over residue of the alcohol. Just a heads up. Regards. Michaelson

[Pyroxene]

Good tip. What I need now is a way to apply Pecards without changing the color of the distresssed areas. Hmmmmmm...

[Michaelson]

It has less tendency of darkening leather than the standard dressing. Regards. Michaelson

[Pyroxene]

It has less tendency of darkening leather than the standard dressing. Regards. Michaelson

Would that be the lotion or a different product you are talking about? Thanks.
Pyr.

[Michaelson]

....IS the lotion. It's correct full name is Pecards Motorcycle Leather Lotion. Regards. Michaelson

[Chamorro]

I have used the lotion on my distressed Wested Lamb and can report that it dries nicely and doesn't darken the leather. It will look really dark the first week or so but will soon go back to the way it was with just a smidge of darkening.

[Pyroxene]

Fantastic. I have some at home but haven't tried it yet. Thanks.

[Michaelson]

It's all I use on lambskin or lambtouch leather from Wested. Regards. Michaelson

[Chamorro]

Before you do it, I must add that the lotion conditions the leather. Well conditioned leather is, frankly, NOT distressed. If the distressed look is really important to you then don't do it. It will tone down the distressing you've done. It will still look well worn after it dries however. The lotion won't bring it back like regular Pecard's. If you choose to do it and are not happy with the results, a coating or two of Fuller's Earth dries it up nicely again. I've done all these things in the past depending on my mood and the look I wanted to achieve.

[Charles De Broglie]

That jacket is the Best distressing Job I've seen. That is just AWESOME Pyro. I've saved the Pictures so that I can try and do the same when I get my Wested Lamb.

[Pyroxene]

Watch the areas especially around flex areas such as elbows and arms, as that's where cracking can occur due to the left over residue of the alcohol. Just a heads up. Regards. Michaelson

Last night I applied small amounts of Pecards lotion to the seam areas on the jacket. The change in color is ever so slight if any. Michaelson, how often do you apply lotion to your jacket? Once a month? Once a week?