Brooks-like Leather Saddle From Old Mattress Bicycle Seat

Updated Step 10: EDGE burnishingbeing, the nearest owner of an old fashioned cm delivery bike, I would like to install a seat/saddle with some style.
Naturally, I went to the Brooks saddle because I really liked the style of those high quality seats.
However, I decided to try to re-use the old mattress seat I got from another bike and turn it into Brooks-like saddle !
I couldn\'t find any tutorials or other instructions on this rebuild, so I decided to make my first one!
If you like what you see, please vote for my guide in this spring bike race!
Please forgive me for my English: I am not a native English speaker.
Of course, I can\'t say I was able to replicate the real Brooks saddles: they are beautiful works of art!
See the passion they put in: But I like to make things myself. . .
Here we are!
I don\'t think it\'s an easy thing to do.
I learned and discovered a lot while thinking about how to change this saddle, and it took me a lot of time.
I\'m going to take 9 steps to transform an old mattress seat into a full leather seat.
In order to transform the old mattress seat into a Brooks style leather seat, the material you need will vary depending on the seat you will be using, as each seat is different.
I suggest you remove and analyze your seat first so you know what you need!
This is the material I use. The tool I use is very basic: you can get to know it by removing the seat.
Take the time to learn how si is built.
Even if you change the type of bracket, the more you understand how the seat supports the rider, the more you can make the leather version.
Don\'t throw anything away yet. . .
You can still rebuild it if you decide to rebuild it.
In particular, keep the rubber lining of the seat intact as much as possible: you can use it to make the leather lining.
At this time, keep all the springs in place as this will make it easier for the leather to form.
This is the interesting leather work part!
Vegetan leather is perfect for matching.
Cut the leather using the original rubber lining and draw the rough shape of the seat.
In order to make the most realistic shape, you need to stretch the rubber. (
I\'m sorry there are no photos here. . .
I think I\'m too committed! )
There are many different ways you can shape your seat, like using a male
Female foam mold, even through vacuum-
To shape it, see Step 9 for reference.
I chose a simple low. tech one.
However, the leather forming part is crucial.
If I do it again (
I can change seats)
I will try another more precise way of forming.
My \"styling\" left some imperfections, but let\'s say they contributed to the personalisation of the seats!
This step is the trickiest one: this is where you may need to be creative, depending on the original seat frame.
Basically, this is where you turn the spring mattress into a hammock!
I tried to copy the best
Known leather seat: Brooks.
The basic design of the Brooks saddle is the leather top that extends between the metal \"Canterbury plate\" at the rear and the nose beam, which is connected to steel or copper rivets.
With threaded bolts, the nose part can move forward independently of the guide rail, stretching the leather.
The important thing is not to over
The leather is tightened or may be torn, especially at the rivets.
Normally, the nose Bolt should not be adjusted unless the saddle is obviously sagging, in which case it can only be adjusted in a few parts of the turn until the top is comfortable again.
-From Wikipedia on the backplane, you can use the original frame, not a lot of mods, but you have to recreate a nose.
You can easily find detailed pictures of the system on the Internet (
Like here, here or here)
Simple Google \"Brooks nervous \".
Local bike shop (or online)
Options: fast and no-so-
If you want to save time and the price is expensive, if you are lucky to have a Brooks dealer nearby, you may want to know if you can use the Brooks nose sheet.
They have different shapes that can meet your needs.
The mattress seat, however, usually has a larger nose, which may not allow you to use the Brooks nose piece. The \"real-
DIY \"option: Since I\'m not sure I can find the right Brooks nose part, I continued to build it myself with simple metal parts.
The next two steps are: I have to build the tension remover.
This part: I\'m using T-
I have hinges around because it is very close to the final shape I want: some kind of triangle that will bend around the frame.
This is what I did: Nose part
The pull needle combination allows you to tighten the leather.
This is necessary to set it up and adjust the saddle as the leather becomes relaxed after a period of time.
This is how it works: you may want to build a different nose bridge based on the specifications of the seat frame you have.
The nose piece needs to be strong: I use a thick T-
Plate as the starting point.
We\'re almost over!
Appreciate the work you almost finished!
All you have to do now is stain and nourish the leather.
Note 1: I later added a tension line under the saddle, like some of the original Brooks saddles.
See Step 9 for the final image.
Note 2: before reinstalling the seat, but after dyeing, you may want to polish the edges. See step 10.
There are many choices at this step.
I decided to buy a simple and cheap stain: coffee, and a simple and not so cheap way to nourish: Brooks proofreader.
Dyeing with coffee is a bit long and does not make the leather dark.
You have to get it dirty several times.
You can also use shoe oil.
Note: before reinstalling the seat, but after dyeing, you may want to polish the edges. See step 10. ! ! Warning ! !
: Your leather will shrink and harden if you use hot coffee!
You could have ruined your seat.
However, this can be useful if you are concerned that the leather is too loose and that the tension pin needs to be set almost to the maximum length.
You can use a wide variety of products to nourish, and I think one of the easiest ways is to use proofreading.
You can find alternatives online. . .
But I chose to buy it from my local bike shop!
Check the Brooks maintenance page: you are!
Adjust your seat and go by bike.
It will take some time for the leather to finally form, but it should become comfortable.
For a more precise fit, I decided to add a tighten lace below.
This can be done easily with any lace and punch.
What I have learned is that since I built this seat before winter, I have not taken this seat very often. . .
I will update this note when I can give some feedback!
What I haven\'t done yet: I still need to polish the edges of the leather.
I will follow the instructions here.
Inspiration and ressourcesBrook remake.
Vacuum forming.
Homemade rivets.
The road to Flickr Brooks.
Plastic bag flip.
Vacuum forming. adapted screws.
In BrooksDetailed brooks I mentioned in Step 9, I still need to polish the edges. . .
What I should do at Step 7 or 8: After dyeing and before reinstalling the seat.
It will be more troublesome to do things like me afterwards!
This is how we learn!
Therefore, the Edge polishing process provides a better finish for the leather, and it is also more durable from what I read.
I think it does look much better: compare pic 1 to 2!
I used the technique described here: also added some black shoe oil (pic 5)
Enhance the polishing effect.
The use of shoe oil is not very effective and you have to use black stains if you want to get real black edges.
You can see the difference in Pictures 6 and 7.