CharlieR

Just wondering if any of you guys ever have any experience cleaning old mexican saddles that were decorated with piteado? If so, please let me know what you use and the procedures.Thanks.

David--I'm with the rest of the guys--just let it sit for while. It should even out in a bit--if it ever warms up down here. By the way, I just live up the road from you at Spring Branch and my saddle restorations are kinda slowed down too with this cold weather. Good luck and enjoy the forum. Charlie

Just a thought, but when some of you guys do something as nice as this, it would be wonderful for you to take pics along the way for us newbies. Wow, great job!!

Blake--thanks for the reply. I'll do that and let you know. Charlie

I guess you guys are as at much of a loss as I am....................

Just picked up this old Porter at a sale. I think it is a fine cnadidate for cleaning, restoration, but I have very little knowledge of date of manufacture, etc. My only Porter catalog does not have any saddle pics with square skirts. It is dirty, but underneath is a nice saddle with plenty of color. It is Carlos border stamped and all pieces are original. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Charlie I'm still trying to figure out this photo thing. Maybe this pic is better. Charlie

entiendo--glad you posted this as I was going to ask if anyone could supply instructions on the type of edge braiding you have done here. What is it called and where can I find instructions for it? I wanted to use this type of edge braid for a pair of spur straps I have planned. thanks for any info. Charlie

OK, I just saw a holster and gun belt rig that I thought had ridden across the plains with a crusty old cowboy only to discover that it was a recently made project made to look that way. How do you age leather to make it appear as an antique or older, well used leather piece??

OK guys--I am going to make my first belt and want to put a liner on it. My question is....when you hand stitch a belt, do you use one long piece of thread--this is a big belt and the thread to go around twice would be pretty long--is there a way to use shorter pieces of thread or just fight the one long piece? It's a newbie question--I have only stitched small pieces before.

I went in to a Tandy several weeks ago and they said they would order me a latigo hide--after several calls and several excuses, I still have no latigo---SO, I would love to hear some of you guys reply to this one also.

Mike--good looking quirt. I hope I can do that well one day. It would sure be nice if someone made a tutorial on quirts. Mr Bell did a super one on bosals--one on quirts would really be helpful also.

Hidepounder--what sort of attachment is that on the Jet sander? Interesting looking--is it catalog available?

I have spoken to several folks in the antique saddle business and many of them talk about using Pecards on the saddles. One gentleman told me he rubbed it in, then spent lots of time rubbing it with a cloth. Whenever i use it, I seem to always have some film of it left on the surface, but when I rub it down with a cloth, have I jsut rubbed it off or really rubbed it in? Then, do you use anything over that ? Thanks for the replies.

Flathat--that's exaclty what I'm tlaking about--what do you call it and how do you tie it?? Any help out there?

So, assuming everyone knows the basics on how to cut a bleed knot in saddle strings, how about some of you guys giving us newbies a few hints on how to get consistancy, how you do it, etc. There has to be several tricks of the trade, even in doing something as simple as a bleed knot. Mine just don't look neat!!!

SOS--thanks for the reply, but that is not what I'm asking about. I'm inquiring as to how the front string is rolled or braided on some sadlles--and I'm not doing a very good job of describing this. I guess you would say that it resembles the 'hank' portion of a hangman's knot.

OK folks--here's a newbie question. On many saddles, ,mostly new ones, the front saddle string is rolled up and 'braided' or tied up. Can anyone tell me how to do this? I hope this makes sense.

Am currently restoring an old high back. The maker mark, the best I can make out, is shaped like a crest or a badge, with a banner running across the top that says, "Warranteed"--I think. Inside the crest, it says, Menea Tree. It is stamped on the seat, near the gullet. NO other marks that I can find. This is an old high back, square skirted saddle that worked in Texas for years. Any info would be appreciated. I looked in the Hutchins books, couldn't find the mark, but maybe I overlooked it.

Ben--got it, thanks. For some reason, I kept lookig for Walsell Leather. Duh! Charlie

Casey---is the website up yet?

OK--am I missing somehting here--I tried to look up Walsall and all I cna find is Walsell leather Museum.. Anybody have the website address? Thanks for being patient. Charlie

This may seem like a real newbie question, which it is, but where can I find good quality, plain brass saddle conchos?

Bruce--that sounds good. I was just at the point where I thought one more coat would do it. Geesh, I love this forum, so many folks willing to share. Charlie

Rob--some basic dimensions would be great. By the way, what kind of splitter is that in the picutre? Charlie

rgerbitz--did you happen to have a mchine drawing made of your cutter? Charlie