GrampaJoel

That's a kick ass video!

Now that is a very comfortable looking bag! Very nice job.

The method I use is. 1. stain the whole background. 2. seal the background. 3. paint what is desired with acrylic paint. ( sold at craft stores) 4. seal the whole project This is just the way I do it. I can't say it is the only way to do it, or even the right way. But it works for me. Joel

I have seen them done with a Conway buckle. they look like this ---> Pointy end away from the face.

Well yesterday started out as a most beautiful day for me. The sun was sorta shining and I was having a successful day in the shop. I was sewing the yoke on the second leg of a pair of chinks. The Cobra 4 was purring away making some beautiful stitches. But, all of a sudden the machine made a noise like a plastic fan blade hitting something. The machine froze in place and I couldn't even force the pulley around by hand. This of course was a big cause for Disappointment and there was a black cloud growing over me like a bad omen. So what do I do? I call Cobra Steve the wonder man!! I only live about 40 minutes from Steve's office/warehouse where he keeps all his working elves busy. Steve told me to bring the machine in and his Specialist would take a look at it. So this morning I took my machine in to be repaired. I'd say that Specialist isn't the right word for the fine man that worked on my Cobra4. He fixed my machine and explained that the insides needs oiling also, WITHOUT, making me feel like a total idiot. The Gentleman's name is Tony. I will forever think of him as a sewing machine mechanic hero! Tony, gave my Cobra4 a complete inspection, fixed my machine and made it purr again all the while answering questions posed by me. There is another gentleman at Steve's ' Leather Machine CO .' operations, His name is Tony also.( This Tony is the one that puts the tables and motors together) He lifted my machine out of my truck and Carried it to Tony's The sewing machine mechanic hero's table to be worked on. These machines weigh about 150lbs.! These gentlemen apperared to be knee deep in other work when I got there, but they stopped what they were doing and went right to work on my machine. Steve himself, greeted me as if I was a long lost old friend, instead of just another customer. That sure made me feel good. I gotta say I went away with my head spinning from all the wonderful and complete service I received there at The Leather Machine Co. office/ warehouse! What a great group of guys! Thanks again, Steve, Tony, and Tony!! Joel

Hey Bob. Wool on the outside or inside the mittens? Joel

Go2Tex Thanks for your input. Well from looking at your web site, it seems that you certainly know how to build saddles. You must also do something with your left over wool skins. Would you mind sharing what that might be? I knew the skirt placement on the wool would probably draw some differing answers. It seems that many, (how it is done) questions leave us beginners just scratching our heads. But times are changing , and some of the old ways seem to be no longer valid, for sure. So it seems better to me (not having a master craftsman to learn from)to just search for myself, gather all the info I can, and decide what I will do. That is why I ask here. This place is an ocean of knowledge. Thanks again Joel

Thanks, Frank, mulefoot, Bob, JW, and a special hug to Denise. I looked for a thread related to my question in the search section, but just couldn't come up with one on this subject. I must have not used the correct words in the search. Building this saddle is becoming quite an experience for me, and heck, I haven' even ordered a tree or leather yet. Since I only plan on using the best quality of parts I can get my hands on, I prefer to have as much knowledge as possible in my head before i start cutting leather. Thanks again Joel

I have enjoyed reading the Stohlman Saddle making books. I've enjoyed watching the Johnson and Watt DVDs. But I have found another 'Can of worms' to open. Stohlman says sheep bark should go with the Butt of the bark toward the front of the saddle. Goes into explanation about the why of it. Johnson & Watt say Head of sheep to head of saddle. No explanation about why. Help please. What do you guys and gals do? The Stohlman explanation seems to make since, but I don't know why a couple of famous makers like Johnson and Watt would do just the opposite of the Stohlman's. Thanks Joel

That is absolutely one very fine piece of museum quality of work! But I must ask... is it a arm held shield? Is the leather covering a hard surface of some kind? Again, very cool! You are an artist of the highest quality. Joel

Luke Hatley... yep that's the way you do it!!

Wait!!!! Try Springfield leather for some smaller pieces of Kydex. I'd did and I am glad I did. Save the money until your sure you need $100.00 worth of Kydex. Follow this link---->> Springfield leather Then just type in Kydex in the search window.

JasonGwiazda Very nice job! especially for your first two pairs! Good on you mate Merry Christmas guys! Joel Mark, do you have instructions on how to make the Armitas for sale yet?

