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- [Narrator] Hello friends
and welcome to the nineth tutorial
in the fantasy leather armor series.
This time I'll be showing
you how to make the tassets.
This tutorial was filmed
at the same time as the
previous gorget tutorial
so there will be some similarities,
and as with that video,
I will skim over the processes
that we've explored in past videos.
If this is your first time here
I suggest checking out the breastplate
or the helmet video
that'll expand on the
basics in greater detail.
The pattern for this project
will be available on
the Prince Armory site
and linked below.
Thanks for dropping by,
and please be sure to
like, comment, share,
and subscribe to support
this and future videos.
Thanks go to Weaver
Leather for their support
for this round of video tutorials.
The leather as well as many of
the tools used in this video
are from Weaver Leather.
If you haven't already,
use my affiliate link below
and browse their online store,
which is packed with awesome
tools, hardware, and leather.
The first step is to print the patterns.
Just make sure to print
using the tiled page option
so it doesn't come out on one page.
Then you'll tape the pages together
and cut the pattern pieces out.
You'll have a few options for
the tassets with this pattern.
As always there are two styles included,
but beyond that there are a
few widths you can choose from.
The small-sized tasset
is meant to be suspended from
the front as a groin covering,
the medium-sized one is meant
to be used for the side,
and if you desire a tasset for
the back, use the large one.
One additional option is to merge the wide
and the medium tasset patterns together
if you wish to have a slightly
wider and asymmetrical style.
You can build and arrange
them however you wish,
but these are the default suggestions.
Lay out your pieces as
efficiently as you can and trace.
When you're ready to cut,
separate the larger sections
into more manageable pieces
and finish the cuts from there.
I'm using Weaver's premium
select vegetable tanned leather
in 10 ounce for this project.
I'm using a box cutter to separate
and my heavy shears from
Weaver for the final cuts.
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Transfer the decorative lines
to your pattern using a
ball point pen or a stylus.
I'm using an edge groover in reverse
to mark the narrow border,
and I'm using a compass
for the inner border.
Either tool could be used for both lines,
but doing it this way
means I can set each tool
once for the project.
I use a swivel knife to
cut in my border lines.
It may seem excessive to
carve something simple
like a border, but it gives a crisp line
and it's built in practice practice.
Keep in mind that I will be
making more advanced guides
in the future and this
will leverage the skills
that you are building here.
Alternatively, you could
just use the edge groover
and make fast, easy border lines.
It's always good practice
to edge your pieces
for comfort and aesthetics.
I'm using Weaver's edgers for this.
One thing to note about Weaver's edgers
is they have a thick meaty
handle, which I like a lot.
Then while the leather is still damp,
I'll burnish the edges
slightly with a hand slicker.
With the border and decorative lines cut,
I'll make them pop by tooling them
with a smooth beveling stamp.
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I like to give most of my
projects a little shape.
Here I'm just dishing each piece slightly.
Wet molding is one of the courses
I am planning to make this year,
which hopefully will
demystify this process
and encourage more leatherworkers
to utilize it in their projects.
I'll make the holes using a
handheld hole punch from Weaver.
The force multiplying design of this tool
makes it my favorite.
I'm really a big fan of this one,
it makes it so much easier.
Now it's time to dye the pieces.
As with the gorget, I'll be using
Fiebing's Pro red and black oil dyes.
I'll start with the red
to do a quick pass of the inner areas
and then frame it by going
over the borders in black.
If you attempt this, you can
do a second coat of black
to touch up any areas that
don't get covered completely.
To finish and seal the leather,
I'll be using Weaver's Tuff Kote
and then even out the
finish with a final pass
where I've wrung out most of
the finish from the sponge.
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Now it's time for assembly.
I'll be using Weaver's
black double cap rivets
for assembly of the straps
for the center pieces.
And to assemble the side pieces,
I'll be using their black Chicago screws.
♪ I think you better ♪
♪ I think you better ♪
♪ I think you better ♪
♪ I think you better not ♪
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- [Narrator] The tassets will be attached
with small buckles.
I'm using 5/8th inch black
buckles from Weaver here.
Please see the standalone video
for additional instructions
concerning straps and buckles.
As for mounting you actually
have a lot of options
according to your preference.
As a general rule, I tend
to mount any buckle hardware
so the tong end will
hang either down or back.
I suggest that you test
out a few configurations
before committing the
straps to the breastplate.
And do a wear test when marking your holes
to ensure fit and mobility
But please feel free to
copy what I have done here,
which is to mount the medium tassets
with a bias to the sides
and angled slightly
to give them a bit more
dramatic appearance.
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You can also use a
longer strap in the back
to provide additional
adjustment and flexibility.
As a helpful tip for
putting the breastplate
and tassets on and off,
after you get the initial
adjustment the way you want it,
from then on, all you really need to do
is unbuckle the front buckle
of one side of the tassets
and one side of buckles
for the breastplate
and just slip out from the side.
The gauntlets, legs,
and a few other items are
still coming for this suit.
So make sure to subscribe
and get notifications
to catch future videos.
If you'd like to support future videos
please consider chipping in on Patreon
and of course check out the patterns.
I'm also planning to do a Kickstarter
to help pre-fund a series of courses
that'll go over more advanced techniques
so keep an eye out for that.
On that note,
I'd be interested to hear your comments
on what topics you would like me to cover.
Thanks again for watching,
I'll catch you next time.
