Anyone know how to make hoods look good?

[Sean]

Ok soon im gonna practise making a few anglo indian hoods. When i look at pics on the internet they are all colourfull and by the looks of it they are painted and varnised. does anyone know how i can do it. heres a few pics i stole

[The New Kid]

Put a photo of me on them!

[Wightwings]

there are plebty of patterns you can get hold of Sean, but the finish obviusly depends on the leather and how you work it . the "shiny" one for example are blocked and worked to that type of finish.

[Sean]

ok thanks :D

[Milsbon]

you can also get the shine on a hood using "saddle laquer" from anywhere that sell horsey stuff,

[Sean]

brillant thanks :D

[Hawkmaster]

Hey my Ex-Wife took that last picture above in her studio for gerry Lawson. I will put a pattern maker up for anglo-Indian hoods in the Pattern Section.

[Sean]

that wud be great thanks

[Tim Laycock]

The single most important thing in making a good looking hood, other than a basic knowlege of its assembly procedure is to make it from the right piece of leather. I find vegetable tanned is the best. not too thin mot too thick. Clean cutting of this leather is also required, I use a surgical scalpel blade once on a hood and then relegate it to other stuff.

If a good looking hood is what your after it is very easy and quick to make glued hoods :|

Dont under estimate the value of [glow=red:2050e4e071]clean hands[/glow:2050e4e071]!!! :D

[SakerJack]

Sean,
When you burnish your hood, make sure it is slightly damp, too dry it will "bruise" the leather. Most hoodmakers , when the hood is drying on the block will rub it(burnish) when it is almost dry, but still damp.. Be careful, if the leather is too wet or too dry, you will get markings on the leather and it is permanent.. And yes Saddle Lac or letaher shhen will also give you that look!!
Sakerjack
Falconry hoods International

[SakerJack]

Leather!!!!
Sakerjack

[Coedhirion]

Old saddler trick for scuff marks on leather is a bit of wall paper paste, as it dries you 'bone it' It works on hoods you use out in the field as a temp. tidy up, but I would never try it on a nice new, beautifully hand painted one!!! :roll:

[Tim Laycock]

Just a thought.
When making hoods from patterns in books be carefull as the pattern is never a true mirror image, for example photocopy some of Glasiers patterns and fold them down the centre line of the beak opening.
The degree of inaccuracy will shock you!
Use these patterns without prior modification and you will end up with a lopsided "Bird Hat". not a good looking hood!! :lol: :wink:

RE:- Anglo11.jpg

Does an "Ingot" of brass under the plume make for a good looking hood?
Personaly I dont like it :?

[Matt]

sean mate im **** at hoods but here goes.
draw the pattern on the ruff side of the leather.
wet the leather thuroughly then cut very slowly with a (fresh) blade get it right first time this is where small mistachs will show up when stiching and later in the overall hood "look" and fit.
die the fresh cut "blank" any colour you like . whsmiths sell good safe ink that can be used and set with a small amount of table salt. two good soakings will doo the trick but make sure the wax on the smooth face has been washed of with mild deturgent,
after the second die sesion wash the leather in cold water just let the cold tape run over it for as long as it takes for the exess die to wash away.
let it all dry not total but let i get to a semy card board state, this is the time to use the stitch marker in all the relavent places. cut brace slits plume holes ect . but if you intend to block the hood i would wait till later to cut the gape as it will strech and be to big for good fitting.
stich neetly take your time oal each hole by going through the face "smooth" side of the leather .
keep the thread tight but not over tight or it will scrunch up and look gay.
worse still rip through and balls up the hole thing.
keep the leather damp not p1ss wet and it will shape better and stich much smoother.
after the last stich has gone in stop for the night as rushing will defo reck it.
rewet the hood a good 30 second soak. and eather block it or mould it with your hands and a tea spoon. on anglos if you put your thumb in the eye area on the inside and the tea spoon on the out you can press the hood in the the curved shape of good hoods . taking out that "pointy corner look".
leave to set and dry for an hour.
cut your gape. use a very sharp blade if not branb new for this again slip ups will show here badly. angle the blade in so the face leather is slightly longer than the in side. after you have the key hole shape wet just the edge of the hole with warm water using your finger tips . roll out the slightly longer face edge and leave to dry.
once dry lacker or wax the hood most diy shops sell spray paint type lacker.
once dry after two or three light coats . its time to fit braces and plume. im not going in to that as im sure you will know it already pluss this is my worst part.
you may need to adjust the gape if so wet it and slowly cut off the bit you need rid of wet again and roll out the edge as befoire.


sorry about the grammer and spelling but i have a 5 week old musket on me fist and im strugling.
im sure the pro hood makers will slam me down on this post but eh im only trying to help with the bit i have learned this far.
one bit of advice dont give up, as every hood i have made so far is not in use as i feel they are not right yet. i must have made 100 by now as my misses will tell you they are every where . but to look at my first one and the ones i make now they do look better . they fit better . and they deffo get faster to make.
all the best matt and punch the musket
p.s. sorry about the lenth of post.

[Tim Laycock]

http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4924&postdays=0&postorder=asc&star t=0

A step by step anglo indian hood.

[Matt]

sorry mate i will back off i didnt see that .

[Tim Laycock]

No need to back off m8 :D

[Afshimo]

Have you seen them wooden "creance" looking sticks u use to crush herbs? They are great to round the edges and that funnny bit when the hood is wet to burnish? it or something like that. I used one and its spot on lol.

[Gaz]

I knows how to get a lovelly shine on my hood.. :!: :twisted:

[Tim Laycock]

I knows how to get a lovelly shine on my hood..

Good grief! :roll: pmsl :lol:

[Hawkmaster]

GOOD GRIEF IN DEED! Maybe that should just be deleted to keep a good thread from being ravished by banter?

[Tim Laycock]

:?: Perhaps

[Falconry Equipment International]

Old saddler trick for scuff marks on leather is a bit of wall paper paste, as it dries you 'bone it' It works on hoods you use out in the field as a temp. tidy up, but I would never try it on a nice new, beautifully hand painted one!!! :roll:Yes in fact it is something called glue size and comes in granular / powder form. unfortunately as commomn as hens teeth these days

[Sean]

thanks for the help guys, hey matt how come you aint been back on msn lol?

[Matt]

im not gona bother with it no more sean its taken over my life one to manny times . plus to bissy with all them imprints and the new house . every minutes filled wth somthing. iv a new email addy now its matt77@uku.co.uk
hope you liked the post on the hoods i did its those tip yoyu have to beg out of profesional hoodmakers and leather smiths (you know who you are)
talk to you soon mat