Cowboy Crafts Online

Art, I think they are about the same work as making a pair of chinks. I dont know of any patterns I just looked at different pictures and going from that an my knowledge of making chaps and chinks I just set out and made a pair. I am not sure if they are right or not. However I am satisfied with how they turned out. Ashley

I was able to meet Mr. King 3 years ago at the museum. He was busy, but took time to talk to me. I think it will probably be on of the best times in my life. He took leather work to a higher level, making it so refined. He will be greatly missed, but his leagecy will live on. We all need to take what he did and continue to make our selves better leather workers. Ashley

Grumpy, I worked for a guy in OK for 3 years to get started in saddle making. He didnt pay me I just worked there when I could. It took me about 3 months before he let me do any thing. Then he got behind and gave me a chance. Of course he got me started, but I learned alot of things not to do as well. I have had kids come to my shop and want to learn and I have let 2 of them hang out, but neither lasted very long. I think they see me doing things and think wow that look easy and I want to build a saddle or some other thing. Then I set them down rubbing edges doing repair work and practicing stamping and they get bored, I am not teaching them what they want to learn fast enough. Kinda has me brunt out on the whole thing I have other projects to get done and dont have time to waste on someone that is not going to hang around. I think it is probably worse with an older maker, because its happened to them more often. I think just start hanging out in a shop and dont ask to many questions at first and stay out of the way. Pretty soon they will warm up to you and probably start letting you do things. One thing I like is to have some one sweep up and keep the shop clean. If they do that I tend to be more willing to help. Ashley

where in KS are you from and welcome to the board Ashley

welcome to the board, everyone has to start somewhere. Where in IA are you I live in about 45 away from the boarder on the west side of MO Ashley

Doug, I do apply the finish after the sewing. I buy most my conchos from HideCrafters. I might also add that on my dayplanners and checkbook covers I cut them 1/2 " oversize then once they are sewed I trim down to final size. Ashley

Very Very nice. I want to steal the pattern. ashley

Thanks everyone for the response's. Skip - I use a consew 206rb for my small items that I sew. As for the stamp on the medium dayplanner I used my Robert Bread basket stamp and on the belt and check book cover I used a Barry King. I would recommend anyone looking to by tools call up Barry and get his. Ill go though the finishing that I use. First off if you dont have 3 days to do this dont try to rush it. step 1 after you get though stamping or carving let your project set over night to get completely dry. I do not want any moisture at all in the leather. step 2 I use either olive oil or Bee Natural's #1 SADDLE OIL with NATURAL FUNGICIDES use a light coat over your project top side and bottom. I can not really tell you how much it just comes with doing it. Then let this set over night. step 3 After you have let the oil soak in over night put on a very light coat of neat lac top and bottom. The reason I put it on the bottom side is that if any antique gets on the bottom you can wipe it off without leaving any behind. Now let this set over night. step 4 now your ready for antique. First off cut about 6 or 7 wool pads. I use fiebing mahogany antique I put it on thick as in I cannot see the tooling. you should use on wool pad for this step. let this set for at least 10 min no more than 15. Next start wiping off the antique I use one wool pad to hold down the project so I do not leave any finger prints. one might use the wool pads in this step. After all the antique is wiped off let it set for about 20 min and buff step 5 After about 2 hours I put a coat of TanKote on and buff and the finish is done. If I remember next time I finish something I will try to take some pictures of the process Ashley

I finally got a chance to watch the whole Dale Harwood DVD. There are alot of things I learned that will help me along. In my opinion this DVD is not made for the beginning saddlemaker. If someone has never built a saddle or touched leather and wants to try to build a saddle I would recommend Jeremiah Watts DVD. He breaks things down better on what tools, leather, thread, stitching,etc to use. Dale goes into how and why he builds saddle's and he does do some things different than Jeremiah. I have been wanting to work with Dale for a long time now and now by having this DVD I get to go back to it everytime I have a question. It was well worth the money I spent. I have been collecting anything on saddlemaking since I have started and now I have quite a few books and dvd's. I would recommend anyone trying to build the best gear to do the same. The knowledge is out there, but if dont go after it dont feel bad when someone really cuts down your work for a half assed job of putting it together. Ashley

The first policy I got on my saddle shop was though the local Farm Bureau. They had to run me under a Sporting Goods Store, because there is not a saddle shop policy in thier system. Then I found a local company in MO that gave me better rates and better coverage, email me and I will send their phone number to you. I dont know if they cover anyone out of the state. Ashley

In between working on some saddles I have been able to make up a few small things. A floral Dayplanner for my wife, which I need to take a new picture of. Also a belt and a check book cover for a local customer. Lastly a medium basket stamped Dayplanner for my shop. Hope everyone enjoys. One thing Ill add on all my small goods I sew using 10 to 12 stitched per inch and no larger than 138 thread. I like the looks of things that way. In my opinion it looks better than small things stitched with a saddle stitcher.

Thanks for the info. Greg are you going back down to the WRCA finals? I need to get a hold of Mark and see if he is going to have my bit finished. Ashley

Alan, I am sure you are wanting to make this saddle sale, but I would not. You going to try to fit both these people and what will end up happening is that neither one will be happy and its all going to be your fault in the end, in their minds. You will lose more sales by them telling everyone you cannot fit a saddle. I would stay away. Ashley

Flipping though the High Country Cowboy Company catalog today. I got to thinking about lacing up saddle skirts. It looks like they do not have thier skirts laced together. I for one lace my skirts. Just wondering if anyone else does not lace skirts and why they do not? Ashley

very nice work. is there a big market for armor? Ashley

I am using my clicker pad, I am not sure what the tech name for it is. I have just had problems with the bag punches. I dont have any problems with the round point or the english point end punches. Ashley

I have the full set of bag punches also and have had the same problem as David with the edges rolling over. Ashley

I would like to add that I got my DVD in the mail today. As for the folk selling the DVD for Dale. Everyone needs to give them some slack. They operate a ranch in WY. I dont think they are doing the DVD to get rich, just to get the knowledge out to everyone. Please give them some understanding. Ashley

I got my DVD in the mail yesterday and have not had time to watch it. Once I do I will post what I think of it. Ashley

mudman, Greg is right on the money about cutting fringe. Cutting fringe takes lots of practice, go slow at first. Over time you will get fast. I use one of those plastic cutting mats under my chaps, it helps the blade stay sharper longer. That is one thing you need to do, keep you knife sharp and cutting fringe will be so much easier. Ashley

Another great looking seat. Ashley

I think u-braid it company has a book that tells how to tie cinches. Ashley

I think we are all pretty much doing the same. I just started glass rubbing mine last year, when I found a nice glass rub at barry king's. that little tool sure comes in handy. Just wish I would have bought it years ago. Ashley

Steve, Great work. I also enjoy the saddle blog. I wish I could work with you on ground seats. Ashley

esantoro, I do not know where your from, but there is a place just down in Saint Joseph MO that carries alot of leather and does custom clicking. I buy alot of chaps sides from them. I can look up their phone number if your serious about having some one click out items for you. They are some real nice folks that run the biz. some of their clients are Ping golf, stetson Hats, Barstow rodeo gear. I dont know thier prices but I think they could help you out. They might even have clicker dies made up for the sizes that you need. Ashley