Ken Nelson

Has anyone rode one of these trees for any period of time very hard? I was a rawhide covered wood tree guy for a long time. Last few years I have been building on wood trees with a fiberglass cover. I have had great success with them fitting horses and standing up to some serious wrecks. It is not that I automatically dismiss new ideas but I would like to visit with someone that has used one of these LaPorte trees in a situation where he is riding a lot of different horses and roping a lot of big cattle outside in extreme weather on a daily basis. Just Curious.

Sold! That didn't take long. Ken

I have the volume 1 and I would let it go. Ken

Might I suggest you contact Cowboy Bob and see what he has that can help you out. Or Leather machine company but Bob is closer to you. Having a dealer is pretty important if you are starting out. There is a Ferdinand 900B on Ebay that looks good for $1250.00 but in Albany NY. I would suggest buying from a reputable dealer and there are several listed at the top of the site. Just my 2 cents. Ken

Up here, you better have a disconnect if you have public power even in the rural areas. Few years ago, a farmer plugged in a large PTO driven generator into his welder outlet and was lighting up the whole farm stead. Very nearly got one of the power company employees killed. A lot of us used to run a drop cord to what ever we needed to run during outages. We didn't want to hurt anyone. Family member has an off grid ranchstead. You would never know they are not on REA unless you look close. They have a combination of solar and standby generators. They use a pretty large diesel generator for peak times during the winter but they get along very well. It cost them, I think, $25,000 complete. Rural Power Company wanted over $90,000 to bring in a line. 5 years later, he tells me it is actually more cost effective. So far the upkeep has been less than the other headquarters that is on public power monthly bill. But their main shop is on the power company, so it isn't really a fair comparison.

I think to be legal you have to have a disconnect on the mainline coming in on your electric service. I know a lot of people up here in the Dakotas use small inexpensive generators to keep their furnance and fridge going if the power goes out in the winter. Not very high from Harbor freight. few hundred bucks. Would run several sewing machines and a couple of light bulbs. Most up here, set them in the garage and run a couple of extension cords to whatever.

May I ask where your are moving to?

Loop Seat and the other is a seat rigging.

If you want a swell fork saddle, any tree maker will make you one. When you add swells, you no longer have a Wade. A wade type seat can be put in any saddle though. Most swell fork saddles have a higher gullet than Wades do but some of the roper trees with some swell are pretty low. Best of Luck. Ken

Company will be headquartered in West Texas, Someone can work from their location. We will provide leather, patterns etc.

Seeking one or more individuals to produce high end western holsters and saddle scabbards on a piece work basis. Must be a very good carver, understand construction and finish work. You may work from your location if you have the equipment to build successfully. Fast growing young company with a saddle maker for a project manager.. Must be high quality work using high quality materials and excellent patterns. Please reply with questions by PM. Thank you. Ken

I use an original wood strap cutter and have used it for over 20 years. I cut everything in straps from saddle strings to stirrup leathers from 15 oz HO. I got started using it because I was getting some children visiting my shop and thought it might a bit less dangerous if one of them picked it up to "look" at it. I keep a supply of strap cutter blades on hand and will break one once in a while and change them regularly. I block my stirrup leathers out, and dunk them quickly before I cut them. There is a guy in Libby, MT that builds a super good blade for a draw guage. Brett Bronson custom knives, and they come super sharp. 406-293-2032.

Split rawhide faced maul from Weaver. Is heavy and will not harm your punches. Use the right tool for the job and this one is. I also have a Barry King Maul, the heaviest one that works pretty good but the split head maul is the better. My punches are over 20 years old and the ends look like new. Will last 2 life times if you use them right with the right maul and right poundo board..

Actually, the second one is a Champion 3-in-1, which is a skiver, and sole cutter. supposedly you can split narrow peices of leather with it too. Landis 3 is a hook and awl harness stitcher.

Where did this saddle come from? I used to have one on display when I had my shop in Rapid City SD. It was a 1932 and was in 95% condition. It sold at auction several years ago (4 I think). At the time I thought it was one of the best saddles I had ever seen. The leather was the best I have ever seen in a saddle and the workmanship was extra fine. I have never seen another Heiser of that quality. I bought it for the owner out of Maine. At one time the owner turned down well over $1000.00 for it.

WTB a new blade for 6" dixon splitter. I have an 8 inch I would trade straight across. Thanks. Ken

A number of years ago someone was building a bench lace tool something like a Hansen, but built out of aluminum. It did not have a name on it, used a utility blade on the cutter and come a little rough. They were inexpensive but did a really good job cutting, beveling and splitting strings. I had one but someone got off with it and I would sure like to find another one. Does anyone know who built it? I got the one I used to have about 12 or 13 years ago from Hadlock Fox but no none there knows anything about it now. Thanks Ken

It depends on what this saddle needs to put it in the condition you want it to be in. I may be a professional clean and oil and some very minor repairs or it could be major repairs. Up here, around $250.00 would be a very good price in using condition. First thing you need to do is have the tree checked to see if it is broken and then have a competent saddle maker or at least repairman look it over closely and give you a price to put it in shape. Those older Tex Tans were usable saddles but not top end saddles by any means. HTH

Wahlsall, in Arizona, or Panhandle Leather in Amarillo TX. Walsall used to be cheaper than Weaver. $50.00 order or more last time I ordered. don't know if they have it but that is where I would try first.

I am thinking a pull through will be more satisfactory, I am sure you can sell the crank skiver and get a very good pull through without much boot. Those crank skivers are sought after by saddlemakers. I have one but have never used it for splitting. I think the adjusting for different thicknesses would be a time consuming ordeal. I use a Heritage pull through and have had it for at least 18 years. Does a good job. I have a Dixon that is loaned out right now that does a good job especially on lap skives. Heritage is good on laps as well. I use a Landis 30 crank splitter a lot and have a Weaver crank splitter that I don't use much. For straps, I prefer the pull through splitters but that is just me. I have been thinking about selling the weaver crank splitter. I bought the Weaver (8") for leveling cantle binders and that is about all I have used it for.

I believe what you have there is a crank skiver.

If you call Panhandle leather in Amarillo, I bet they can get you a side of harness that you can get some 9 ft. reins out of. It will be expensive but very good and very heavy. Be sure to put the bit end on the butt and the tail on the neck. I used to carry a few pair of 9 ft when I had a shop in Rapid City but didn't get much call for them. Panhandle carries HO harness and is some really good stuff.

I used to have a Luberto's Classic that would sew an honest inch of skirting leather. I wish I had not sold it. Wonderful machine and simple.

I am interested in looking for resources for learning to do upholstery work. I have no interest in driving 50 miles to night classes in the winter-to classes not recommended by local upholstery shops. Local shops will not do classes due to past poor experiences., I understand that. Any help will be appreciated. Ken