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Thanks for looking, for the compiments and tips. Katsass, are you talking about the margin for stitching or the muzzle area in general? Terry www.singletreeleather.com

Thanks Nooj

I had never done one like this. A good customer wanted one so after a few false starts and wrecks, this is what I came up with. He wanted it to go on a seperate belt so I did the loop on the back. Oh, and he wanted a flap on it. I now have a lot of respect for good holster makers. Terry

John, That sounds like a sweet deal compared to what I have for options here in Canada. Basic, I have to have business registered and a seperate checking account ( even though I report the income and collect sales taxes and remit them on what they call a casual basis right now ) the costs for a merchant account with the credit card co.s START at 35.00 per month paypal or other, whether I turn a tap or not. Give it a try, bump your costs by the percentage of discount and see if it impacts your sales. If you're not tied into a contract, you can't lose. I think???? I should add that this would be calling in by phone, each sale as that is what I gather you're talking about. Terry

Thanks for the replies, I'm getting fed up with the villains in this world. I'm going to go check my bank balance, I'm looking for the payoff from the bank transfer I helped out from Africa!!!! Terry

I got an e-mail this morning from an outfit that registers domain names informing me that some company in china called haitong is going to register domain names the same as mine only with .cn or .asia at the end. If I wanted to protect my name with those suffixes, I could register those names and be safe. I searched for info on the Chinese company and found a page written by some company rep. His company got the exact same e-mail I got ( shown on this link ) http://beckmann-bio.com/bb_net/internet_site_1.html only their name was on the e-mail. I read through the article and it bothered me but at this point I don't know what to think. I know I can't afford to register a bunch of other names. Anybody else get this e-mail ? If not a scam, it sounds like extortion. If someone has expertise in this area, what are your thoughts Terry www.singletreeleather.com

I've got a Landis 12K I bought a while back. I've resoled maybe fifteen pairs of boots on it. The last couple pairs, I've had trouble with the bottom thread ( the welt side ) breaking after stitching about an inch. I've cleaned and checked out the various pieces the thread contacts where the breakage occurs but can't seem to pinpoint it. I tried backing off the tension a bit and then tightened to where the lockstitch disappeared. No gain. If I sew one single piece of sole bend it will stitch two to three inches and still break. It sewed pretty good when I got it and I haven't been tinkering with it. With so few pairs of boots I can't see that I wore it that much. If something did move, I don't have a manual so I have no idea of dimensions to set any parts. (The guy I bought it from said to set the hook and awl apart about the thickness of a finger nail,,,,my Uncle Charlie had finger nails as thick as a horse shoers rasp! ) If anybody has some input, I'd greatly appreciate it. Terry cowboyup at sasktel dot net

Here's a couple slings I finished up last week. Let me know what you think. Terry www.singletreeleather.com

I've read through this post and others about using a mixture of beeswax and parrafin to burnish edges. I finally got a motor, shaft, and mandrel put together. This morning, I prepared to melt/ mix waxes. I figured a 50/50 mix was probably by weight so I started down that road. That's when I found out that the same weights of each wax appeared to be different amounts of mass. I've read in other posts where using one or the other can result in less desireable results. Hence, my question: Is the 50/50 mix by weight or volume? Beeswax weighs 60 lb/ square foot and parrafin weighs 45. I'm no rocket scientist, I'm just tired of tossing work in the trash because it turned out bad. Terry

Good morning, You should shave off the hair in the seam allowance. The best way I've found to do this is to use some pet grooming clippers. I've found some pretty inexpensive ones. Terry

Jack, I hear ya. Had a skunk move in under our deck last fall. He's gone but not his eau d" cologne!!!!! Now for the photo. Not great quality but then wasn't expecting company.

Just befor dark tonight, a young moose walked up our sidewalk towards the house (within 15' ) to check out the shrubs in the yard. Not a good plan because my wife is pretty protective over her cherry trees and everything else. We've had a fair bit of snow this winter but not so much that it should be causing the wildlife much distress. We'll have to watch this one seeins that it don't do any damage. Here's a photo. Terry Can't get the picture loaded right now. I'll try later. Anyway, it was a pretty special time.

I just read bigo5552000's post about his grand dad's tools. BillinOK's reply about talking to his teacher from junior high days got me to wondering how many people on this forum may have learned leather work and tooling from a junior high teacher I had. His name was Ben Snodgress. He taught shop at Mead Junior High, Mead Colorado back in the 60's and 70's. Did a lot of custom leatherwork for hunting buddies. A tough guy with a heart as big as the sky. He died in a goose hunting accident in his prime. I'm sure lots of people still miss him. Terry

