Phenix Leather helmets

[driptorchguy]

shield made by a retired firefighter.

[GTRider245]

Awesome, looks like you do great work.

But arent shield factored into the price of the Phenix helmets?

[76Truck]

They are included in the price. I decided to make my own though. More of a hobby than a job.

[backsteprescue123]

making them myself. It is a little cheaper that way.

How do you do that? Go out and get some leather then somehow imprint the numbers and paint it then?


Sldo.....


Here is my new shield.....

[MAP]

Thanks to everyones input I not only decided to purchase a leather helmet, I decided to purchase 2! haha

I couldn't make up my mind and since everyone in my department has a Sam Houston or a New Yorker and not a TL2, I went ahead and ordered a Sam Houston and a TL2. Sounds crazy but the best way to figure this out is to try both. David at handtubs.com was very friendly and had so much confidence in his product he gave me a money back guarantee. As you all know it takes 6 weeks for a TL2 to come in. This will give me plenty of time to try out the Sam Houston I purchased at the FireStore, and worse case sell it on ebay. The good news is I'll be able to give everyone a side by side comparison on both helmets with some in service feed back with pictures.

Thanks again and I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

[nameless]

making them myself. It is a little cheaper that way.

how do you go about making the shields? I've always thought it would be cool to mess around with, I'm just not sure what type of tools I'd need to start.

[76Truck]

Thanks to everyones input I not only decided to purchase a leather helmet, I decided to purchase 2! haha

I couldn't make up my mind and since everyone in my department has a Sam Houston or a New Yorker and not a TL2, I went ahead and ordered a Sam Houston and a TL2. Sounds crazy but the best way to figure this out is to try both. David at handtubs.com was very friendly and had so much confidence in his product he gave me a money back guarantee. As you all know it takes 6 weeks for a TL2 to come in. This will give me plenty of time to try out the Sam Houston I purchased at the FireStore, and worse case sell it on ebay. The good news is I'll be able to give everyone a side by side comparison on both helmets with some in service feed back with pictures.

Thanks again and I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

I did the very same thing. The TL2 came in first and then the New Yorker. The day I got the Cairns it was on ebay. Phenix is it brother ! Lighter, tanned leather and not painted, old school look and just plain bad *** !

[76Truck]

how do you go about making the shields? I've always thought it would be cool to mess around with, I'm just not sure what type of tools I'd need to start.

Well you will need a good tooling leather. 10-12 oz leather is great for our line of work. Some tanning dye, I used Fiebing's Leather Dye in USMC Black. I also used Eco-Flo Leather Dye Assortment Pack for the other colors.

Tools used were a Craftool Pro Modeling Tool Point/Stylus, B201 Craftool Beveler Stamp and a Al Stohlman Brand Stainless Steel Swivel Knives

I bought all these items at Tandy Leather co. I also used tracing paper to transfer my lettering and numbering to the leather. You use the stylus to trace the design, then the hard part of carving it and then I retraced it. Then I used the beveler to make the letters appear raised.

The dying is the very last step. It takes a few times to get it down but it really is not to hard. Their are alot of videos on how to do basic leather work. It can be fun a rewarding once you get it down. I just wish I had more time to make them.

[KFD94]

After reading this forum, numerous times I finally ordered a TL2. Once I did that 3 other firefighters in my dept ordered them too. I would love to get peoples opinion on the Sam Brown shields. They appear to be great quality, but I am not sure about the lettering. I am tempted to order a Shield from thefirestore.com, as I know they also fit.

[GTRider245]

I think a TL-2 will be my Christmas present to myself. I really like what I am seeing.

And it is hard to go wrong with a FireStore shield. I have ordered 3 from them and all came exactly as ordered in about 2 weeks.

[nameless]

Well you will need a good tooling leather. 10-12 oz leather is great for our line of work. Some tanning dye, I used Fiebing's Leather Dye in USMC Black. I also used Eco-Flo Leather Dye Assortment Pack for the other colors.

Tools used were a Craftool Pro Modeling Tool Point/Stylus, B201 Craftool Beveler Stamp and a Al Stohlman Brand Stainless Steel Swivel Knives

I bought all these items at Tandy Leather co. I also used tracing paper to transfer my lettering and numbering to the leather. You use the stylus to trace the design, then the hard part of carving it and then I retraced it. Then I used the beveler to make the letters appear raised.

The dying is the very last step. It takes a few times to get it down but it really is not to hard. Their are alot of videos on how to do basic leather work. It can be fun a rewarding once you get it down. I just wish I had more time to make them.

Interesting, you'll have to post some pictures of the finished products. I'll have to give it a try, thanks for the info.

[KFD94]

Here is my New TL2. Love the helmet. Worth every penny, but not too sure about the shield. I find the lettering small and the numbers small. What shields are people using. Maybe it is just because it is different. I am used to Paul Conway shields.

[GTRider245]

Good looking lid. Is that the shield that comes with the helmet?

[MAP]

Just got my new Sam Houston today. Not impressed with the craftsmanship / quality of the leather, not-to-mention the paint is already chipping!! I know everyone of them are hand made and won't be perfect but I felt if I paid $535 it should have been better. Also, the lid sits so high on my head I feel like I have a giant light bulb! I'm sending this thing back and exchanging it for the New Yorker, maybe that will sit lower, and the craftsmanship will be better as well. Meanwhile I anxiously await the TL2....

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Just got my new Sam Houston today. Not impressed with the craftsmanship / quality of the leather, not-to-mention the paint is already chipping!! I know everyone of them are hand made and won't be perfect but I felt if I paid $535 it should have been better. Also, the lid sits so high on my head I feel like I have a giant light bulb! I'm sending this thing back and exchanging it for the New Yorker, maybe that will sit lower, and the craftsmanship will be better as well. Meanwhile I anxiously await the TL2....

The New Yorker will sit lower, but the quality will be the same...

I got one of the last Cairns and Brothers lids before MSA took over.

[MAP]

Captain you're right, I'm not even gonna bother wasting my time and money. I'm going to return the Sam Houston and just wait for the TL2. From everything I've read I should have known this was gonna happen. Oh well, at least I can get my money back.

[KFD94]

GT....that is the shield that comes with it. They are great quality shields,

[jbrescue]

I just got a TL2 the other day. After wearing a Sam Houston for over 12 years and loving it, I am now a sell out. The TL2 sits lower, is lighter weight and should not crack due to the fact that it is not as rigid. This will definitely be my recommendation in the future. Plus, I can get them for well over $150 less than a Sam Houston or New Yorker.....faster too.

[MassFireGuy]

After reading this forum, numerous times I finally ordered a TL2. Once I did that 3 other firefighters in my dept ordered them too. I would love to get peoples opinion on the Sam Brown shields. They appear to be great quality, but I am not sure about the lettering. I am tempted to order a Shield from thefirestore.com, as I know they also fit.

Sam Brown's shield will fit the TL2 fine. As a matter of fact the shield will be nicer than the helmet, but to each his own.

[MassFireGuy]

Just got my new Sam Houston today. Not impressed with the craftsmanship / quality of the leather, not-to-mention the paint is already chipping!! I know everyone of them are hand made and won't be perfect but I felt if I paid $535 it should have been better. Also, the lid sits so high on my head I feel like I have a giant light bulb! I'm sending this thing back and exchanging it for the New Yorker, maybe that will sit lower, and the craftsmanship will be better as well. Meanwhile I anxiously await the TL2....

Not to discourage you, but the paint will "scrape" off the TL2 as well. Leather helmets will all do this. Atleast it will make you look salty. If I can I will take a pic of what a TL2 will look like with the scraped off leather.