steve mason

Nice saddle Jon, you are raising the bar for all of us. oh ya, that is an awesome looking back cinch!!

Nice rig, great carve job, it'sheridan style but better, you have a lot more going on in that carve job than a lot of the sheridan style carving I see. the only thing my eye really picks up on is how much shearling I see from the side photos, I am not sure if it just the angle of the photos or if a little more shearling could have been trimed out, at least for my taste.

I am thinking that I need a new machine for making chaps, I want something that I can sew from the zippers in shotguns to sewing a 7-8 oz carved belt on two layers of chap. I looked at the artisan 618-1 SC LTHR at Sheridan this year. Wondering what you all sew your chaps on and what machines you like for this job. kind of an opinion poll. thanks much Steve

Howdy; thanks for the compliments and the advise, it is all appreciated. To answer a few of the questions, the chaps are sewn first then the spots are put in place, I set all the spots with a hand spot set I got from Tandy, that is why it took so long to put the spots in. I think I set more spots on these chinks than I had in my whole life before these chinks. I have not seen a foot press spot setter in person, just in catalogs (weaver) I would think that they would save a guy a lot of time, and they may do a better job also?? Any of you use one or know how well they work? where they can be purchased? Bob; the design in not totally my original idea, I have seen chaps made with scallops and spots before which gave me the inspiration to make these, it's not my fault those guys thought of my idea before I did!! I do not charge extra for my fringe being sewn on, I have that cost figured into my base price, if I am two toning the color on chaps I will charge extra where these chinks are all cut from the same hide, the fringe is just turned ruff out. The stitching I do on the top belt is not just decoration, it does help keep the chap leather belts a little firmer, and it only takes a couple minute do to, not sure how to put an extra charge for two minutes work, if you got any ideas let me know Thanks Much Steve

Howdy all you saddlemakers; I have just made these chinks up, let me know what you all see good or bad, I don't mind constructive criticism. These chinks are the first time I have put spots on chinks, added up there are 244 1/4" spots on these chinks. I used a new 5/8"punch to pink the leather (thanks Elton). they are a step in chap but they have zippers so you don't have to step in if you don't want to. I do have a question about pricing these chaps if you all don't mind. My base price is $400 (canadian funds)for chinks, my extra time on these chaps is about 3.5 hours to pink and spot them, the price of the spots is under $10, I am thinking that I will sell these for either $500 or $550, I am leaning more towards $550, I know another local chapmaker (whose chaps are in this months Western Horseman) would get more than that for these chinks if he made them. I might be a little bias here but I think these are a premium product and they should demand a premium price. I think the only way a guy can get paid well for his work is to put a price on his work that will make him some money, after all I am trying to make a living at this. Yet I don't want to be raping someone with my prices also. Let me know what you all think. Steve

I agree with Greg, the brown apron split that Caledon has would be the best stuff for shoeing apron. http://www.caledonleather.ca/index.html check their website, they have an 800 # here is a bag made out of it.

Howdy; Wondering what all you saddle makers use for a finish on you saddles, I am currently using 100% neatsfoot oil, then for a finish I use tan cote, just a light coat hitting the high spots of the carving. I find this puts a nice gloss to the carving. If there is a better way I sure would like to hear it. On personal items (belts, daytimers, photo albums, wristcuffs etc) I oil first, then antique, then I put on neat lac, I don't use neat lac on anything that goes on a horse. Anyways, I would like to hear what you guys use on your saddles. Thanks Much Steve

Howdy Brian; I have been using "elktan" for a while now and like it much better than the mulehide (pearl apron split). If you don't mind where are you finding your "elk hide", our leather suppliers in my area don't carry it. Thanks Much

Elton; the idea wasn't mine to steal. I need all the vitamin P I can get.

Elton; just a little curious where you got the idea to use crazy carpets? Steve

welcome Brian; I as the others have already seen your work on your website, and I am very impressed.

howdy Luke; I sew my saddles with a Pearson, I use 346 on the top and 277 on bottom. If you are interested in a Pearson machine give gomersall a shout, I think he has one for sale, you won't find a better machine for saddles.

Howdy; Would you like to win a Hand Made Saddle for only $10? The Medicine Ranch Rodeo is having a raffle, the grand prize is a hand made saddle by Steve Mason (value $4300), second prize is a pair if Chinks by Andy Fadeeff ($500) Tickets are $10 each and there is only 1000 tickets printed. This raffle is to support the Medicine Tree Ranch Rodeo’s 15th Anniversary, which will be held at the Nanton Rodeo Grounds on July 18,19 2008. The draw for the raffle will be on July 19. The ranch rodeo is a great event that promotes Ranching Heritage in Western Canada. If you would like to support the Ranch Rodeo and have a chance to win a saddle or chaps please contact myself or any ranch rodeo committee member to buy a ticket. Here is a link with a photo of the Saddle that will be raffled. http://www.stevemasonsaddles.com/raffle.htm Thanks Much please feel free to forward this to anyone who may be interested. ps; if the moderators feel this is an inappropriate post feel free to delete it. The "Medicine Ranch Rodeo" is a registered non profit organization.