Merry Christmas Everyone, And A VERY Happy New Year also! Thank you, every one of you, for all the help and replies you have given me. Joel

I just use my horse for fitting. Just measure and make a card stock pattern.fit some more than put it to leather. It's really pretty simple once you commit your mind to it. Just take one step at a time and everything goes by smoothly. That way it is your own and don't have to worry about hearing that you copied someone else.

Thanks for the replies rickybobby, and Steve Brewer. So they are for decoration it seems. Not for a special club or a sign of achievement but maybe could be. I suppose that they must be custom made right? Do you have a maker you could recommend, or perhaps some place to purchase from? Thanks Joel

Absolutely Stunning!!! If I had the money I'd have you make one just like that for me..

Please tell me about the medallions I see on the backs of cantels every now and again? What are they for? Where do you get them? How are they attached? Thanks gang! Merry Christmas! Joel

I have Mark's chink making DVD. It is as good as any I have seen. Better than most. The DVD will tell you what you need to know to make a good using pair of chinks. The truth be told, it is really just a fitting matter when making custom chaps or chinks. Fit the person. Find out what they want, then fit again. Explain how the chaps/ chinks will fit and let the customer decide . Like Mark, I use poster board to make my temporary patterns. When I am satisfied with the pattern I transfer it from poster board to a plastic that is close to poster board weight. That way I have a semi- permanent pattern to use again. BTW all old women that have a tummy bump have one when on a horse. Whether they are wearing chaps or not. Old men too! It's not the front belt or straps fault.

mtsadl, It could be called a wade roll for all I know, it looks like the picture below. I got the picture from a post by Elton Joorisity from his post on this forum in the saddle and tack makers section.

I believe it is called a Hamley roll. Very similar to a Cheyenne roll but smaller. Anyway, will some give me some instructions on how to make one? Is it just a short, up-turned, Cheyenne roll? Thanks Joel

Before you read the rest of my response Please understand, Believe me I am a happy camper with all your responses and I am not trying to be snide or a smart ass. My reply comes from having been a farrier in my younger days. I still do my own horse, but no one else's. I think you all will understand my reply now. So here is what I have learned today. Referring to attaching skirts to a tree. . So.. 1. Stohlman says to drill, but the truth be told, I can drill or not drill, and it can be a regional reason for doing, or not doing so. 2. Put more tugs( lugs, bleeders, not strings) on than J Watt did in his video. Wow!! I never dreamed it would be like this. It seems that saddle building and design is very similar( within limits) to saddle fitting, saddle styling, horse training, horse shoeing, where a bosal should hang, what bit a colt should be started in, how long a pair of chinks should be, and just about any other equine related or, non related area of discussion. I sure do learn a lot of stuff and get a good laugh here on this forum. Thanks everyone for allowing me to open this can of worms. You guys, and gals make my days!!!

Thanks JW for clearing that up the difference between strings and tugs.. I have been trying to separate the good methods from the not so good. I wondered when watching the Watt DVDs that he said something about building saddles for working cowboys, or something like that. But the connection he used of the skirts to the tree seemed pretty weak to me. He put what he called saddle strings on his saddle, but they were just through the jockeys in the back. This wanting to build a saddle correctly has turned out to be a pretty expensive venture when I have spent 300 for the Stohlman books, 80 for the Johnson DVD and another 400 + for the Watt DVDs,,,,, and I still have a lot of concerns about the correct way to build a saddle, and I still need to ask questions on the forums. So it's OK for the strings to go through the tree then. I want a ranch working quality saddle. I think my saddle will be really great, when I get this stuff figured out..

Thanks for the reply JW . So you use just tug straps. May I take it that you personally don't drill through the bars for the tug straps? Your method is similar to the Watt method. Anyone else care to share your method of Saddle skirt attachment??

Hi all. I have the three Stohlman saddle making books and the Watt saddle making dvds and the Dusty Johnson saddle making dvd. I have all this wonderful information on saddle making. But they all seem to use a different method of attaching the saddle skirts. I took a look at the saddle I have that I bought from a shop and it has a different type of saddle skirt attachment. Now, I'm totally confused as to the best way to attach saddle skirts now. So I'm seeking you help. my question is..... How do you builders here attach your saddle skirts? Thanks Grampa Joel