Tack/harnesses And Fetish Wear

[sharkeyfinn]

hi everyone, ive been asked by a few people to do some bridle repairs, this is new to me but im very keen to give it a go, my question is this, do i need a special type of leather or can i use veg tan? and if anyone does already do this work, how do i price it? or should i say what do you charge ;-)

one other thing, im seriously thinking of moving into leather working as a profession ,going self employed and working from home, however, im not entirely convinced i could make a living from it, does anyone actually live off of leather working or should it only be as a hobby? i live in the uk

one last question, does anyone make fetish wear? ;-)

thanks people ;-)

[sinpac]

hi everyone, ive been asked by a few people to do some bridle repairs, this is new to me but im very keen to give it a go, my question is this, do i need a special type of leather or can i use veg tan? and if anyone does already do this work, how do i price it? or should i say what do you charge ;-)

one other thing, im seriously thinking of moving into leather working as a profession ,going self employed and working from home, however, im not entirely convinced i could make a living from it, does anyone actually live off of leather working or should it only be as a hobby? i live in the uk

one last question, does anyone make fetish wear? ;-)

thanks people ;-)

You need Bridle leather. Is Churchill giving the V for victory or the up yours?

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

If you're doing English bridle repair on high end stuff you should use good English bridle leather. If it's western tack, either skirting or harness leather will work. I charge $45 an hour plus materials and I do this for a living and I'll never be rich. Now I see that you are in the UK so it's probably English tack. If you don't know the difference, you maybe shouldn't be working on it (no offense intended).The tough part about making a living with leather in the equine industry is that there are so many people who do this type of work for practically nothing, that it gives everyone the misconception that it CAN be done for nothing. Now, let me expand on that a bit: that defines a large percentage of the everyday horse owners in my part of the country, basically they want to drink champagne on a beer budget. However, there is the occasional well-off client, not necessarily affluent, but recognizes quality, realizes they have to pay for it, and appreciates that it has taken a substantial investment in both time and equipment for the craftsperson to get to the level they are at. I think the equine industry is worse this way than other areas of leatherworking (the "cheap" client I mean). Honestly the fetish thing is something I've given some thought to. I've heard about a woman in her 30's who did this for 8 years and retired. Fetish gear (if that's what it's called-shows what I know about it) is definitely not my thing, but I'd damn sure consider making it if I could retire in 8 years. Probably more of an answer than you bargained for, but that's my take on it. Best of luck to you!

[krappstein]

Is Churchill giving the V for victory or the up yours?

IIRC he meant the 'V for Victory', but inadvertently made the palm-inwards defying/insulting gesture. Gotta love that picture.

Regarding fetish gear, sharkeyfinn, you should browse the Adult section of the forum: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=7700

[Birdman]

If you're doing English bridle repair on high end stuff you should use good English bridle leather. If it's western tack, either skirting or harness leather will work. I charge $45 an hour plus materials and I do this for a living and I'll never be rich. Now I see that you are in the UK so it's probably English tack. If you don't know the difference, you maybe shouldn't be working on it (no offense intended).The tough part about making a living with leather in the equine industry is that there are so many people who do this type of work for practically nothing, that it gives everyone the misconception that it CAN be done for nothing. Now, let me expand on that a bit: that defines a large percentage of the everyday horse owners in my part of the country, basically they want to drink champagne on a beer budget. However, there is the occasional well-off client, not necessarily affluent, but recognizes quality, realizes they have to pay for it, and appreciates that it has taken a substantial investment in both time and equipment for the craftsperson to get to the level they are at. I think the equine industry is worse this way than other areas of leatherworking (the "cheap" client I mean).

This should be set in stone somewhere on this forum! Brilliant and to the point.

As I am UK based I feel able to answer sharkeyfinn some practical advice.

Remember you are making/repairing items on which someones life will depend.

Do you have the training and skills necessary to make judgements over what is safe and what is not?

