GAP

Read this thread and just thinking? I started with Craftools in the early 70's and quite a few were given to me by my twin sis. She was into figure carving, and doiing a pretty good job at it. I'd quit it, at the second year in 4-H cuz they disqualified me for going above the requirements. Fast forward it to 1983, I'd gotten married and had a kid on the way.... I'd had a couple of custom saddles made for me, and traded or wore out. I needed another rig, bad! I was trapping to help supplement cowboy wages, and used part of the winters income to buy a saddletree and 3 sides of leather from Mid-continent leather in OK, that Id ordered chap hides from.( didn't know of any others then? Took me about 8 months to get that saddle built! I had Bruce Grant's book "Cowboy Horse Gear" and just a tad bit of knowledge from repairing things. ended up with a servicable rig that survived even me, and my poor abilities. Don't know where it is today, or even if it's alive? I traded it off to a poor kid that just didn't want to live without it, even if it was wore out. Things I have discovered... A. you can do without, and still build a serviceable... thing? I bought a roundknife when I bought the leather... just couldn't do with it what I wanted. Cut most of it out with my pocketknife! Used the one edger I had, or a file to round the edges. B. Most everything, you can build yourself! It might take a little ingenuity, but a person can be surprised at what they can accomplish with some simple tools. It just takes a little thought. Sometimes, I had to think outside of that little square I was in. maybe I did something right, cuz as soon as I was riding that ugly ole thing... a neighbor wanted to know if I'd make him one. So, I said "Sure I'll do my best!" Guess it was good enough, cuz then more neighbors either felt sorry for me, or liked the work. Never even thought of turning it into a business, cuz I just wasn't a people person. OK, I'm getting started up again, and looking forward. My thoughts are turned in that direction anyways. Sorry for writing a book. Got way off of the subject. I've now got a whole slew of tools of my own making... maybe it came through being a long fricking ways from anybody and not much cash to spend unless I could justify it? You can create a lot of leather stamps with just a FEW basic tools, like a set of files, a hacksaw, and some emery paper. They don't have to be stainless or carbon steel, unless they're cutting tools either. I've got several mild steel (low grade bolts or rod) and havn't had problems staining. I'm really at a loss as to say why, after reading some here. Now, I've added. I didn't know custom tool makers existed, until I got ahold of an old McMillens catologue. I reproduced some of them , and bought some. Then I found an ad for Harness Shop News....Ellis Barnes soon followed, as did Robert Baird, then Watts. Havn't used any BK tools yet, but since I'm starting again I can't wait! Thing is... if you create it, it's yours! Don't be afraid to experiment!

Another picture that might better illustrate the side to side movement you can get.

Tony, The pipe used was 2" ID and 1 1/2 ID. Basically just used windmill pipe. I'm sure if a guy went to a steelyard there would be sizes with closer tolerances to use. I simply welded a 1/4" rod around the ends to keep the sliding pieces from coming off. The first picture might not clearly show that it is tipped at a right angle to the base? You use the drawdown strap to hold the saddle/tree at virtually any position, whether faciing forward or back.

And another from the side with a tree setting backward as if to sew a binding. You can also get an idea how much movement the jack has along the bottom. Sure made it easier sewing a binding on! Get to the side of a cantle, and just roll it over a little more.

A view from the front showing the trailer jack and spreader, while raised.

I made a mention when I first found this site and was amazed at the sharing of info and knowledge, that maybe I could share a little that might help someone. I don't know how much this will help, but it has been a saver for me. IT was a pretty simple concept that hatched in my mind in the mid 80's, and I just started throwing things at it. There are ways to improve it that I've thought of since. Just havn't taken the time, since this one has been working so well for me. It was simple to build, the only cost was the trailer jack which still carries the $22.50 mark on it. the rest was salvaged from the scrap pile behind the shop. If you've got a good shop with better tools, I'm sure you could make one smoother. I was working on a cow outfit, and making my family. Hence, money was tight, and I'm sure a lot of you know the same feeling. I made do with what I had, or built it myself. Most things started as just a thought, and developed into something somewhat usable. My tools at the time were just a hand grinder, cutting torch, and a buzz box. I wasn't too concerned about prettieness, since my work time on this project was pretty limited. So, please forgive the crudeness? I just wanted it servicable. This first picture I hope, shows the workings of this drawdown and maybe gives you and idea of how it functions. Most functions were locked in place by welding a nut with a bolt (swivel handle or T) to a piece of pipe which revolves around a smaller pipe. The (seat) functions both vertically and horizontally. The jack is welded onto a sliding pipe with a strap that goes to the top, that runs along in a track on the upper bottom, to keep it perpendicular to the top. Also note, on the upright pipe there is a locking collar to adjust height, and another locking (for lack of a better term) locking bolt below that, to keep it from swiveling.

