15mules

The press looks identical to the one Grizzly sells here in the U.S. Grizzly is an importer of woodworking and metalworking equipment and have internet sells as well as 3 stores in the U.S. I just happen to live close to the one in Springfield Missouri, so I save the shipping cost (but have to pay tax ??) I am planning on getting one and making some modifications so I can use it as a clicker and also for other embosing needs with large dies. I fiqure with the guage a person should be able to closely duplicate the impressions.

I would be interested in seeing the pics also. I intend am planning a trip to Springfield Mo. this next weekend. I go to pick up my new sewing machine at SL. I am planning on going to the Grizzly store and getting one of their hydraulic Presses. I think they run a couple hundred dollars and they have a pressure guage built in. I am hopng with the pressure guage (assuming I get my leather close to the same moisture each time?) I can get a more consistent depth of stamp, if using for logo stamps and of course if cutting with a die, it will make little difference. I do plan on using 1" plates. I am still a little up in the air as to how big I really need the plates to be?? 12" x 12" would probably do for most things I guess?? I will try to post some info and pics when I get mine done. Thanks for the info posted thus far, it has been helpful in my planning.

I am no leather expert by any means, but I have always been able to pick out good leather at Springfield Leather for my use. I have bought from tandy, but I thought the customer service was not as good and the selection seemed to me, to not be as good. Since I have been using SL I will admit I have stopped looking other places for the most part. They are 3 hours drive from me and I usually by enough supplies for several months when I go. I have even gone there and purchased supplies and leather and the following week received a card in the mail, just thanking me for my buisiness. I have no problem paying extra for good service, but I do not think from the comparing I have done their prices are any higher. I know like any retail store a person can pick and choose and find an item cheaper here or there, but overall I have no reason the buy anywhere else. I can also say if any of you have a problem or question, they have always been more than happy to spend time on the phone or in the store, explaining something to me. I have dealt with them for several years and it is nice to be able to call and tell them I want a special order item and know they will get it in on my word only with out the hassle of a deposit or full payment like some places I deal with. I would highly recommend them, once you have established a good cutomer relationship with them I think you will have a hard time finding someone better to work with.

I have a friend of mine who rides in a 20" seat western saddle, yes he is a big guy. He was able to find a cheap made 20" saddle and is making due for now. He has searched the net for a quality used saddle, but cannot find one with a 20" seat. I guess there just are not that many out there? He has ask me about the posibility of making him a custom saddle with a 20" seat. The problem is, I do not know where to get a 20" tree? No one seems to make a tree with a seat that big. Any help in finding one or someone who would make one would be much appreciated. Thank you for your reply

I am hoping to get some thoughts and maybe an explanation or two on the best leather for lining brest collars and cinches and such. I have tried different things with decent results and I really like horse leather for this. I have seen some swear by horse leather for this, but to be honest, I have never really gotten a good explanation of why one type leather is better than the other. Hopefully some of you more experienced saddle and tach makers can help explain the reasoning better. Thanks for your input

Here is my situation. I have a Toro machine and have an opportunity to buy a Tippman Boss at a decent price. I am just not sure I need it? My question for those of you with both is. Do you still use your tippman after you purchased a electric machine. I have never used a Tippman. Is there a use for one to do things that an electric machine cannot?? Or does the purchase of the electric machine pretty much make the Boss obsolite?? Thanks for your input

Who makes a double needle machine. I have a big toro, but I am in the market for a smaller table top for lighter leather work. I only need a single needle for that, but I have also been making some canvas products that require double row stitching. My question is, who makes a new double needle machine that could also be used single needle when needed. I really hope I can find one machine to do both, as I really cannot justify two seperate machines for the amount of work I do. Thanks for any info you may have.

I am a fairly traditional guy. This is probably why I deal mostly in lever guns and single actions. I like leather also, I do not care for nylon. I like a rawhide covered wood tree, there is a reason they have been around so long. I also like to fit the tree to my mule or the mule I am building it for. This is why I like the composite tree, it makes fitting for me easier. I have changed some wood trees and it is more difficult for me. I am not sure I would find the cable neccessary, but I would like to try one. I know there are other rigging styles that lend themselves to adjusting the riggging also and I am not sure if the cable makes it better or just different. I like a heavier saddle, but I have children and some women I have done work for that weight is definately a consideration. They simply cannot tote a 40 lb. saddle around. I appreciate the opinion on these saddle trees from people who have actually used them, as I have not.

Pete, Thanks I will look you up when I get up your way. Bull, I tried sewing some canvas i had for some other saddle bag projects on the toro. I did alright as long as I was 4 layers thick anything less and it just did not feed well. I do have the table attachment and it does help for some things. The other thing is I sometimes have more than one project going at a time and I am constantly changing back and forth between thread and needle sizes. i am hoping to be able to eliminate that with the two machines.I know right where St. Joe is. I have some friends over in Snowball and we go ridin on the Buffalo some over there.

I would be interested, please contact me @ jcmulesmv@yahoo.com and we can discuss it more. Thanks

Watersnake, I am new to SHeridan and I too have been looking for a starter tool set. I am close to Springfield leather and was really considering buying a starter set from them. Everyone seems to be in agreenment that BK tools are better than Tandy. Does that include SL tools or are they the same that Tandy sell?? The prices at SL are in the $20 range. I looked on BK's site and his tools all show in the $50 range, however your 17 tool set for $400 comes out in the $20 range. Does he have a lower price for buying complete sets?? or am I missing something??

This thread has been very helpful. I have been doing my repairs on a foldout saddle stand and I have to say it is a less than ideal setup. But we do what we have to do. I plan to build a saddle makers stand and the pictures and info in the thread will make it much easier, some good ideas. I will make the top a little different in that all of my mules put together probably do not have that much withers between them!! Haa Thanks again for the post and info.

I am no expert on this matter by no means, but I will give you my opinion for what it is worth (which is not much) I had been hand sewing and doing some repairs. I limited the work I did because of the time and effort involved, fact is i just did not have the time to stitch larger projects. I knew I would be doing thicker leather so I opted for the Largest Artesian made the Toro machine. This machine easily sews the thickest leather I incounter in my saddle and holster work. I have sewed as thin as 10oz. cotton duct on it, however 3 layers would not feed properly, 4 layers did ok as long as I was paying attention. I quickly seen what I believe is true. There is no one perfect size machine. If a person is going to do different types of leather work and not be limited 2 machines I believe is the way to go. The folks at Springfield Leather were honest with me when they said this machine probably would not be good for the chaps and thinner projects I wanted to do, and they were right. I see now after using my Toro that I will gretly increase my production by having a 2nd flatbed machine for the thinner leathers. Not only will it do a better job of sewing, but I will not be spending all that time changing back and forth between needles and thread sizes on the big machine. I too was on a limited budget and hoped for the best, but the truth is there is just no one machine that does it all well. At least not in my limited experience.

Denise, Thanks for the links that was exactly the kind of info. I was looking for. I still am unsure after reading the post, but I do understand how they work now. I may would give one a try. I will certainly do some more reasearch before comitting. Thanks, Jamie

Thanks for the welcome Pete, I am sorry, but I am out of town and will not be able to make the gun show. I have always wanted to, as I hear the Mtn. Home show is a good one. I see you play music, ever get down our way to play on the court square?? I am glad to see you are into Sheridan design, maybe we can get together sometime and you can teach me some about it. I would really like to learn more and get better at the stamping and carving aspect of leatherwork. Thanks, Jamie