Janice

Thank you for the help, not confusing at all! Never thought to take the lid off, that will make a difference. BTW, what do you use for a final top coat finish on yours? Thanks again, Janice.

Hi all, I made my first toilet seat top. I am now wanting to attach it to the actual seat, and was wondering if anyone had some tips or "must know" remarks for me before I attempt it. I was thinking I would use a good glue first, and then upolstery tacks, the kind with the dome top, and go around the outside edge of the leather. If anyone out there has any tips for me, I would really appreciate it. I am a little worried that the tacks, wont go into the wood very well.

Thank you so much for the quick reply. I didnt think of that stitch line, and willl add that in as well, good tip! Thanks again!

So I got distracted and made a totally rookie mistake today. I am replacing the leathers on a western saddle. They are the shorter, close contact kind, where the fender supports some of the wieght. They have the strip sewn along the holes for reinforcement, and end at the top of the fenders, with 3 copper rivets. So I go ahead and make up the new ones. Problem is, I sewed the reinforcing strip to the wrong side. It should be on the rough out side, and it is not. Question is, from a safety standpoint, can anyone see a problem with putting them on this way? Any other concerns? Wear and Tear etc? This saddle is used for cattle penning, and is needed tomorrow morning. I have only to attach them at this point, or should I start over? What would you do?

Hey, I am 1/2hr east of you LOL I do leather work, but I dont make saddles. However, I do know a couple of good saddlers for you. Try Ron Stolp. He is in langley-aldergrove area. http://www.stolpsaddles.com/ Or, go to Merritt and see Andy Knight http://www.knightssaddlery.com/ or Don Lowen. http://www.saddle-maker.com/ You can see don lowen at the mane event in oct in chwk, he usually has a booth there.

Hi all! I finally got around to putting in an avater. I am with my filly Phoenix, who was about 3 in this pic i think. Mostly just been lurking for the past few months. Watching the winter olympics on TV, even though they are just an hour or so from me here. LOL Did some renos on our living room, and got a nice brindle cowhide for the new floor. I keep looking at it and wanting o cut it up!! I will try and post more, with pics of recent creations, rather than just lurke.

Very nice. Beautiful balance between the hide and leather, both with color and size. Well done!

Hello I have always found the ones that fit my saddles best are made so that the top of the bags are at a 90 degree angle to each other, when you lay them flat on a table. If the piece in the middle that joins the bags is too straight, the bags just dont hang nice at all. Also, dont forget to put on some dees or some method to tie the bottom of the bags down. Keeps em from flopping around or comming off. hope this helps Jan

I am glad to see you made one Holly! Nice job! They sell quite well for me, but just through word of mouth, not at a market. (yet) People see mine, and I get nothing but positive feedback. I think at Christmas, when the weather is cold, they will be a popular item. What did you use for the final finish, and have you spilled coffee on it yet???? How did it stand up? I am still playing with finishes, to find the best one.

Wow, you dont see a brand new pair of 40 year old boots everyday. Yes, Justin boot co is very alive and well.

"They are now my most prized and much loved collection, along with another prized LCM mag, a Jan/Feb 1986 issue with Ann & Al Stohlman, at their ranch in British Columbia, Canada on the front cover, that I found previously at a S/H shop." I dont have 10 years worth, but when I bought all this stuff, there was a few mags in with everything, and that green one with Ann and Al was one of them! I have friends that live up near that ranch, and am lucky enough to ride that beautiful country each summer! The magazines I have are very interesting reading, and as someone mentioned earlier, I also love the old advertisements. I am now looking in the second hand book stores for more as well What a thoughtful gift from your friend.

I need to find a finish for an item, that is basically the toughest thing going. I dont care if the item cant be conditioned later on, just that it can stand up to liquid spills as well as possible. Anyone got any ideas? (this all started from having a bit of coffee dribbled onto a piece, and finding the antiquing and tan coat rubbing off with the coffee)

Hidepounder, When you mentioned the sharpening jig, do you mean the likes of the one tandy sells, that keeps your blade on the correct angle as you strop it, or someting entirely different? I do have a strop, but am going to make a better one. I bought some white rouge, it is Samona brand, #5. Do I need any other colors? For patterns, that last piece I did, the one on the shrub in the pic, it was traced off the fiebings book cover, fantastic finishes. I just had to bend it a bit to fit. The noseband was from the A Stohlman book how to carve leather, and was pieces of the ladies belt with the roses on it. Again, I just made it to fit what I needed. Is this what you mean? Or do you want me to find a real piece to copy, not a book? I have a few saddles I could try, my old Eamors are hand tooled. Thanks for all your help!!

Those are some nice edges thats for sure! I also like the tooling pattern on the chaps too, with the basket weave & floral being mixed. Nice and even. Very nice finish. What got you to that finish, which products/methods, if you dont mind sharing? I like the way the belt is laced in at the back. You do nice work.

Hidepounder, If this forum was a university, you would be one of the professors! You are not being presumptuous at all. A person would be a fool not to take very seriously the advice you offer. I do have more to ask/say, but since I just lost the reply that was to go here,(stupid comp) I have now run out of time. I shall return!