After a couple days of driving the loader back and forth from the haystack to the cows, I figure there are two or more issues going on here. It's regrettable that someone seeking our products has to read this c**p from within the community member or not. The first problem, as I see it, this appeared like a small feeding frenzy. I'm assuming we're all in the same boat trying to market our creations and pay the bills. If I were to reply to this type of inquiry, I would invite Tommy to view my work and go from there. Let the customer see your work, your linings, etc. and decide. If he likes what he sees, he will come. As far as Aaron and Josh, I know exactly where you both are coming from. Aaron, I too am a tool junkie, there's times I should push away from the table and don't, that's my problem. I make a passable bit of work and try to make up the gap between the price of feeder calves and our bills. (understand everyone that our share of the price you pay for beef is about 5-10% of the store price depending on whether it's burger or steak) Josh, I'm not familiar with your situation but it appears you are trying to make a living with your leather work. You've done your homework and figured what your profit point is. Aaron, you have a talent, don't sell it short. We can't all necessarily command the prices of the top names but we need to make sure that we can stay in business or at least pay for our passion. The he problem we need to avoid is that as leather workers we don't tread on one another's business in our pricing. Case in point: A woman in town asked me to make here a noseband/ bronc halter style. When I went in to see what she wanted on it she said a freind wanted a couple as well. Friend wanted a full floral pattern, she pointed out which pattern she wanted "adapted" to the noseband and then informed me she could get the same thing made for $60.00 from "somebody" down the road including conchos The somebody down the road was doing, if all's equal the same work for less than minimum wage. I told her I couldn't do it for that. I hope I didn't offend anyone with this note. It was just my two cents worth. Actually the Canadian goverment is talking about doing away with the penny so next time it might cost me a nickel! Happy and Prosperous New Year to all, Terry

Smitty, I've used the same rawhide mallet for forty years. When it starts flaking the pieces I take a damp sponge and give it a swipe. Go have a cup of coffee and get back at it. Usually takes care of it for quite awhile. Terry

This reply doesn't exactly respond to your question but I had to throw in my two cents. There's a Christmas song the Bellamy bros. did with the same tune as "Old hippy", titled "Old hippy Christmas" that I really enjoy. I've only heard it maybe three times over the years (don't know when it was first recorded). Takes me back to the early '70s around Steamboat Springs, Colo. Would like to have a copy. Terry Merry Christmas to everybody and a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year

Can somebody tell me if a Pfaff 595 post machine is able to sew 6 to 9 oz veg tan yokes onto chaps? The machine I’m considering takes up to 138 thread. I have need for this machine for other work I do that is suited to a post machine but I can get by with my patcher if the 595 is not versatile enough. Also any other bits of knowledge on it. Thanks, Terry

A fellow brought me a saddle to do a few things to. When I looked it over, I was surprised at the rigging hardware. I've never seen these before and I've been around saddles since I could walk. The casting says, "EZ Rig Pat. May 1815" . There's more words on the top where the rigging wraps around but I can't get it out in the open enough to make it out. The saddle is made by Riley & McCormick, Calgary Alberta, s/n 404 date unknown. I'd be curious to know more about them if anybody has any knowledge of their history and how widespread their use. Thanks, Terry

Duke, On some items, after the dye has set for at least several hours or over night, I give them a coat of prime neatsfoot oil and again let sit over night. I follow that up with a healthy dressing of Fiebings Tan Kote. It gives a softer shine and not plastic looking. Terry

I've only seen one saddle up close with the inlaid pad. It looked to me like a heavy weight chap leather. (grain side out)

I'm working on a holster for a ruger redhawk. I made a pattern based on Stohlmans holster book. When I sewed it together, I didn't like the way the rear sight wanted to drag on the inside of the holster. Should I cut the holster so it's more shallow and the rear sight doesn't even go inside or did I do something wrong? Any and all advise is appreciated. Also, the pattern was made for a redhawk, the pistol I tried in it was a super redhawk. Is there much difference? Maybe that's where the problem is. Terry

What type of tree would have been used in a Circle Y roping saddle (Sweet Home, Texas) about 10-15 years old? It isn't wood. Terry

Sorry about the pictures, it seems that when you hit "tab", which would normally indent your writing a new paragraph, it jets you off to some other unknown place on this forum. So, I will try again. (second time tonight) The rider who ordered this setup wanted an external pocket for his medicine of choice and also an external holster for his used syringe. The near side pocket has a 10oz panel fixed to the inside with chicago screws, the panel has loops for various meds, the panel can be removed for repair or modifying. I fowled up forming and cutting the gussets so I ended up hand sewing the whole bit. Didn't want the sewing to not be uniform. Thanks to Bruce for input on this deal. Couldn't fit another picture on this post so, if you want to see the other end with the bottle pocket, let me know and I'll load that one. I got a fellow to make a form for these so I could mold the gussets (10 oz) for a stiffer gusset, in these parts the boys are riding in a lot of bush country and the trees can beat things up pretty bad. Terry

Made up these medicine bags. One side has a removable panel inside with loops for syringes and pinkeye meds. The fellow wanted a bottle pocket on the outside as well as a syringe holster outside. First set like this.

I got this e mail this afternoon. " Have you ever made saddlebags for a motorcycle. The ones I have are synthetic leather and they only last for a year. It is also hard to find a set that fits properly." I've finally learned my lesson, that I can't be everything to everyone without working at minimum wage or less. This person is in Northwest Saskatchewan, Canada If there's anyone who feels like they are up toe to this, please let me know within 16 hours and I will forward his e mail address. I like to get back to people fairly quickly. cowboyup@sasktel.net Terry