mulefool

I've got that poster, too. haven't seen the book, but I'll be interested to know, too. Chris

I'm not sure what to think about that dickering on the price if they don't like it. I sell my stuff at a reasonable price and I have to say it sure galls me to have someone want to dicker on it. When I was still building a reputation I did it because I felt like I had to and I wasn't quite sure what to say about why I wouldn't. But now I won't do it. I may discuss ways they could save money on their order without me lowering my price, I am also happy to tell them why I feel my work merits whatever price I'm asking, but I won't dicker anymore. However that said, if someone places a large order I might try to throw something small in or give them some little break. Particularly if I am at a show, I always felt like the people who appreciated my work and didn't expect a discount kind of get penalized if I offer a deal to the person who wants to dicker. I'd rather reward those folks. Chris

I used to have a cool cribbage board made out of an elk antler with escutcheon pins for the pegs. It actually wasn't quite as easy to use as a flat one, but it sure looked cool. I have used them for buttons on chaps or purses. either saw a cross section and drill some holes in, or cut the tip off for more of a toggle(not sure if that is the right word for it) type button. Chris

In regard to Randys comment on cobbling something together. I'm sure we've all had folks come in wanting a cheap repair and say "I don't care what it looks like (unsaid part; I want it cheap)" I always tell them," well I do care what it looks like and I won't do a bad job for anyone". Or like you say they can get their own needle and thread and fix it up. The other thing makes me smile is when someone calls and says "I 've got a little project for you. It won't take long" . I can almost guarantee it won't be a "little" job. Chris

Some jobs, like relining skirts are uniform enough to make a fairly set price. But if you ask how much to repair a halter, what exactly does that mean? Just some stitching? replace hardware? here's some resources for you: Bob Brenner has a book on figuring prices www.pikespeaksaddlery.com or ASMA guide to pricing www.saddlemakers.org Good Luck

I used to have one of those and that's the way I remember the stirrup leathers being rigged. It does look like new leathers but I think they were put in the same way they came. the other thing about those saddles is that the stirrup leathers are hung further forward. Mine was comfortable, but if I wanted to put my horse into a long trot and cover some ground I found it hard to stand in my stirrups, couldn't keep my legs under me. Chris

I think if you were able to manage a glove for your FIRST project the rest of this will be a piece of cake. Chris

Be sure to figure in your overhead when figuring your shop rate. for example if you want to make say $15.00 an hour, you will have to charge more to cove your expenses, otherwise you're losing money. Chris

Unfortunately it's pretty hard to tell much from the pics you were able to get. I think maybe next time it would be better if you didn't put the saddle in front of the window like that, I think the back lighting is the problem. I was wondering about the shield on the skirts as well as the back jockeys. I hadn't seen that done before. I guess my concern would be the shield adding stiffness that might cause rubbing on some horses. Chris

Looks great. I like how the really dark flower centers make the flowers really stand out and look deep. Chris

I'm with the vertical, too. I only use the horizontal for repairs where the stirrup leathers are already punched that way. Chris

Interesting question to mull over. Like Johanna said, form without function doesn't mean much to me. The most beautiful thing to me is something that works really well for its intended purpose. One of the most beautiful things I've seen was a perfectly plain saddle, but every line, edge, everything about it was perfect. Ideally a technically good craftsman will have at least an eye for nice clean lines. Doesn't have to be fancy to be artistic. I was a Fine Arts major before I dropped out of college, so I guess I would have to say I have some artistic ability, but I got involved in saddles for the function. At first I didn't care if I ever carved or not. Then I started to see some of the really great masters and I saw how the saddle could also be a vehicle for art. Chris

Looks like you did a nice job. I used to make alot of cutting chaps, but haven't in maybe 10 years or so. Sometimes the differences can just be a matter of style. when I was making them I used a glovier moccasin cowhide and people always wanted the rough side out. I also cut them pretty wide at the bottom. I put quite a bit of angle on the fringe and people were wanting it to be in the 8" range. I also put a dart at the knee to pull the leg over the foot. I guess that's what the style was around here back then. Plus they were mostly cream, sand, buckskin, all the light colors. Chris