You asked for a critique, I'll try to offer one. The lines and balance on your saddle show lots of good things, as well as the mechanics show from the pictures. I like it and would be glad to throw a leg across it. I'm on dial up and pictures can take forever to download... but on the rear jockeys, I would like to see the area below the top leaf broken up by something and backgrounded. It would be easy to insert a stob or something to break up that area??? Decorative cuts is something I have continually struggled with! On your leaves, I would use more of a lazy S with diminishing cuts below that. Your Deco cuts just need a little more finesse, as mine do! All of my cuts I try to start with a sharp hook, then tapering to a gentle curve and diminishing. It's a challenge, as to where to place them, cuz I don't like to get into shaded areas much. Most of what I've learned was by askiing for a mentor to critique my work... and my work still isn't up to snuff. Don't want anyone to think I'm being critical, just offering a perspective. I'll try to get some stuff up, and you or anyone can critique it. I've always been open to suggestions. There's a couple of saddle pictures posted in a" homemade drawdown stand". I too, liked the graduated circles and placement of them, I hadn't seen that done before! .......Lot's of stuff I havn't seen, and this site is an eye opener for sure! I just keep saying WOW! Maybe we all have had a hard side with cuts?? I don't know, but I still have a harder time with cuts coming from my left, and I say a lot of "well... cheet"... I Don't know if any of us ever reach that pinnacle where we are totally satisfied with our work. Hope I don't. Just living and learning....

Try it this way... a double wammy! Oh yeah! These were built on Rod and Denise Nikkels trees. Nice work you two! The first one was Jarra and the next purple heart if I remember right?

Hi guys and gals! New person here. Built a few saddles, took a long break due to some life changing circumstances. Now, I'm ready to get to torturing some leather again. I was cleaning out the outside shop a while back and ran into some pieces of oak that #1 son was gonna build me a deep throat stitching horse from, but didn't get close. Needless to say the plans dissapeared over the last few years. LOL! I pulled it out and took two of my main three woodworking tools (the chain saw and a rasp) and went to town. I was just cruising around looking for clamping ideas and ran across this site. Very, very interesting! And it's great that everyone shares ideas and opinions. I took part in the colorado saddlemakers association for several years. and there was a lot of sharing in that bunch too! Plan on rejoining soon. At some of the judged shows they held, I asked my peers and the judge to go back and critique my work. They were always very willing, and gave me lots of ideas for improvement. Although I'm just a beginner in understanding, I've got/had a few ideas that have worked well for me. And since when I started I was working for cowboy wages... hence some creativity in tools and things I used. And in the spirit that things were shown to me, and the spirit shown here, I would like to share. I've taken an idea and played with it, and although my work is rough, it's servicable. I need to get/ borrow another camera, since my last one shot the craps. I've got a handful of digitals of some work. If I figure how to post them? Anyway, sorry for the long post... I made a combination draw down stand and "old George"? It was made for very few dollars and a small amount of time. My welding was limited to a cutting torch and buzzbox, along with a hacksaw on this project. A welding shop and some creativity, could no doubt could make one super nice. A mentor of mine took some pictures a few years ago to include in an article, what it was I've no idea. That was about the time I took a break??? I promise to get some pictures up very soon! Is there any tutorial on posting them? I can borrow the GF's camera and maybe even some of her skills operating it. Just seen the attachments thing at the bottom, so I'll try some pics of some work... the pics of the drawdown will have to be taken later. It's saying the file on another saddle was to big to upload. Live and learn.........