SOLD

Howdy; I have three tools made by the late Don King that I am offering for sale. I would prefer to sell them together, I am going to the Sheridan leather Show and I can deliver the tools to you there, or I can ship which would be an extra charge. I have for sale one french edger #5, and two edgers, which are not marked with a number. All three tools are marked with "Don King Sheridan Wyo" These tools have all been used but are still in good condition. I am asking $375 for all three tools. Thanks Much

Howdy; I'll be the fat guy with a moustache wearing a vest with my name on it, most likely wearing an old palm leaf hat. If you find me at Kings party I'll have a drink in my hands, wishing I had Copenhagen in my bottom lip, but unfortunately my mama raised a quitter, so no more snuff for me.

Just wondering what you braiders think of brian neuberts string cutter/beveler. I use a similar type cutter/beveler that was locally made, the collar has a set screw on the bottom that never seems to hold that great and is very difficult to set accuarately when beveling strings, it just does not work well enough to get a consistent bevel on my strings. Neuberts looks like it should work very well when it comes to setting the collar for adjustment. He is coming out this way in a couple months, I might see if he could bring his cutter/beveler with him. thanks in advance for you help

I guess everything I do has a"Green" factor. All the leather I use is recycled since none of them cows are killed for their hide, they are killed for their meat, the hide is just a byproduct, now that the cow ain't using the hide anymore and I am, that would be considered recycling wouldn't it. After all, I am a vegetarian which is "Green". Cattle are vegetarians and I eat cattle so I am must be a vegetarian also. When you think of it, I am recycling cows when I eat them also. I never realized I was so "Green" until now.

Howdy; I have a new website as of today. www.stevemasonsaddles.com Please have a look and let us know what you think. There may be a couple bugs to work out yet and there will be more content to be added soon. Please let us know of any problems you may encounter on the new site so we can correct them in the future. When I say "we" I must have a mouse in my pocket or something because this site was designed and made by my wife, her first website. Thanks Much Steve

Ryan, I sent you a PM Steve

Howdy Darc; I cut parts pretty much exactly as Harwood showed us, I can just about every time get a saddle out 2 sides of leather, a right and left work the best. one rig is cut out of each side of leather, after one stirrup leather is cut from each side then the seat is cut out of the butt with the rig next, then on the other side of leather the fenders are cut out of the butt with the other rig next to it. I think this is about the best part of the hide, I always have nice heavy,even firm rigs. So I think from what you are describing, that where you want to cut your rigs from is roughly where I cut mine from as does Harwood. Sounds good to me if I understand what you right. Steve

Howdy Andy; Nice work!!! You have nice lines, good balance, the silver birds are a nice touch. I really like your carving, that is what carving should look like on a saddle, not to small, very life like, lots of depth and a very nice flow, I have always liked your creativity in your layout on your partial carve saddles, you use the negative space very well. I assume some of the reason why I like your carving so much is because we have both been influenced By John Visser, who by my standards is one of the best carvers there is. I like your design for the inskirt rig, I have been toying with the idea of building some of these as I have not done so to date, I sure would like to get a tutorial from you some time on these. Your skirt/rig line is very clean and balanced, some of the inskirt rig designs just have no flow to them, looks like yours would be very functional and yet still maintains a nice classy look. Of course I like the gaucho braid on your billets since I do that on all my rigs. Richards silver adds some class to a classy rig, the stirrup hobble buckles are a nice touch. There is not much of anything that I could offer as constructive criticism, the only thing that my eye picked up is I don't think I would have scalloped the skirt at the rear billet, it just seemed to stop the flow of your nice lines a little. But in saying this I am really nit picking that is a pretty minor thing, you have great lines overall. All in all a very top shelf rig, you should be proud.

Andy I'm sure when I buy from Caledon it's called arpon split not apron split LOL, or maybe my dyslexia and grade three edicaton is showin. DYSLEXICS UNTIE Ben the bags are not lined.

Bruce; I get the arpon split from Caledon Leather Sales in Calgary Alberta. this split is a firmer than than the pearl apron, makes great bags and awesome for shoeing aprons. I'm not sure where you would find it in the US.

Howdy; Here are a few gear bags I have just made up, they are made from an apron split leather with latigo handle and brass zippers and made in a few different sizes. Please let me know what you think, I am looking for constructive criticism. There are more photos and descriptions on my http://saddleblog.blogspot.com/ thanks much Steve