Club Obi Wan

First just let me say to anyone who might be contemplating using Todds technique for distressing their KOTCS back pack (the one on his site for the MKVII)

DON'T DO IT

It doesn't work the same, I know, I recently used Todds on my MKVII and that bag can take a beating. The german rucksack that Jens has found and sold to some of us (thanks again Jens for the hard work ) does not take the liquid bleach and powdered bleach the same way, it bleaches the bag to a mustardy yellow puckish color.

Once I started it i had to see it through, I had to do the process twice just so the pack was evenly bleached out. You'll see what I mean when you check out the picks below.
So this was the process I used.
1st: wet bag for half hour, then beat the bajezzus out of it.
2nd: bleached the bag (twice)
3rd: rinsed bag
4th: used a wire brush along w/2nd bleach/distressing
5th: rinsed bag again
6th: used ritt dye colors taupe w/mix of drk brown. Didn't do to much, it gave it some color but was still to tan. tried mixing in some drk grn, this help but still not there yet. What I wanted was a slight olive drap look.
7th" made a custom color: 1 bag kelly green, half cup of taupe, mixed in drk brown. All long I'm using some white swatches to get that drak OD color, cause I know the bag will take it differently.
8th: let bag dry
9th: used an artist brush to high lite w/drk brown some of the seams. (all of the dye process was done while bag was wet and dye was hot) w/artist brush was done when bag was dry.
10th: put in dryer w/low heat for 30min to get the dye to set.

It was a heck of a process and one I wasn't epexting to have taken, but in the end I think the bag looks to have been on many an adveture. I know, I know theres nothing like good ol real time adventures to give your items that SA look, but I don't have that many oppertuntys to do so. Plus distressing my gear is relaxing and I enjoy it. (sorry Michealson) Well I've blabed on enough, heres the pics.
Croft
Before:


Wet and beat up:


W/Todds bleach:


In a bucket of dirt (so I could use a wire brush w/bleach to break it in)


Bleached out:


W/1st dye process ( while bag was wet w/hot water I used a brush w/hot dye):


W/2nd dye process (did the same way:


Done:


Pic taken outside on a slightly cloudy day:



Hopefully the mods will allow this many pics, at least for a liitle while so people can see the process.

wow, looks great! Well done. I've had zero time for tinkering with my bag as I mentioned, but this has given me a little push. I'll need to get on and do some serious distressing.

good job again

Me likey!!!

Thanks for the kind words from all. It was one heck of a process, I was so concerned that I'd ruined it . Just be careful w/the bleaching process. After the first attempt, it looked like something out of the past. I knew at that moment I had to do another bleach/Todds disstressing .

The dye process was the most interesting, as I couldn't just put into a pot and let simmer. So I came up with idea of dipping in hot water till soaked, then using hot dye and literly painted the bag. You don't know how it'll look untill it's dried. Then repeat.

Croft

Looks nice! Like all of my gear...I'm just going for the "naturally aged" process. I pretty much use mine every day to lug my laptop to work in. You got a great result...even if you had a few heart attacks along the way

Man, you really brought that bag back from the brink of distressing disaster! The final product came out great.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Though you guys might like a reference photo of how age distress actually looks:
This rucksack has been in my family since it was used in the Norwegian resistance movement in WW-II.
It was originally an earthy brown.
It's as tough as nails. I use it regularly as my favourite backpack.
I'd say the distressed Indy backpack on this thread is pretty close. Well done.

I am going to start with washing my backpack a couple of times and let it sit out in the sun. I am afraid to go the lengths you did but your pack looks spot on.

Thanks, it actully went on it's first adventure this weekend to Boston. I needed something to put my clothes in, it was funny, my wife asked wht I wasnt using the suit case she was packing up. I just looked at her and said, but honey I put so much worjk into my back pack, what a shame it would be not to use, hmmmmm, now would it. She just gave me the look. But she smiled, cause she understands.

Croft.

ps: I down load the pics tommorrow and if any are worthy, I'll post em.

Great job Croft what a risk well taken

Wilson

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh shucks.

Croft