mulefool

I rode my first saddle for over twenty years. It is strong and comfortable, but lacks a little finesse to my eye now. If it fit my mule I'd probably still be riding it, since I can't seem to find time to work on my OWN gear.

I go with the 2 and a half sides. Sometimes it might work for three for the reasons mentioned.

I have a friend who has one just kind of skeleton rigged. Just some fenders pretty much. I borrowed it for a few days to try it out. I rode it on a big wide gelding, I really liked the close contact, no bulk and I liked the shape of the seat. Of course like I said there was really no leather on it save for the fenders, so of course it was less bulk. So I thought maybe it might be a nice tree to make up a lightweight saddle for trail riding. I could keep the price down since there's no labor in the ground seat, which I would normally spend alot of time on, or the rigging. So I got me a tree probably 3 years ago now, but I've been so darn busy with actual orders I haven't finished it yet. I probably wouldn't use it for a regular custom saddle, I'd get a handmade wood tree, but I think it has a place and worlds above a Ralide tree, which I would never use.

Way back in the early 70's a gal I know ordered a Shoup saddle. It was the nicest thing I'd ever seen. I saw her a few months ago and asked if she still had it. She said of course, she'd never part with it. So sorry to hear he's ailing. That saddle he built made me start thinking of custom saddles so he got another one on the right track too. I hope it is of some comfort to him to know that he inspired alot of people even if he didn't know them, and that that inspiration will live on.

Just for future reference I got some from Colorado Saddlery. It's been a few years, so i'm not sure if they still carry it.

It seems like most of the saddlemakers I know of that would easily fit in the "master saddlemaker" category really don't NEED a title for anything other than maybe ego, since most of them are booked up for years. It actually seems like there would be more need for some kind of certification on the low end of the scale for people beginning in the business to prove they have at least an adequate knowledge and basic skills. As far as insurance and credit cardprocessing, now I would find THAT helpful.

I'm in the same ballpark as Bruce as far as price. I would also say I virtually always replace both. You'll probably want to pull the other one off anyway to make sure the holes lie up even. I wouldn't feel comfortable just replacing one and using the old holes for marking the new ones, since the old ones are most likely stretched out.

I run a stitch groove on the gusset. Then I use brass tacks in the groove to tack the gusset to the back. I pull the tacks out as I go. I use an accordian style gusset of latigo in my saddlebags. I just hold it to sew the gusset to the front, don't need any tacks. I cut the gusset just a hair long and it always comes out fine and I just trim the extra off. I use 6-7 oz latigo and the accordian may make it easier to shape.

Man, that is really nice. I'd like to hear more about it, too. Was there one in the old Visalia catalog in particular that you used as inspiration?

I always learned "bottoms to center, butt to back" since that was such an easy saying to remember that's how I've done it. I'm open minded though, Bruce's point about the wool being thicker in the middle is a good one so I just might rethink my way of doing it. I'm not open minded about the barge though............NEVER.

If a person could figure out a way to injure themselves with a key fob, it's probably happened. I have my shop on my property in a separate building. I have a separate policy on the business through the same company, Allstate, that has our house and cars and trucks. I have the shop and contents insured for about $100,000 although I don't think I have that much in there, they seem to think so. I have 2 million in liability. It seems like there's always things included that you don't think you need. Theres something where if a person injures themselves on the property, even if it is completely NOT my fault, they will still pay up to $500 for any medical bills as a "good name" type of deal.. Although I bet if I ever actually used it I'd be sorry when I got the next bill. For this I pay $1,300.00 per year. I guess in the back of my mind is the fact we could lose our place over some frivolous lawsuit and the $1300 per year helps me sleep at night. Now I need to be thinking about whether to change from a sole proprietorship to a Limited Liability Corporation. I think each state has it's own rules on that.

This is really cool stuff. Last weekend we went to a Horse Fair and there was something called the "Warhorse challenge" with the riders wearing leather armor, although I don't think it was the same caliber as your work. Are there career opportunities with the movie industry? It looks like various pieces need to be shaped to the person. Do you make up molds for that? I guess I'm mostly looking at the bra part of the ladies outfit. It looks like a perfect fit, so it just got me thinking.

