Cowboy Crafts Online

I thought about getting a used mannequin, but do not know where to find them. Ashley

I started two more saddles this week and have been working on ground seats. I was wanting to know what everyone thought about stirrup slots. How many use the tunnel with removable plug or how many cut out their slots after the ground seat is done? Ashley

The taps are made out of boot sole leather. I go to the warehouse and get the heaviest I find. Since boot sole leather is measured different I dont know the oz. Since they are made out of sole leather once they dry they are very hard and hold up well. Ashley

looks really good. would like to see it with the watch

Instead of starting alot of different post I thought I would just start one post and add to it when I get different things made up in the shop for everyone to see. I hope this works out better. To start off with I made up a couple pair of Shotguns. I really need to fig out a better way of taking pictures of my chaps. If anyone has any ideas I would like to hear them. Here are some Bulldog Taps I also made up this week.

looks great

I ordered my today. I was told the videos are going to come in on the 25th. I went ahead and paid for mine so it would be shipped as soon as the DVD comes in. I told them about this website, so hopefully they will come on and tell more about the DVD so everyone can find out more about them. I will tell everyone what I think once I get it and have a chance to watch. Ashley

One thing I just thought of was what do we define as scrap. I use up ever piece of the hide, I have very little left over, its just the junk that cannot be used. That is why I give it away I couldn't see anyone paying for it. Ashley

I live about 30 miles away from a Boy Scout camp, so I give them most all my scraps. I have been keeping track of what I have given them this year and am going to write it off. One other thing I have done is back up my scraps and take them to local horse sales and have them auctioned off, but with the price of fuel it is easier to donate them to the boy scouts. Ashley

I am thinking of getting a new skiving knife from J Cook Blades. Does anyone have one or has anyone tried one? Please let me know what you think Ashley

I have been busy since getting back into the shop after the flood in May. Here are a few things I finished up this week. Ashley

I would agree with Bruce on the order he put them in I have Bruce Cheaney's, Bill Gomer's, and Jeremiah Watt's. I would say that for me if I had not worked in a saddle shop for 3 years before I bought my first set of videos its hard to build a saddle from a video. There are just some things that you have to learn from feel and you need someone there to tell you if your doing it right or not. I think I got ideas from each of the the video sets, but I recieved the most information from Jeremiah's video set. Ashley

I cannot wait for the DVD I called them last dec. I think $399 is a great price, for the knowledge that you are going to learn from the tapes. I talked to his daughter about the dvd, she said that Dale is going to be telling some stories also. I dont know if anyone has watched 4 strands of Rawhide with Bill Dorrence, but I think the story telling is what I liked the best. I know that you cannot go out to Dale's place and work with him for that price. I wish they could get Don King to do a carving video, I know he will not, but wouldnt that be great as well. Ashley

Thank you for everyone's comments Ashley

beeza, Another great seat. Man how many have you done to date, it seems like its been 3 years since I first saw them on chopperweb. I am glad to hear that you got the tools from Barry the ones I made didnt turn out to well. Ashley

For my saddles I oil the entire skirts before I put them on. I then oil the entire saddle after it is complete. Ashley

One thing I would like to add that Rod does with his trees is highlights the center line they use when building the tree, before they rawhide the tree. I know this helps me find my center line alot faster then when I use to do it. One thing I use to check my riggings side to side is a cross fire laser level from black and decker. once you have the rigging set your can shoot the laser down the center line then use the cross laser to check the riggings to be square with each other. Ashley

Here are a pair of Armitas that I just finished up. They are step in, with a traditional tie string. The only Hardware on them is the brass ring on the side. Ashley

Flea, Looks like your getting the hang of the chap making. If I could offer one thing, it looks like your collars 'thats what I call them' the tooled top peices are a little too deep. It is ok when someone is standing but when they set in a saddle they are going to bulge right in that front area. On the chaps I make I make my collars no more than 3". I think your doing a great job so dont take this the wrong why, just something I learned from making lots of chaps. I hope now that I got moved back in after the floods here in MO that I can get somethings done and posted. I have a few pair of chaps to make up. Ashley

First question is how do you want to wrap them? Do you want to do leather or Rawhide? Next do you want them sewed up the sides or laced up the middle? Let me know and I will try to help. Ashley

Alan, Welcome to the site. I would highly recomend Rod's trees. I have used many other factory tree's before ordering trees from Rod this year. The reason I swithed, was that I wanted to raise my quality of saddles and by going with Rod's trees that has happened. You will not be disappointed Ashley

David, can you show us some of your trees and saddle that you are building or are having other people build for you which ever it is?

Denise, I hope you are ok with me posting your website here. I am just happy with the trees that I have gotten so far and think they are the best trees on the market. I just wanted other people to know about your trees. I am glad that you have responded to comments made about your trees. I believe someone that has worked out of the saddle and builds saddles for those that work out of saddles will never say anything bad about how your trees fit. Ashley SnakeHorse Saddle Shop

Thank you all for the comments I will try to post more as time goes on. I did do a one piece rear jockey on the slickfork, a very good friend of mine and teacher is John " the saddleman" out of texas. He does that on his saddles. I dont know if that is who you were talking about. Ashley

I guess its time to put up or shut up. Here is some of my work I will try to post more as time goes on. Ashley