Distressing a Wested LC (pre-distressed) by IE

[indysenigma]

Greetings all

I was requested to post this on this thread in order to show the technique I used to distress my Wested LC (pre-distressed) cowhide jacket.

Here are 2 piccies of the jacket:

I am posting the ones from the other thread here..





I will take some more piccies soon and so post them.

The request ~

indyblues said:

Hey Enigma,..think you could share your technique on how you added to the distressing of your LC jacket? All the Wested pre-distressed cowhides I have seen, have been too evenly distressed, to look as natural as yours.
Please enlighten us.
'Blues

OK, I will do that... Just remember, I WAS VERY ROUGH ON MY JACKET!

However,
be warned that YOU will need to be doing this at your own risk!
ALWAYS STOP and LOOK (during the process) at your process of the distressing ~ as I am sure it will vary from person to person and even jacket.
Remember, step by step, slow and easy ~ SLOW and EASY!

This is/was a long and loving process... and this was done in stages and sparingly... ~ also IF you are going to do this...

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO DO IT!!

Once you get past the fear of naturally distressing a $300 jacket, then you can continue with the following.

(Note)
I will post some piccies of the (specific) areas on the jacket that I used the wire brush on and what strokes I used...so keep a look out for it.

But, what I did was the following...

1. Opened the package and enjoyed the fresh smell of new leather

2. Went out to the desert, found a small piece of land with sand 1st! ~ (If no desert use what maybe similar) and then I did the following.

and Yes ~ I actually did this! ;D

a. wear the jacket
b. zip up the jacket... (to your desired length)
c. Low crawl on your belly in the sand... for a few feet.
d. Then get on your back and crawl the length you went.
e. Roll to the right a few rounds
f. Roll to the left a few rounds

(note)
If you have military training, it will be like the old days... if not/no training, then it will be kinda weird doing it, but the end ~ the results will be well worth it.

Then...

once done... clean off the sand, it gets everywhere.. and drain it from the pockets.
Afterward ~ you will notice some marks and pits.. and scratches... that OK, it will give the jacket the "lived in" look that is needed.

Once that is done ~ and this is not for everyone!

Now is the time to low crawl (yes - again) through small pebbles, dirt, and rocks. ~ BUT! ONLY once and take your time! ONCE AND TAKE YOUR TIME! ~ Do this as before on both sides.

Then afterward ~ inspect the jacket (again) ~

(note)
If YOU feel it needs more, then slightly do it. ~ It will be a matter of personal preference on how you wish it to be distressed.

Then I tied the jacket to back of my SUV and drove a few feet through a road (dirt and asphalt) back and forth! a couple of times.

This will complete the (outside) work.


Once inside... Inspect it again ~

Then, you will need a small wire brush and standard brush....

(Piccies soon in this part)

(note)
As you wait for the me to post (more) piccies...
watch LC again and notice the actual areas were it is distressed... and I mean LOOK... look at all the details.
You will notice that the distressing is in certain directions and NOT just brushed nor swirled. (this is was my personal observation concerning this)

Take notes and or screenshots...

Let the jacket rest for a few days and watch it get worn on its own.... even wear it. to loosen the leather.

Since the leather is heavy it will not drape quickly... however what I did was unusual, but it worked for me.

AGAIN! DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!

As I took a shower, I wore ONLY the jacket... yes it sound crazy, but it worked for me.

I used warm to hot water... while in the shower, you can form the collar to be SA or the shape you wish it to be, then I got out of the shower and left it on until it dried.

As it dries it will look like the Jacket from "Raiders" in colour ...in the begining... then you will notice that (it seems) that it will remain that way (Sorry ~ but not for long) and will form its colour.

After it had dried completely ~

Just completely wear it each and every day and it will settle and the leather will become VERY supple. ~ and it will retain it leather smell.

Hope this helps and THINK about the process and make sure YOU want to do this.

I had no problems when I did it, but the process may not be for everyone.


If you have any questions PM and let me know.

However, I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE! ~ Mental or otherwise!


Thats my ***WHIP CRACKS*** for this post ~

Respects!

IE

(Addentum) ~

I was asked "If anything happened to jacket" through all this and here is the answer I have given:

When I was low-crawling and such I had NO such difficulties; the jacket stood up to all I gave it!
I lost no seams, nothing popped out, and nothing came loose.
WOW! ~ I was impressed!

I stood in the shower for the length of time it takes ~ "to take a shower" ;D (in all seriousness) that is the length of time I did it, and I did it about a month after I got the jacket.

I just took my time with the distressing each month, doing one (bit) at a time, and I (personally) did NOT baby the jacket.

To be honest ~

I really can not even to begin to explain (why) the jacket has stood up with all the abuse I have given it.
Its been a REALLY sturdy jacket so far, that I am VERY impressed with it.

I (just) inspected the jacket and (still) seen no deformation at all, now I will not say that (may or may not) to anyones else's ~ (I hope not) ~

Solutions ~

What I will do (IF) it happens?
Is just either send the Jacket back to Wested for repair OR contact a leather place here in El Paso and just have them reinforce the areas that need to be.


I hope this answers your questions.

Thanks for reading!

IE

[Indiana Shiloh]

This is genius!