Perhaps your initial question re leather suggests you are not. And it is not only leather. Its thread and stitching and a whole host of variables.

Just remember that repair you did to a rein/ girth buckle/head collar has a horse of perhaps 600kg traveling at 35 mph on the end of it!

When you are sure that you are competent to make/repair tack, get yourself insured. You will be surprised at how valuable a horse can become when someone can be litigated against. And that doesn't even consider any human claims and lawyers fees.........

Sobering thoughts?

So get some training.

[sinpac]

IIRC he meant the 'V for Victory', but inadvertently made the palm-inwards defying/insulting gesture. Gotta love that picture.

Regarding fetish gear, sharkeyfinn, you should browse the Adult section of the forum: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=770

How do we know that V for victory is what he really meant because this gesture goes back many 100's of years with the English Long bowman fighting I believe the French. But it is a great picture.

[MonicaJacobson]

IIRC he meant the 'V for Victory', but inadvertently made the palm-inwards defying/insulting gesture. Gotta love that picture.

Regarding fetish gear, sharkeyfinn, you should browse the Adult section of the forum: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=770

How do we know that V for victory is what he really meant because this gesture goes back many 100's of years with the English Long bowman fighting I believe the French. But it is a great picture.

LOL, probably with half of the people on the forum, I googled "V for Victory" last night and ran across several articles saying that the English Longbowmen thing was a myth. It was actually written by an Englishman about the French. In essence, propaganda against the French to other Englishmen, saying they would cut off the three fingers necessary for shooting the longbow of any archers they caught.

The argument being, it was originally not necessarily true, but spoken when tempers were high, and fairly uncorroborated. Then, it was three fingers in the original text, not two, and thus unlikely to actually relate to two fingered insult at all. Possible, but not necessarily true.

Sorry, I don't mean to be contradictory, I'm just geeking out. I'm not even saying I'm right, just that there's disagreement about it, and it's interesting.

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

Birdman wrote: "This should be set in stone somewhere on this forum! Brilliant and to the point.

As I am UK based I feel able to answer sharkeyfinn some practical advice.

Remember you are making/repairing items on which someones life will depend.

Do you have the training and skills necessary to make judgements over what is safe and what is not?

Perhaps your initial question re leather suggests you are not. And it is not only leather. Its thread and stitching and a whole host of variables.

Just remember that repair you did to a rein/ girth buckle/head collar has a horse of perhaps 600kg traveling at 35 mph on the end of it!

When you are sure that you are competent to make/repair tack, get yourself insured. You will be surprised at how valuable a horse can become when someone can be litigated against. And that doesn't even consider any human claims and lawyers fees.........

Sobering thoughts?

So get some training. "

Well thank you Birdman. No one has ever called me brilliant but I do consider myself to the point; it's how I roll, no beating around the bush, too much a waste of time. Anyway, everything you said is very true. I never even thought about getting into the liability issue, but it is a HUGE consideration. Anyone doing any equine related work, whether for hobby or as a business, should be well insured. You said it as well as it could have been said. Have a great day!

Edited October 11, 2014 by Big Sioux Saddlery

[krappstein]

How do we know that V for victory is what he really meant

I assume it just makes more sense in the context of the 'V for Victory' campaign during the War. He might as well have meant "Two stouts, please".

We'll ask sharkeyfinn when he comes back (and sees we hijacked his thread).

[sinpac]

We'll ask sharkeyfinn when he comes back (and sees we hijacked his thread).

I guess we did hijack the thread a bit :gathering:

[sharkeyfinn]

hi everone, thanks for all the replies,its exacly the responces i needed, god forbid i had made something that could injure some one ,not good. methinks the fetish wear would be more down my street as it were......ummm i think i need to rephrase that lolol ;-)

regarding mr churchill , its a picture that has followed me from the gaming world,but does slightly reflect my take on life ;-)

many thanks again ;-)