Just wanted to say thank you Alan for asking the questions and Thank you to David for taking the time to write such well described answers. Really helpful. Chris

I don't know anything about armor. But do you have a friend that is the same size as your husband? I'm not sure how tight it has to fit, so maybe that wouldn't be close enough. Just a thought. Chris

It's a tough one. Luckily it's a nice enough saddle you could sell it to someone else. I had to fire a customer once. It was kind of similar, I can't remember all the details but she was unhappy about things that on a saddle just go without saying, similar to your customers complaint about the skirts. I worked with her for awhile til I realized I couldn't please. I finally said in the nicest way possible that I was sorry I couldn't please her but that apparently we had a communication problem and I felt she would be happier finding someone who could understand what she wanted. Didn't make me too sad since there wasn't anyone else around to do the work for her. (heh, heh). I also bought back a saddle I'd built once because the owner didn't think it fit her horse. I did all sorts of checking etc, and didn't agree with her. There were some other things going on with the horse that I felt were the problem, and she went through a bunch of other saddles after that without luck. However she was really convinced and I really didn't like the idea of a customer out there fuming over something like that. I told her I didn't agree with her but that I knew she felt strongly about her view and I would buy the saddle back. That was actually a good move in the long run, because she told every one she knew (and she knew a lot) that I stood behind my work. In regards to the deposit. I think when someone orders it needs to be in writing and signed agreeing that the deposit is non-refundable. Good luck I hope whatever you decide is relatively painless. Chris

There's some interesting things going on out there that I knew nothing about til I started reading this forum. I don't know what a steam punk is but that's sure a nice looking work of art. I really enjoy seeing these different sorts of things that I otherwise would know nothing about. Chris

Really nice website, helps to have really nice work to show off. It looks like your blog will be interesting keep track of as well. I'd like to suggest you mess up that shop a little, though. It makes some of the rest of us look bad. Chris

You know I don't think you really need the leather to be that thick. I've used the same draw down strap for going on 25 years, and I'd say it's about 7-8 oz, maybe less. Chris

I have shipped to Australia through the USPS. works well. But I would caution you about lying on customs forms. I have no idea what the penalty is, or how often things are checked, but especially if you are in business I would worry that the cost could be much higher than any little amount you save your customer. just my two cents. Chris

If you could find someone like Bill Bacon that would be willing to teach you'd sure be lucky. I've heard good things about him, but never met him. I learned from Jesse Smith in Spokane back in 1980-82. He was teaching a 2 year course through the community college. Worked on saddles all day for two years and then worked some more when I wasn't sleeping. Even after spending two years on learning, I still came out feeling there was an awful lot more to learn and it seems like there's more to learn every day. As Casey mentioned Jesse is down in CO now, and I would sure recommend him. I probably get three or four people a year ask me if I would teach them to build saddles. Maybe some day when I'm semi retired that might be kind of fun. But it just seems like the idea of trying to teach while being behind on orders wouldn't work out now. I would guess alot of saddlemakers feel that way. Chris

I do it just like Bob, only different order. Helpful, huh? If you've got several different books and they all do things in a different order, then it just really might not matter. I agree with electrathon that your question is just too darn big. Sort of like, "Can somebody tell me how to build a house?" Maybe a question like "what do you do first, and is there a reason for doing it first". Then when you get that lined out, go on to ask the next step. So, that said, I usually cover the gullet first, then the ground seat, then fork cover (unless the horn wrap will go under the fork) then cantle filler and back, and then skirts. Chris

Every time someone calls you like that, ask to be removed from their calling list. they are supposed to honor that, although sometimes they don't. but, every little bit helps. Chris

Well, I never thought I would like a pair of white chaps, but they turned out real nice. Always feels good to turn a negative into a positive. Chris

Just my personal opinion, but I think deer hide is a little too stretchy to make a good pair of shotguns. I think it would get pretty stretchy in the knees after a bit. Would probably make a nice pair of armitas, though. Chris