All I can say as a newby to saddle making is thanks to all of you for sharing your knowledge and views. I can see that saddle making is like horsemanship - lots of opinions. All are valuable and should be filtered by the listener. When I started riding I learned to listen to everyone and take away from that what made sense to me. I think I've become a pretty good horseman because of it. I'm trying to do the same with saddle making. I respect all your abilities and opinions and THANK YOU VERY MUCH for sharing them. I have MUCH more to learn. I'll be dead before I ever get this right but I sure am enjoying the process. It's discussions like this that we all learn new ideas from and grow.
A couple of quotes that fit here are;
“The forest is a quiet place if only the best birds sing.”
- Kay Johnson
“Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.”
- Will Rogers
Thanks,
ArtS
I enjoy doing other artwork such as painting, drawing etc but not much time for any of that anymore. If I'm not pounding leather I'm usually riding or working my horses. Also camping with the horses. I finished rebuilding an old motorcycle a while back. I also enjoy going target shooting with my guns. Of course the best is spending time with my wife, family and friends.
ArtS
"Can you skin a bear?" I love that part of the movie when he get the bear into the cabin and tell him to skin that! LOL
One of my favorites is 'Open Range' and the old Clint Eastwood westerns. I also enjoy having the old B westerns playing in the background while I work. Roy Rogers, John Wayne, etc.
ArtS
I prefer the stampede strings with the cotter pins. It doesn't hurt the hat in any way since you bring it up through the seam of the hat band. I also agree that if you ride in the woods at any time you will prefer to have your cotter pin pull loose than get a neck burn or worse. This is experience talking LOL.
ArtS
David,
I never heard of that before. I looked it up on the net and it sounds pretty good - especially since you can oil through it. Do you use the spray or the manual? Do you get it from Dyo Chemical, Inc?
Thanks,
ArtS
What do you use as the top coat on your saddles and why? I've heard Resolene, just oil, etc. I'm trying to decide what to use on my second one.
Thanks,
ArtS