Saddle Supplies, Tools & Trees
Where to find what you need or at least figure out what you want. Learn how to get the most from the tools you have, and what others are doing and using. Having trouble getting hardware? Ask here!
295 topics in this forum
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- 1 follower
- 12 replies
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Hello, Finally got tired of the weaver stand and went and took the time to build one. Would have liked to have gotten one of Ron's but don't have the means at the moment. Maybe if the wife would get a fourth job, HHHMMMMM, probabley not. In the meantime the one I built seems to be working all right. I made the top to the specifications in the stohlman books and so far it is working good. I put carpet pad under the canvas and tried to build it up a little more like a set of withers. The canvas is a little slick but I use a chap leather on top of it and it works fine. It does adjust up and down by undoing a tension bolt, but mostly I use it where it is set. Have a good o…
Last reply by Steepdiver, -
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I have put together a list as best I could of hand made wood/rawhide saddle tree makers and their contact information. The best way to contact these people is by phone. Most don't have websites or listed e-mail addresses anywhere. I have added them where I could find them. If you know of other makers, or of changes in the contact information, please add to the list. I just thought if we had it all in one place it would be easier for saddle makers to find. Ben Swanke Swanke Saddle Company 219 N. 15th St. Billings, Montana, USA 59101 406-259-9227 Bill Bean 8000 Pearl Road Eagle, Idaho, USA 83616 208-963-0640 Dennis Lane 35 Pryor St. Quirindi, New South …
Last reply by Vincentmajor, -
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- 11 replies
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Howdy folks anybody out there got a good set of plans/list of materials for a drawdown stand i could build starting in the saddlery business and trying to get my shop set up and such thanks everybody for your help and happy trails.------Hank
Last reply by mbnaegle, -
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- 7 replies
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OK, I want to build a saddle. What tools do I need? Please tell me the tools I'll need to start and complete a western saddle. I don't mean stamping tools and such. I mean tools like a drawdown stand and stirrup stretchers and such. Thanks Joel
Last reply by quartercircleoveruleather, -
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- 66 replies
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For those trying to choose the tree maufacturer based on the type of tree that suites their need. I.E., some mfgs. build trees in high volume for major saddle companies. Some mfgs. build for the individual saddle makers who build a lower number of saddles per year and those for those willing to use a traditional built tree. Some tree makers go beyond the traditional technology using sinthetic materials(nylon v.s. rawhide lace, staples v.s. nails,rawhide v.s. fiberglass v.s. bedliner cover ect...) for different reasons, lightness, economy. strenth, weather resistants,ect... Some tree makers go the extra mile, improving materials (wood type , laminated, ect..) The…
Last reply by Chi Stockyrd Saddle Tree, -
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I'd like to hear opinions and experiences with fiberglass and trees. My opinion(one of them) is that they are too rigid with little flex. I am of the opinion that trees need flex to compensate for the horse's movement. As with other ideas I have had with things I have heard differing opinions that make sense. Enough to make me change my mind? Maybe, time will tell. For instance I made the comment on another post that I didn't care for large lace holes in rawhide caused from stretching dry. The counter commment was that lace holes often do that but it doesn't effect the strenth of the tree and therefore may not necessarily be considered a quality issue(Thanks Bruce). T…
Last reply by Rod and Denise Nikkel, -
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New here, been repairing saddles and doing small stuff for a while but never any major stuff, just traded a perfectly fine 10 year old team roping saddle for an old ranch roper that someone did a poor job of restoring. Reason I did was because I liked the tree and really just wanted to strip one down and re do it to broaden my knowledge. Someone re skirted it with some really light flimsy leather and replaced the rear jockey with the same. Thats gotta go. My question is what weight leather should I use for the skirts and jockey and where does one buy it? The seat is good thick fairly nice looking leather so I'm leaving it for now. This will be my day working saddle …
Last reply by oldtimer, -
I have noticed some Ralide trees for sale but I have never dealt with one. I know the tree makers probably won't like them but what do you saddle makers think of them? Does it take a special type of glue to get the leather to stick to them? Will they hold up like a wood tree?
Last reply by RidersChoiceSaddleCo, -
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I just wanted to let everyone know about the new website of my Tree Maker Rod Nikkel. I havent been around the boards very long so I have not seen much on saddle trees. The only discussion I have read about is factory Trees. I feel that factory trees have their place, in factory saddles, custom saddles need to be made by custom makers by hand not with duplicators and cnc machines. That is my feelings and now I will get off my soap box. Anyway here is their website http://www3.telus.net/nikkelsaddletrees Some other great tree makers are Warren Wright and Bill Bean just to name a few others. There are some other custom saddlemakers out there that make their own tre…
Last reply by dsenette, -
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I just put some cement on the gullet piece for a rough out saddle and it is not bonding to the slick side of the leather. Just wondering your thoughts. Old glue?? It's only been out of the can and in the pot for a month or so. I glued some leather to the seat strainer yesterday and it bonded fine. The glue also seemed to bond ok with the tree. But when it's on the leather and I let it sit for five to ten minutes, you can just rub it with your finger and it rolls up and leaves the leather looking like nothing was ever on it. I've used Barge for a while but this is the first time this has happened. Any ideas?
Last reply by esantoro,