I was basically going to say what Rod and Denise said. But they said it alot better.

I have no experience with using wax in a machine, but the next time I order from Campbell Bosworth I'll ask about it and maybe give it a try. Like you say when it's running good you hate to change a thing, even if you know somethings wore out. Thanks for all the input, and the offer to wind a bobbin for me! I do have a bobbin winder although it doesn't work as well as I'd like and I do end up guiding the thread with my fingers.

Thanks for the suggestions. barra, the bobbin goes into a shuttle. I also use my fingers with the same technique to wind them and try to keep them smooth and even. It is interesting you suggest that they maybe wound too tightly since I had wondered if I wasn't winding them tight enough! I guess my thought was that if the winding is too loose it would be easier for the thread to pull into the wraps especially at the ends of the bobbin when it is at more of an angle. I do try to get them nice and smooth but sometimes I don't and frankly it hasn't seemed to make any difference in regards to this problem. I did talk to Connie or Randy about this and some other problems I was having several years ago. The other problem was the one bothering me the most and they got me fixed up on that. As I recall my next step on this one was maybe a new shuttle or sending this down to them but it's hard to find a time to do without it, since I'm using it every day pretty much. I do have to say those guys are top notch when it comes to helping out over the phone. I've never used a wax pot. I use 346 Dabond thread on top and 270 on the bottom. About 5 or 6 years ago I took her over to Ferdco and had some work done. I had been using 415 and 346 nylon and they said not to so I changed. In retrospect I kind of wonder if it's because they don't sell nylon. Hmmmmm. I really think in the future if I need work done I would do whatever it takes to get her down to Campbell-Bosworth because I feel they really know these machines.

Pretty Darn cool. So can you post a pic of the completed project. How is it going to be used with work from other carvers?

I've got a wonderful old Landis 3. I've been living with this problem for awhile now but thought maybe I'd see if anybody here has any ideas on this. She makes a wonderful stitch and the tension is perfect until the bobbin gets about 2/3 gone. Then the bobbin tension becomes too tight. So I've lived with this by filling a bobbin one third full and then adding thread on top to fill so it runs out at about two thirds gone. She hasn't always done this, but I guess I've been dealing with it for 4 or 5 years anyway. Any ideas on what might cause this? I hate winding bobbins.

Well,I don't have an index, but here's some things I have my 8 YO grand daughter do when she comes over and I am working in the shop. 1. Bracelets. I cut a piece about 1" wide and the right length and put a snap on for closure. Then she can decorate it with stamps or names. She makes them up for her friends. 2. bookmarks, I cut to the right length and then she decorates by stamping. Next time I thought about maybe a little fold over coin purse type of thing she could stamp and then lace down the sides. Hope this helps.

Yes I would like to know that, too. The cinch is just naturally going to want to ride in that area. Maybe you could just elaborate on that a little.

Really nice work.

I've done it both ways depending on what the customer wants and the type of horses. When I lace all the way I do cut the skirts so there is relief in the channel. Bruce I sure like the swivel kniFe work on the back of those skirts.

At first I was going to suggest the two sets of fenders. Hoping they wouldn't want to deal with it and let you off the hook. But after reading Ashleys response I kind of agree with that. My guess is that if you say, you know I'm sorry but I just can't do that, they would order anyway. I have turned down similar types of things where there just really isn't a good solution. Usually people come around and order anyway and take my advice on whats reasonable.

Really classy looking bag. I like everything about it.

Nice looking chinks Misty. When you cut the pies out and lay the fringe out on table there is a little jog in the line along the end of the fringe. The smaller the pie the less noticeable it is, so that I why I do a small pie every 2 fringes. When I have done them for a show or something special I may even do it every other fringe. I try to never have the wide end of the pie wider than the width of my fringe. I use the clear ruler as a guide for my rotary cutter and it just cuts slick as a whistle. I make sure to hold the ruler down really tight so nothing slides as I cut and I also put on a new blade. If I had to cut them out with scissors I think I'd have to drink even more than I do.

So that's where the sheepskin went!